Lupin the Third (1971)
Follow the thrilling adventures of master thief Lupin the Third, quite possibly the world's greatest thief. Along with Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa and his on-off love interest Fujiko Mine, he pulls off the greatest heists of all time while always escaping the grasp of Inspector Koichi Zenigata.
-
Episode 1 - Is Lupin Burning...?!
Release Date: 1971-10-24The Hida Speedway has been completed and Lupin is looking to take top prize at the first race. The race is actually a trap designed by the Scorpion Gang who are intent on killing Lupin and eliminating all criminal competition.
-
Episode 2 - The Man They Called a Magician
Release Date: 1971-10-31Fujiko has stolen something from a man named Pycal, and he wants it back. Pycal is a magician who is able to shoot flames from his hands, walk on air, and deflect bullets with ease. Lupin goes up against Pycal in hopes of saving Fujiko. (Pycal first appeared in chapter 7: "Magician" of the original manga series.)
-
Episode 3 - Farewell My Beloved Witch
Release Date: 1971-11-07A boat collision ruins Lupin and Fujiko's quiet boating expedition. They discover a woman named Linda in the other boat just as gunmen on a larger boat attack them. After avoiding the gunboat, they learn that Linda is the assistant to a world-renowned expert on nuclear fission. She lived on an island with the doctor, which also housed the "Kirein Killers" ("Killers of the Sea"). Lupin and Jigen try to storm the island to save the Doctor and discover Linda's mysterious secret.
-
Episode 4 - One Chance for a Prison Break
Release Date: 1971-11-14Lupin and Fujiko successfully pull off a heist; that is, until Zenigata manages to shoot Lupin with a tranquilizer dart. Zenigata hauls Lupin off to jail. Despite Fujiko's best efforts, she cannot break Lupin out of prison, and Jigen provides no help, claiming that Lupin can leave whenever he wants. One year passes, and Lupin's still in jail with his execution date getting closer. Fujiko and the others try to help Lupin get out of jail.
-
Episode 5 - The Coming of Goemon the Thirteenth
Release Date: 1971-11-21Goemon Ishikawa XIII is the thirteenth direct descendant of the famous samurai highwayman Ishikawa Goemon. Goemon's mentor has given him a mission; find Lupin and use the invincible Zantetsuken eliminate him. Neither Goemon nor Lupin know that Goemon's mentor and Fujiko are actually working together.
-
Episode 6 - Rainy Afternoons are Bad
Release Date: 1971-11-28One rainy afternoon, a man seeks Lupin's help on behalf of a young woman. The woman is actually Fujiko, who is after a diamond known as "The Star of Killamanjaro". The diamond was implanted into the chest of a mob boss. This boss had his memory wiped but died days before it was to be restored. Now, Lupin and the gang are after the ambulance carrying the corpse and the diamond in it. Zenigata is in charge of the ambulance and its escort, and he attempts to prevent Lupin from stealing the diamond.
-
Episode 7 - A Wolf Calls a Wolf
Release Date: 1971-12-05Three scrolls contain the secret of creating a blade like the Zantetsuken. Lupin wants to steal them as a matter of family pride because his grandfather, Arsene Lupin, stole them back in the 19th century. Lupin's father stole a dagger from a swordsman that was forged using the same process. The swordsman challenged Lupin II to a duel and lost. But, he managed to steal the scrolls for himself. Now, Lupin plans to steal the scrolls back, but to do so, he must face Goemon and Fujiko, who have their own plans for acquiring the scrolls.
-
Episode 8 - The All-Together Playing-Card Operation
Release Date: 1971-12-12Napoleon once owned a deck of fortune-telling cards that are now in the hands of a millionaire known as Mr. Gold. Lupin plans to steal them during Mr. Gold's birthday party, and Zenigata plans to stop him. Lupin succeeds in stealing the mysterious cards.
-
Episode 9 - Killer Sings the Blues
Release Date: 1971-12-19Lupin and the gang aim to steal the blue prints for a new computer. In their way is a man skilled with the machinegun and his hit-man partner named Poon, who used to be Fujiko's partner in the past. Lupin succeeds at his mission, but not before Poon and Fujiko come face to face. Poon's boss shoots Fujiko before they can have a proper reunion. Lupin manages to get Fujiko back to their hideout, but she is near death. Poon and his boss follow Lupin and manage to oust him from the hideout, which leaves the dying Fujiko inside. Lupin tries to get back to the hideout to save Fujiko's life.
-
Episode 10 - Hunt Down the Counterfeiter!
Release Date: 1971-12-26Lupin and Baron Ukraine are both after the world's most skilled counterfeiter. Lupin would have no problem beating the Baron, but the Baron has hired a man called Flinch along with Fujiko and gave them instructions to kill Lupin.
-
Episode 11 - When the Seventh Bridge Falls
Release Date: 1972-01-02Someone is posing as Lupin and blowing up bridges, causing a lot of damage and injuries. Lupin and Jigen discover that the bomber is trying to force an armored car to travel along a route of his choosing. They track down the bomber, but he forces Lupin and Jigen to attempt to rob the armored car. He threatens to kill a girl he kidnapped named Lisa unless Lupin and Jigen perform the job.
-
Episode 12 - Who Had the Last Laugh?
Release Date: 1972-01-09Fujiko is racing against a criminal organization to acquire a pair of gold statues that are owned by a snowbound village in the mountains. Lupin makes plans to acquire the statues, as well. The village elder considers selling the statues in an effort to help his village.
-
Episode 13 - Beware the Time Machine!
Release Date: 1972-01-16Mamo Kyosuke claims that Lupin will disappear from the world in four days. He claims that he is a time traveller from 2874 seeking revenge. Apparently, Lupin XIII destroyed the Mamo clan on March, 2874. Kyosuke has travelled back in time to destroy Lupin III and prevent his clan's future destruction. Kyosuke backs his claims up by travelling into the past and killing the builder of a castle causing it to disappear in front of Lupin's eyes.
-
Episode 14 - The Emerald's Secret
Release Date: 1972-01-23Lupin and Fujiko are both after the legendary Eye of the Nile emerald. It is going to be a wedding gift presented at a wedding being held on a yacht. Lupin and Fujiko learn that Catherine Burgess, Queen of Hollywood, has lured them there to liven up her otherwise dull wedding party.
-
Episode 15 - Let's Catch Lupin and Go to Europe
Release Date: 1972-01-30Zenigata has been invited to an international police convention in Europe; his chief wants him to go, but Zenigata does not want to since Lupin has declared that he will steal a gold bust within the next three days. Zenigata vows to catch Lupin before going to the convention. Lupin learns of this and begins to hatch a scheme that involves him being captured by Zenigata intentionally.
-
Episode 16 - Operation Jewel Snatch
Release Date: 1972-02-06Fujiko goads Lupin into stealing a large shipment of diamonds. Lupin takes the task despite Jigen's protest that Fujiko is playing them for fools. Of course, Jigen is right.
-
Episode 17 - Lupin Caught in a Trap
Release Date: 1972-02-13Fujiko invites Lupin and the gang to a famous night club owned by the sexy Hoshikage Rinko. Only Goemon refuses. This was a wise move as Rinko places timebombs on Fujiko, Jigen, and Lupin. They must cough up 3,000,000,000 JPY within twenty-four hours if they want the bombs removed.
-
Episode 18 - Keep an Eye on the Beauty Contest
Release Date: 1972-02-20Smith is an art thief that is selling stolen paintings under the guise of a beauty contest.
-
Episode 19 - Which of the Third Generation Will Win!
Release Date: 1972-02-27Inspector Ganimard III is the grandson of Lupin I's archnemesis. He has come to Japan has the head of security for the 1972 France Fair but also intends to restore his family's honor by arresting Lupin III. Ganimard publicly baits Lupin into trying to steal the Fair's exhibits by insulting Lupin's family pride. Ganimard is convinced that reason and science will capture Lupin.
-
Episode 20 - Catch the Phony Lupin!
Release Date: 1972-03-05Someone is committing thefts under Lupin's name. Lupin follows the imposters back to their island hideout. He has apparently stumbled into a whole island of thieves.
-
Episode 21 - Rescue the Tomboy!
Release Date: 1972-03-12Rie is being held captive though she does not realize it. She believes the man holding her is a friend of her father, Ken Makita. Lupin shows up to rescue her. Rie does not want to be rescued by Lupin and does not understand why he is trying to. Lupin's father was a friend of Rie's father. The "friend" is Jooji Takigawa; he is holding Rie hostage in an attempt to get her father out of retirement to do his bidding.
-
Episode 22 - The First Move Wins Computer Operation!
Release Date: 1972-03-19Gordon, an FBI computer specialist, is in Japan to operate a computer capable of predicting crimes and determining how to stop them. The Metropolitan Police Department hopes that this will finally help them capture Lupin. Zenigata is unimpressed and warns that the machine will not be able to stop Lupin. For once, Zenigata and Lupin see eye to eye. Lupin sets out to prove that the computer is no match for his intellect.
-
Episode 23 - The Great Gold Showdown!
Release Date: 1972-03-26A disputed horde of recently discovered ancient gold coins draws the attention of Lupin and company. As the ownership of the coins is disputed, Lupin decides to settle the matter on his own by stealing them from the Dai Nippon Bank. This time, Zenigata decides not to wait for Lupin to carry out the hit but to counterattack by locating and raiding his hideout. After a dispute with his chief, he also offers him a letter of resignation in case of a further failure, and vows to stop Lupin on his own in one final showdown.