What Is Lupin III? The Legendary Thief Franchise Behind a Rare New 2D Film, Explained by Marine

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Nearly 60 years after his debut, master thief Lupin III got a rare, genuinely old-school treatment: a traditional 2D theatrical film, his first in nearly three decades.

Over Five Decades of the World's Greatest Thief

Monkey Punch began serializing Lupin III in 1967, introducing the globally famous gentleman thief and his crew, including sharpshooter Jigen, samurai swordsman Goemon, and rival-turned-ally Fujiko Mine. The TV anime began airing in 1971 and has continued through numerous series, specials, and films ever since, making Lupin III one of Japan's most enduring anime franchises.

A Rare Return to 2D Film

"Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline," directed by Takeshi Koike, released in Japan on June 27, 2025 — the franchise's first traditional feature-length 2D theatrical film since 1996's "Dead or Alive." It screened in North American theaters for three days starting January 4, 2026, before its digital release on March 24, 2026 and Blu-ray release on July 21, 2026, giving international fans multiple ways to catch this rare theatrical outing.

What To Know

Lupin III's "The Immortal Bloodline" being the franchise's first fully traditional 2D theatrical feature since 1996 is a genuinely rare event for a franchise this old, most of its recent big-screen output has used 3DCG or TV-special formats, so a return to the classic hand-drawn theatrical film approach carries real significance for longtime fans of the original style.

Lupin III's status as one of Japan's longest continuously produced anime franchises, spanning over five decades of manga, TV series, specials, and films, makes it a useful reference point for understanding how differently "long-running franchise" can look in Japan compared to most Western media franchises of comparable age.

What Fans Are Saying

• "A real 2D Lupin III theatrical film after almost 30 years is such a treat."
• "Takeshi Koike directing feels like a perfect fit for this franchise's style."
• "Glad it got a proper North American theatrical run before streaming."

Original Japanese

• 「約30年ぶりの本格的な2D劇場作品というのは本当に嬉しいですね」
• 「小池健監督の起用は、このシリーズにぴったりだと思います」
• 「配信の前に北米での劇場公開があったのは良かったです」

Easy Japanese

「ルパン三世」は、モンキー・パンチさんが生んだ怪盗のマンガ・アニメです。1967年に始まり、50年以上愛されています。