Here you can see all the news updates we've posted about the Lupin character, such as license announcements, production announcements, and so forth. |
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New Takeshi Koike Lupin Film Announced
At the Sept. 9th screening event for Jigen's Gravestone, a new Takeshi Koike-directed project focused on the character of Goemon was announced to debut in Japan on February 4, 2017. The title is "Lupin the Third: Goemon Ishikawa's Blood Spray," (LUPIN THE IIIRD: Chikemuri no Ishikawa Goemon). A preview trailer featuring incomplete animation has been posted to YouTube. Koike (Redline, Jigen's Gravestone) is serving as both director and producer, while Yuuya Takahashi (Lupin the Third Part IV, Jigen's Gravestone, Luck & Logic) has penned the screenplay. James Shimoji (Jigen's Gravestone) is again handling the music. Also notable is that, unlike Jigen's Gravestone (which omitted Goemon entirely), all 5 main Lupin series cast members are credited, and with their current standard voices. The title will definitely be worth keeping an eye on. In spite of Jigen's Gravestone's unsettling, robotic, nudie midsection (I personally skipped over that part), it was a great high-action feature with a compelling story and eye-candy animation for the adult viewer. Its Goemon-y follow-up should hopefully prove similarly entertaining. Source: Comic Natalie via ANN. |
News Update: Aug. 2016
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News Roundup: March 30th 2015
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Catch-up: New TV Specials licensed in US & more!
Sorry for the slow updates, folks. There's been plenty to be busy with here at HQ. Let's get on with the news! Discotek Media announces Lupin the Third: From Russia With Love for US release, as Lupin the Third: Bank of Liberty The "Bank of Liberty" title has been around for over a decade as part of TMS' (and previously, NTV's) international animation catalog (proof). From Russia With Love as its English title, despite being a completely accurate translation of the Japanese title (Roshia yori Ai wo Komete), is off-limits in English-speaking countries thanks to the famous James Bond film of the same name from which the Japanese title was obviously lifted. Full disclosure: though I will likely be working on the English release, my personal desire that the film's English title should be something different from Bank of Liberty (a personal favorite being From Rasputin With Love) does not mean it will be any different in the end product. Discotek Media also acquires Lupin the Third: Napoleon's Dictionary for 2015 US release The 1991 TV special, Steal Napoleon's Dictionary , will come to the States as Lupin the Third: Napoleon's Dictionary on January 27th, 2015. The DVD includes liner notes, a collection of the original TV commercials, and a brand-new audio commentary recorded by anime gurus Daryl Surat and Mike Toole. I've heard the commentary and it's a great mix of comedy, critique, and knowledge-dropping. A very entertaining way to re-watch the special, which appeared to have a troubled development, judging by its animation. The Tombstone of Daisuke Jigen out on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan The film has released on home video overseas, and judging from importing viewers, the general consensus on its quality seems to be that there is no general consensus. It hasn't had the overwhelming praise of Koike's Redline, but on Twitter and elsewhere, opinions have ranged between only fairly pleased, disappointed, and somewhat impressed by it. I understand the art style and animation are excellent but that it is far from revolutionary. I have yet to watch it myself, but will look forward to having the opportunity down the line. With Fujiko TV's moderate success as a dubbed production, let's hope for a North American localization down the road. Castle of Cagliostro DVD re-issue special features revealed Discotek Media has revealed the final list of special features for the Castle of Cagliostro 35th anniversary re-release, coming later this month (December 23rd, to be exact...a week and one day after the film's Japanese debut 35 years ago). Here it is:
Discotek also reminded us that the film's opening credits are the uncensored, original Japanese version. Any additional questions you might have about the new DVD have either been previously answered on the unofficial Castle of Cagliostro tumblr blog or on Discotek's own Facebook page, but there will likely be an FAQ about it soon before the release either here or on the Lupin III Encyclopedia Forum. More news to come! |
Castle of Cagliostro news bomb! Discotek BD license, Japanese rerelease!
A few short days ago, Discotek Media posted the announcement to their Facebook page that they will be releasing Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in North America. The DVD is scheduled "probably in August" and the Blu-ray as soon as December 2014 and as late as early 2015. No reason was cited for why the BD would arrive later. Both releases will include both Streamline Pictures and Manga Entertainment US English dubs, the Japanese original audio, and English subtitles. Besides an already recorded commentary track by Reed Nelson, extras were not announced in detail. The people working on the project have a few ideas in mind, including an entirely optional edited-for-cursing version of the Manga Entertainment dub, some unused storyboards put into animatic form, preproduction art, multiple subtitle tracks, or even Cliff Hanger footage and audio. However, because special features need licensor approval, these are only possibilities and not guarantees of inclusion. On an eerily similar note, Studio Ghibli today revealed a new Japanese megaset of Hayao Miyazaki's theatrical films, as far back as The Castle of Cagliostro all the way up to The Wind Rises, including a previously unreleased TV pilot film. It's roughly $600 for the Blu-ray version of this set, which lands in mid-July, but if you can wait a while, the standalone Blu-ray will be out August 6th. This marks the first time that Cagliostro has been inducted as part of the Ghibli ga Ippai collection proper (the 2001 DVD release called it a Ghibli ga Ippai "Special"). No announcements on extras or language features yet, but the listing mentions that the BD will be "remastered from the latest HD master," which seems to imply that it is not using a fresh HD transfer, rather maximizing the existing HD one seen on VAP's previous release in 2008 and other international releases. Only time will tell how the picture quality differs. And of course, that makes one wonder which transfer Discotek will use for the North American release, and the answer is: we don't know yet! Stay tuned. |
Bye Bye Lady Liberty DVD In-hand!
Hello everyone,
A few days ago here at the LupintheThird.com offices, we received a copy of the Discotek Media/Eastern Star version of "Lupin the Third: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty" DVD. The cover looks great in print, and we're looking forward to giving our thoughts on the release, which will be in e-tailer shelves on March 25th.
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Lupin: Hemingway Papers DVD, Commentaries announced, Blu-ray Hint
This update's a bit late, but there you go. Discotek Media announced a North American DVD release for Lupin the Third: The Hemingway Papers (1990 TV Special) on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/147168055312297/photos/pb.147168055312297.-2207520000.1393148809./784353254927104/?type=3&theater As Discotek does not commission new dubs for their productions, this will include only Japanese language audio with English subtitles. The video has been newly remastered from HD elements, unlike the previous Japanese DVD. May 27th, 2014 is its release date. Also, recently, through our Twitter account, this site announced two audio commentaries for upcoming Discotek Lupin releases. The March, 2014 release of Bye Bye, Lady Liberty will feature a solo commentary by Mike Toole, contributor to Anime News Network and Topless Robot. The Hemingway Papers will feature a two-man commentary with both Mike and our own Reed Nelson. And last but not least, in their Hemingway Papers announcement on Facebook, Discotek Media also announced a Blu-ray for a previously unannounced Lupin title will be announced for release later this year. They clarified that is was a title they have neither previously announced or released. This rules out some previously released fan favorites like Mystery of Mamo and The First TV Series, but leaves open the possibility of newer TV specials like Blood Seal: Eternal Mermaid, The Last Job, Princess of the Breeze, or even long-requested titles like Legend of the Gold of Babylon or even the revered Castle of Cagliostro. Time will tell what it might be! More Lupin news to come! |
Discotek secures UK English Dub for "Bye-Bye Liberty" DVD
After over a month of uncertainty, Discotek Media has announced, via Reed Nelson of LupintheThird.com, that the English dub has been authorized for inclusion on the Discotek Media release of "Bye-Bye Liberty". This 1989 Lupin the Third TV Special has never before been released in North America, neither has its English dub. The DVD will release early in 2014 and include extra features such as liner notes and a fan-recorded audio commentary. Further details are coming soon. |
Japanese Lupin Live-Action Film coming Summer 2014
More specifics here: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-26/lupin-iii-gets-live-action-film-in-summer-2014-starring-shun-oguri The main cast is as follows: Lupin the Third: Shun Oguri Daisuke Jigen: Tetsuji Tamayama Goemon Ishikawa: Gou Ayano Fujiko Mine: Meisa Kuroki Inspector Zenigata: Tadanobu Asano Director: Ryuuhei Kitamura (Godzilla: Final Wars, Azumi, Versus, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes cutscenes) ANN reports that the lead actor, Oguri, "underwent 10 months of action training for the role, losing 8 kilograms (about 17.6 pounds)." Our long-time forumite Jo had shared rumors of this project months, even years in advance, but this is the first time it has materialized into an actual announcement. We can only speculate what will come of it, but there are already shots of Oguri in the wild in what appears to be at least partial costume, and plausible rumors that the director wants to revise the character of Goemon to be a bit more believable. Much like Luis Cruz of the Lupin Encyclopedia observed, we'll [try to] refrain from comment until we see a trailer. |
"Bye Bye Liberty" announced for DVD in 2014!
Discotek Media has announced on their Facebook page today that Bye Bye Liberty Crisis, the 1989 feature-length Lupin TV Special, will be made available on DVD in North America in 2014. Liberty was the first entry in the long-running TV Special series and marked the return of the Part II TV series voice cast after their notable absence in 1987's Plot of the Fuma Clan. The first questions on everyone's mind are whether or not it will include the Manga UK English dub from the mid-1990s, and what other extras will be included. As for the dub, Discotek is still waiting on clearance for its inclusion, so it's a "maybe" at this point. We'll keep you posted. As for extras, they will probably be limited to anything TMS provides and maybe an original extra or two. Discotek most recently released Lupin the Third: Green vs. Red, the 2008 Lupin OVA, in May of this year. |
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