Lupin III is the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief character created by French author Maurice Leblanc. He is the protagonist of the Lupin III manga series written by Monkey Punch beginning in 1967. However, over the decades and adaptations into anime, films and video games, there has been some confusion over his identity and backstory. Is there a definitive Lupin III? Let’s look at the evidence from the various Lupin III stories to try to determine who the real Lupin III is.
The Original Manga
The original Lupin III was created by Monkey Punch for the manga magazine Weekly Manga Action starting in 1967. This Lupin had a darker, more violent and cynical personality than the later anime version. He was the grandson of Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin, and his partners included Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, and Fujiko Mine. Some key details about the manga Lupin:
| Name | Arsène Lupin III |
| Parents | Arsène Lupin II (father) |
| Grandfather | Arsène Lupin (grandfather) |
| Partners | Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Fujiko Mine |
| Personality | Dark, violent, cynical |
The manga was more adult-oriented, with darker humor and sexuality compared to later adaptations. This established the basic character identities and relationships for all later Lupin III stories.
Early Anime Adaptations
Lupin III was first adapted into anime by Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1971. This series was directed by Masaaki Osumi and featured Yasuo Yamada as the voice of Lupin. It hewed closely to the manga in tone and content. A second anime series was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1977, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata prior to the founding of Studio Ghibli. This series portrayed a slightly more light-hearted Lupin, though still fairly cynical. Details on these early anime Lupins:
| Voice Actor | Yasuo Yamada |
| Directors | Masaaki Osumi (1971) |
| Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata (1977) | |
| Tone | Dark, cynical humor like manga |
These early series introduced the voices and animation style that would become familiar to Lupin fans, though the character was still close to Monkey Punch’s original manga conception.
Lupin III Part II
The most well-known anime adaptation is Lupin III Part II, produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha beginning in 1977. This series featured a lighter tone and moved Lupin more toward an honorable thief character. Details on this version:
| Voice Actor | Yasuo Yamada |
| Directors | Multiple, often Hayao Miyazaki |
| Tone | Lighter, more heroic |
This version portrayed Lupin and his gang often helping people in need while still pulling off clever heists. It is the longest running Lupin III series, with over 150 episodes spanning decades. Many fans consider this to be the definitive anime version of Lupin.
The Castle of Cagliostro
Hayao Miyazaki directed the acclaimed 1979 Lupin III film The Castle of Cagliostro. This film debuted the iconic green jacket Lupin wears in most future incarnations. The movie features a noble, heroic Lupin who helps rescue a princess from an arranged marriage. Details:
| Voice Actor | Yasuo Yamada |
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Tone | Heroic, noble thief |
| Notable Features | Debut of green jacket |
Many fans consider this the definitive portrayal of Lupin III due to the popularity and influence of the film. It cemented Miyazaki’s version of Lupin as a hero in the cultural consciousness.
Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
This darker 2012 anime series was based on the manga by Monkey Punch and centers on Fujiko Mine. It featured a return to a more cynical, violent Lupin closer to the original manga. Details:
| Voice Actor | Kanichi Kurita |
| Director | Sayo Yamamoto |
| Tone | Dark, adult, ecchi |
This version was controversial for its mature content and depiction of Lupin and Fujiko’s sexuality. But it represented Monkey Punch’s original vision for the Lupin III world and characters.
Lupin the Third: Part IV and Part V
The most recent Lupin III anime series have featured updated animation and a return to a lighter, more heroic Lupin.
Part IV (2015) saw the debut of Kanichi Kurita as Lupin’s new voice actor following Yamada’s death. It was a back to basics approach focused on classic capers.
Part V (2018) continued in a similar vein with high quality animation and adventure plots. Details:
| Voice Actor | Kanichi Kurita |
| Tone | Lighthearted adventure |
| Animation Style | Modern digital |
These recent adaptations show Lupin III is still relevant and popular, appealing to both new audiences and longtime fans.
Live Action Adaptations
Lupin III has also been adapted into five different live action films between 1974 and 2014. The actors portraying Lupin III in these include:
| Yûki Meguro | (1974) |
| Yasuo Yamada | (1974, voice) |
| Bob Bergen | (1985, voice) |
| Cliff Harrington | (1995) |
| Kanichi Kurita | (2014, voice) |
The live action versions were not as successful or influential as the anime, but are interesting experiments bringing the character into the real world.
Video Games
There are over 20 video games featuring Lupin III spanning multiple decades and platforms. These allow players to actually control Lupin through interactive storylines and heists. Notable games include:
| Lupin III | 1987 Famicom game |
| Lupin Sansei Pandora no Isan | 1987 NES game |
| Lupin Sansei: Kinko Yaburi S800 Hen | 1994 Super Famicom game |
| Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorcerer King | 2002 PlayStation 2 game |
| Lupin Sansei: Lupin ni wa Shi o, Zenigata ni wa Koi o | 2019 Nintendo Switch game |
The games allow players to actually be Lupin, controlling his actions directly in various heists and adventures.
Manga Revivals
The Lupin III manga has been revived and reinvented several times over the decades by different artists and writers. These include:
| Lupin III 1984-1985 | Monkey Punch revival |
| Lupin III 1985-1986 | Yasuo Yamada/Monkey Punch |
| New Lupin III 1996-1999 | Monkey Punch/Tetsuro Abe |
| Lupin III 2001-2006 | Monkey Punch/Yoshikazu Yasuhiko |
| Lupin III 2012-current | Monkey Punch/various artists |
The manga allows an ongoing reinvention of Lupin back to his roots with creator Monkey Punch involved in many versions.
Conclusion
With the character’s creation in 1967 to today, Lupin III has gone through many iterations across mediums with different tones, looks, and voices. There are a wide range of interpretations across over 50 years of manga, anime, film, games, and more. So which is the “real” Lupin?
The original manga Lupin created by Monkey Punch is likely the purest version. But few could argue that the most beloved and quintessential Lupin is the one from the long-running Lupin III Part II anime series. This version solidified the heroic gentleman thief character and the lighter, humorous tone associated with Lupin III in the minds of most fans.
The iconic green jacketed Lupin from films like The Castle of Cagliostro also factors significantly into the cultural impression of the character. And recently, Kanichi Kurita’s voice work has defined Lupin III for a new generation.
In the end, the real Lupin III is likely a composite from the elements of all his various interpretations over the decades across mediums and artists. But the most influential vision remains the beloved anime Lupin III from the Part II series. That adaption ultimately defined the character and his world for most audiences. So while many versions exist, the core truth of Lupin III is the dashing rogue first brought to animated life by the talents of Yasuo Yamada and Hayao Miyazaki in the 1970s and beyond.
