Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye explained

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye
Native Name:
Kana:ルパン三世 VS キャッツ・アイ
Revhep:Rupan Sansei vs. Kyattsu Ai
Based On:Lupin the 3rd
by Monkey Punch
and Cat's Eye
by Tsukasa Hojo
Director:Kōbun Shizuno
Hiroyuki Seshita
Screenplay:Shuji Kuzuhara
Producer:Takuya Yasue
Takahiro Koda
Starring:Kanichi Kurita
Akio Otsuka
Daisuke Namikawa
Miyuki Sawashiro
Koichi Yamadera
Keiko Toda
Rika Fukami
Chika Sakamoto
Mugihito
Banjō Ginga
Hiroki Tōchi
Takayuki Sugō
Music:Yuji Ohno
Kazuo Otani
fox capture plan
Studio:TMS Entertainment
Distributor:Amazon Prime Video
Country:Japan
Language:Japanese

is a 2023 Japanese original net animation (ONA) film directed by Kōbun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita from a screenplay by Shuji Kuzuhara which serves as a crossover between the Lupin the Third franchise, itself based on the manga of the same name by Monkey Punch and the Cat's Eye manga by Tsukasa Hojo respectively. Produced by TMS Entertainment, the film serves as the twelfth Lupin the 3rd film and the second to be a crossover, after 2013's and stars the franchise's regular voice cast as well as the remaining cast members of TMS' 1983-1985 Cat's Eye anime reprising their roles.

The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on January 27, 2023.

Cast

CharacterJapanese voice actorEnglish dub actor
Lupin the 3rdKanichi KuritaTony Oliver
Daisuke JigenAkio OtsukaRichard Epcar
Goemon IshikawaDaisuke NamikawaLex Lang
Fujiko MineMiyuki SawashiroMichelle Ruff
Inspector ZenigataKōichi YamaderaDoug Erholtz
Hitomi KisugiKeiko TodaAlicyn Packard
Rui KisugiRika FukamiCristina Valenzuela
Ai KisugiChika SakamotoDeneen Melody
Toshi UtsumiYoshito YasuharaRyan Colt Levy
Sadatsugu NagaishiMugihito
Heinrich BergerBanjō Ginga (fake voice)
Takayuki Sugō (real voice)
Tom Choi
Dennis KirchmannHiroki TōchiKeith Silverstein
Michael HeinzBanjo GingaSean Burgos

Production

The film was announced on September 21, 2022 with its initial crew as well as the confirmation of Kanichi Kurita and Keiko Toda reprising as Lupin and Hitomi respectively being revealed that same day. The film marks the 50th anniversary of the animated adaptations of Lupin the 3rd and the 40th anniversary of the Cat's Eye manga. The film is set in the 1980s period that Cat's Eye is set in with Lupin wearing his pink jacket from Lupin the 3rd Part III.[1] On December 6th of that year, the rest of the cast was revealed, including Akio Otsuka's first performance as Daisuke Jigen in a Lupin the 3rd film as well as Rika Fukami (replacing Toshiko Fujita) as Rui Kisugi and Mugihito (replacing Tamio Ohki) as Sadagatsu Natsumi.[2]

Music

Instrumental band fox capture plan performed the opening theme as well as renditions of Kazuo Otani's score for the Cat's Eye anime.[2] Most of Yuji Ohno's score is taken from past Lupin the 3rd media such as The First, Part 6, Part 5 and Part IV. Anri returned to perform a new rendition of the Cat's Eye anime's first theme song for the film's end credits.

Release

The film was released on Prime Video on January 27, 2023 marking the first anime film to receive a global simultaneous release for the platform. A screening for the film was held on January 25th of that year with co-director Seshita as well as voice actors Kurita and Toda being in attendance.[3]

Home media release

The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on March 13, 2024 by VAP.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lupin III, Cat's Eye Get CG Crossover Anime in 2023. Rafael. Antonio Pineda. Anime News Network. 21 September 2022. 6 November 2024.
  2. Web site: Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye Anime's Video Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs, January 27 Amazon Debut. Rafael. Antonio Pineda. 6 December 2022. 6 November 2024. Anime News Network.
  3. Web site: Amazon Original『ルパン三世VSキャッツ・アイ』ジャパンプレミア. Cinema Today. 25 January 2023. 7 November 2024. ja.
  4. Web site: ルパン三世VSキャッツ・アイ. VAP. 7 November 2024.