The episode will feature events prior to the plot of the upcoming Lupin the IIIrd movie.
A new Lupin the IIIrd episode is gearing up for a 20 June release, and will act as a prequel to the previously announced Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline anime feature film. The episode has announced a main staff lineup and a new teaser visual on the franchise’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The prequel episode will be broadcast on Japanese television channel WOWOW, accompanied by screenings of three other Lupin the IIIrd movies: Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa’s Spray of Blood, and Fujiko Mine’s Lie.
As of writing, no announcements have been made for a global release for the prequel episode.
The first animated Lupin the IIIrd movie in 30 years
The hotly anticipated Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline is set to premiere on 27 June, and is the first 2D Lupin anime film since Lupin the Third: DEAD OR ALIVE premiered in 1996–30 years ago.
The cast for the movie are:
- Kanichi Kurita: Lupin III
- Akio Otsuka: Daisuke Jigen
- Daisuke Namikawa: Goemon Ishikawa
- Miyuki Sawashiro: Fujiko Mine
- Koichi Yamadera: Inspector Zenigata
Takeshi Koike is directing the movie at Telecom Animation Film, with the script written by Yuya Takahashi. James Shimoji is in charge of music, while Katsuhito Ishii is the creative advisor.
Lupin the IIIrd and the anime and movie franchise it is tied to, is based on Money Punch’s original manga series. It revolves around Lupin III, the grandson of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, an iconic literary character created by Maurice Leblanc. The upcoming film revolves around a mystery that centres around Inspector Zenigata, who is investigating an airport bombing in the Roviet Union. All clues point to Lupin the Third as the primary suspect. However, the appearance of a second Lupin puts everything Zenigata knows into question.
