Otaku Corner: Lupin the 3rd: Goodbye Partner

Lupin the 3rd: Goodbye Partner steals hearts

In a previous issue of GI, I reviewed Black Lagoon, a manga series about the Lagoon Company, a group that specializes in delivering questionable goods if you don’t mind a little chaos along the way. In this issue, I’m focusing on the originator of the gang of thieves, Lupin the 3rd. Ever since his manga debut in 1967, Lupin along with his crew Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko and his archnemesis/comedic foil Inspector Zenigata have been traveling the world for the next big score while indirectly fighting nefarious forces. Their latest animated adventure was released a few months back, and I was able to enjoy Lupin the 3rd: Goodbye Partner.

In this latest adventure, Zenigata is accused by INTERPOL of being an accomplice in Lupin’s recent heist. To prove his critics wrong and clear Zenigata’s name, Lupin announces that he will be stealing the Time Crystal, a special diamond that can power a quantum supercomputer that allows its user to obtain absolute power. Meanwhile, a British pianist with ties to Jigen’s past is kidnapped, forcing a chain of events that could spell global chaos. Once again, it’s up to Lupin and company to stop a pending crisis while at the same time attempt a successful heist that could pay off for them.

As a fan of Lupin, I have enjoyed the series ever since its appearance on Adult Swim in 2003. While the animation was done in a ’60s style, the dubs focused on current pop culture making Lupin a noteworthy old-school classic. After Lupin was introduced to English-speaking audiences, various anime companies obtained licenses from TMS Entertainment to dub episodes and movies in other languages, which expanded Lupin’s adventures beyond its manga stories. TMS continued using this same formula in Lupin Part 6 where he and his cohorts partnered with a computer hacker to rip-off a tech genius/criminal with a grudge against him. I appreciated that the characters kept up with modern advances such as the internet and social media, but did not slow down on the action sequences. As the story goes on, the main villain reveals themself to be a formidable foe for Lupin. However, in the end, our favorite master thief comes up on top, proving that he’s the greatest thief of all time.

I also like that director Jun Kawagoe and writers Furi Kosaka and Takehiko Hata used actual organizations such as INTERPOL and NATO to sell the chaos of the main villain’s brief victory over the U.S. government or anyone else who could oppose him. Kosaka and Hata also gave nods to former CIA agent Edward Snowden and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

TMS Entertainment USA and Bang Zoom! Entertainment delivered without fail in the English dub. Laura Stahl’s English adaption and Yuki Uraka’s translation were excellent, ensuring that while current events were included, the elements that make Lupin the 3rd were not sacrificed. TMS and Bang Zoom were wise to keep Tony Oliver, Michelle Ruff, Richard Epcar, and Lex Lang as Lupin, Fujiko, Jigen and Goemon, and Doug Erholtz as Zenigata. Armen Taylor’s role as villain Roy Forest sold the character’s maniacal ambitions without being overboard.

I also give Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry kudos for supporting the English dub through their JLOD subsidy grant, which allowed Lupin fans stateside and elsewhere to enjoy the latest adventures of anime’s master thief. The English dub was temporary available on TMS’ official YouTube channel but can be streamed for free on Tubi and can be brought on Amazon, YouTube TV, and Apple TV Plus.

Lupin the 3rd: Goodbye Partner is a fresh and vivid chapter in anime’s notorious and comedic thief’s latest adventures. While GI doesn’t advise readers to commit theft, if you want a masterclass in anime thievery, Lupin the 3rd is the go-to authority.

Brandon Beatty is editor-at-large of Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by email at brandonb@gaminginsurrection.com

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