MissSimonetta While this show does suffer from a terrible pilot episode and occasional bad writing, this first Lupin the Third series is a landmark in the history of animation. One of the first animated TV shows intended for adults, it was a failure upon its initial airing, and took years of reruns for it to get a boost in popularity.The show is of course dated in some ways. The animation is of the limited 60s/70s variety and the music is psychedelic. But as someone who watches movies much older than this, it's not that distracting. The show is full of action, comedy, and great characters.It's less kooky and formulaic than the later 1977 Lupin series, and the first half of the show is especially dark. Lupin was rarely ever as borderline villainous as he is in the first half of this series, save for his manga incarnation.Many modern anime fans won't give it a second look, but if you appreciate anime history or just plain animation history, then Lupin III is not to be missed.

Ian Gear (psychogoatee) This is a legendary anime series about some instant classic characters, the Lupin gang. This is amazingly ahead of it's time, being the first anime starring criminals, the first gritty comparatively more realistic anime with guns and such. Not just for anime, it's ahead of it's time in general.Most importantly, it's still a joy to watch nearly 40 years later. Lupin is the cool, laid back antihero. This laid back style, helped by the very cool soundtrack, is still influential today in titles like Cowboy Bebop. Lupin has other sides to him too of course, he has an ego, and he'll laugh like a maniac and take on any challenge. And of course, he gets pretty excited when there are ladies around, especially Fujiko.The supporting characters are great here. You have Jigen, Lupin's partner and best friend. He's very cool himself, a smooth criminal, but he's also the voice of reason, a more mature criminal. Then you have Fujiko, the classic femme fatale cat burglar, she is Lupin's love interest, and often his rival. Then there's Goemon, the renegade samurai with a strong moral code, who can cut anything. And of course, Inspector Zenigata, who tirelessly dedicates his life to capturing Lupin.Lupin is episodic, featuring 23 self contained stories. Although there is one plot that takes two episodes early on, with Goemon out to defeat Lupin. One episode Lupin is in prison, another time him and the gang have explosive watches put on that they can't take off. These are all great stories.An interesting thing about this series is that it has two different feels to it, depending on who is directing. Masaaki Osumi directs episodes 1-7, 9, and 12. These are the more dark and gritty episodes, and sometimes have a melancholy feel. These episodes are amazing, giving us the depth that the Lupin characters are built on.The founders of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, direct episodes 8, 10-11, and 13-23. These episodes are also superb, with a more fun and upbeat feel, closer to what Lupin is known for today. You can tell Miyazaki is involved when Lupin starts saving cute damsels in a gentlemanly heroic way.All in all, Lupin III is a classic series, which is still going strong today with movie specials. I recommend checking this out, it's must see anime.

comedicactor2840 May contain mild spoilers to those who haven't heard of it.Okay, basic plot? We'll go back to the late 1800s/early 1900s for this. Arsene Lupin is the greatest thief in France, and quite possibly the world. His trademark? He warns the person he is going to rob (usually a corrupt royal) and offers them to give him one object he desires, otherwise Lupin will rob the royal of everything they own.Cut to, the nineteen sixties. Lupin's grandson, Arsene Lupin the Third, has become the greatest thief in the WORLD. With the help of a former mafia enforcer, Jigen, a samurai who owes Lupin a life debt, Goemon, and occasionally (Though she usually works AGAINST Lupin to steal the same prize) Fujiko Mine, a beautiful thief who uses her good looks and sex to get what she wants. All the while the gang is being chased by bumbling interpol detective, Inspector Zenigata. Zenigata has vowed that he will not rest, until he has Lupin and his gang in custody, and has become obsessed with arresting the thief.All in all, this is a wonderful show. It brings to mind the original Pink Panther, and The Return of the Pink Panther (Both of which involved "the world's greatest thief" The Phantom.) Zenigata is a great take on the bumbling detective, and in the American Dub, Lupin (who's main weakness is the opposite sex (especially Fujiko) and his own ego) sounds almost identical to Don Adams.All in all, my rating of this series is 5/5. Can't wait to see the American big budget film that's in the works.

Roberto Ruccolo The best animated serie ever made! That wonderful japan anime was the first (and maybe since today the only) that describes the life of a gang in the crime world. Lupin The Third, the greater thief of the 20th century, his friend Jigen, a great gunman, his girlfriend Fujiko, the most sexy character in the japanese anime, and the samurai Goemon, enemy and friend at the same time, fight against the inspector Zenigata of the japanese police and against a lot of super villains, gangsters and criminal associations. The action, the violence, the sex, the adult target, weapons and cars made this cartoon a unique experience, with some humor, a lot of suspense and a wonderful soundtrack.