Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro

Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Running time
100 min
Year
1979

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
12th Dec 04

Of all the Lupin III movies and specials, The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the most widely seen and highly recommended. This is very likely due to the writer and director Hayao Miyazaki who also made the more recent titles Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Miyazaki brings his own blend of story telling to the Lupin III franchise. This gives it the modern day fairy tale feel you get from Miyazaki's other films. Worried? Don't be Miyazaki is no stranger to Lupin III in fact he wrote and directed some of the best episodes of the television series. Lupin III films have a very distinctive style as do Miyazaki's films, and the blend between these two is amazing.

Lupin III and his right hand man Jigen pull of a heist at a national casino only to find the money they've stolen are forgeries and some of the best, known as 'Goat Bills' and are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. They dump the money and decide to uncover the mysteries of the 'Goat Bills'. This takes them to the small European country of Cagliostro where anyone who asks around about the 'Goat Bills' mysteriously vanishes. Upon entering the country Lupin encounters a runaway bride pursued by a group of thugs. Lupin rescues her, only for her to be kidnapped again! However Lupin has her ring. Upon finding that the regent, the Count of Cagliostro is the one that kidnapped the young girl, and that they are to marry, Lupin sets out to rescue her, a good thing too, as the Count wants the ring in Lupin's possession. Lupin gathers the old gang to break into the Count's Castle rescue his blushing bride and uncover the mysteries of the 'Goat Bills'.

If you've not seen or even heard of Lupin III then you may wonder just who 'the gang' are? Firstly Lupin himself master thief, ladies man and gentleman. Jigen a crack shot who is Lupin's right hand man, Goemon the silent but serious samurai with a blade that can cut steel. Fujiko a female thief who is part lover part rival to Lupin, and of course the hapless Inspector Zenigata, whose only mission in life is to see Lupin behind bars (but there also occasionally good comrades). The more you know of these characters the more enjoyment you will get from the film, but knowing them is not essential.

Lupin's artwork and animation is rather distinctive, which means while this is rather an old film and might not look as good as Spirited Away did alongside other Lupin III anime it doesn't seem out of place at all. Saying that the artwork is not always to everyone's taste. The music is of high quality and varies from the soothing theme music of the film to the James Bond Esq. Lupin III theme. There are two English dubs of the film one where Lupin is referred to as 'Wolf' and there are a few mistranslation errors throughout, and a second much more improved one, but it is also starting to show its age a little.

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a must have film wither you're a Lupin III fan or a Miyazaki fan and you have to be one of them at least to be an anime fan!

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 12th Dec 04

Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro Images