NickMB
04-02-2005, 05:17 PM
Lupin III: Island of Assassins (aka Lupin III: In Memory of the Walther P-38) will be released on April 26, 2005. FUNimation has updated their Lupin website, www.lupinthethird.com (http://www.lupinthethird.com/), to include information about this feature. FUNimation's Island of Assassins page includes a synopsis, character bios, a photo gallery, movie inspired desktop wallpaper, and a movie trailer that's "coming soon." Here's some information about this movie courtesy of www.lupinthethird.net (http://www.lupinthethird.net/). For more information, visit:
http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com/anime/special.php (http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com/anime/special.php)
Lupin the Third: In Memory of the Walther P38
90 Minutes, 1997 Color TV Special
Original Japanese Title: Warusaa P38: In Gekanden an die Walther P38
Story
Investigating the placement of a false "Lupin calling card," Lupin breaks into the home of a high-ranking official, only to be halted by Zenigata. On the run, Lupin witnesses a team of assassins crash the main man's birthday party only to kill him, and several of the guests. A female team member meets eyes with Lupin amidst the chaos, and the Inspector pursues the thief, while sending some officers downstairs to address the killers. Once Zenigata catches up with Lupin, the Old Man is shot by a mysterious silver-metallic Walther P38 (held in a hand with a mysterious marking) from a second-story window. But, Lupin carries a Walther P38...what is going on? The Lupin Gang's trip to an island inhabited entirely by assassins should answer all their questions about the mysterious killing group, Tarantula.
Content
Nudity: (Unedited Release) None.
Language: (Unedited Release) N/A for fansubtitled versions.
Violence: (Unedited Release) Blood, blood, and more blood. This is the most graphically violent of all the Lupin films. Most of it is purely gratuitous, but some of it's not.
Dubbing and Translation
(Fan-subtitled N/A)
Animation
Apparently recieving a large jump in animation budget from the previous special,The Secret of Twlight Gemini (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/twilight.htm), this story has fluid animation with a style never quite duplicated since. The framerate is smooth, and the action is followable but never sacrificed.
Review
A fantastically written action story, and easily one of the best full-length Lupin stories, this feature takes a more dark approach to the storytelling, with less humor than most of the Lupin specials. The directorial style hearkens back to the early Lupin TV episodes (and the previous year's Dead or Alive (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/dead.htm)), where really gloomy things are going on, and Lupin knows more about it than we're let in on at first. All around a very enjoyable experience that does not insult the intelligence of the viewer.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 4
Notes
In yet another nod to the Cagliostro (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/castle.htm) film, a page of ICPO's files shows a picture of both the late Count Cagliostro (who died in 1996, it claims) and his home, the "Chateau de Cagliostro." There is also some English text, but it is unrelated to the illustrations.
The official who is assassinated early in the picture looks remarkably similar to the balding old fellow Cammy kills in the beginning of Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. A reference, perhaps? I'd think it more likely if this special had been made by the director of the previous year's special (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/twilight.htm): Gisaburo Sugii. Sugii directed SFII. Though, it's possible the guy is a generic, public domain, "guy who gets assassinated early in the movie" character design that all the various studios use...?
FUNimation has announced the acquisition of this title, but its English release has yet to occur. The English version may be released under the name "Island of Assassins." (Nick's Note: the movie will be released on April 26, 2005)
The Following Review Is Courtesy of Kain of www.animeacademy.com (http://www.animeacademy.com)
Just about every Lupin (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=298) fan concedes that Castle of Cagliostro (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=301) is the pinnacle of the franchise. I wouldn't be one to disagree, but I must contend that In Memory of the Walther P38 comes very, very close.
Probably what I enjoyed most about this movie is that it is not your typical Lupin (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=298). Yes, Zenigata is a bumbling, stumbling fool who fails yet again to put the famous thief behind bars. Jigen, Fujiko and Goemon are mainly along for the ride and help move the plot along. But something is different... Lupin shows a dark side of himself that will no doubt take fans off guard. Some will not like it; I found it absolutely refreshing. It's good to see the "old man" is more than a one-dimensional womanizer for once. I will admit that trying to dig into Lupin's psyche and unearth moments of his past could have resulted in disaster, but the execution in this anime is fantastic. Every scene, be it comedic or dramatic, melds together without interruption.
Speaking of comedy, most Lupin movies, while filled with humorous moments, have a few jokes that just don't work as intended. Not so with Walther P38. I laughed heartily and often at the running gags, especially those involving Zenigata. I understand Mugs' trepidation toward Zenigata's role, but I found his scenes, brief as they were, to be key in allowing the viewer to come up for air once in a while. That animation is notches above what I expected, as well. If there was one thing I felt uncomfortable with, it was Kurita Kanichi's portrayal of Lupin. It seemed to me that he was trying too hard to emulate the emotional and vocal range of his predecessor, the late, great Yamada Yasuo. Without a doubt he had big shoes to fill, but Kurita should instead try to form his own style. Just my opinion.
http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com/anime/special.php (http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com/anime/special.php)
Lupin the Third: In Memory of the Walther P38
90 Minutes, 1997 Color TV Special
Original Japanese Title: Warusaa P38: In Gekanden an die Walther P38
Story
Investigating the placement of a false "Lupin calling card," Lupin breaks into the home of a high-ranking official, only to be halted by Zenigata. On the run, Lupin witnesses a team of assassins crash the main man's birthday party only to kill him, and several of the guests. A female team member meets eyes with Lupin amidst the chaos, and the Inspector pursues the thief, while sending some officers downstairs to address the killers. Once Zenigata catches up with Lupin, the Old Man is shot by a mysterious silver-metallic Walther P38 (held in a hand with a mysterious marking) from a second-story window. But, Lupin carries a Walther P38...what is going on? The Lupin Gang's trip to an island inhabited entirely by assassins should answer all their questions about the mysterious killing group, Tarantula.
Content
Nudity: (Unedited Release) None.
Language: (Unedited Release) N/A for fansubtitled versions.
Violence: (Unedited Release) Blood, blood, and more blood. This is the most graphically violent of all the Lupin films. Most of it is purely gratuitous, but some of it's not.
Dubbing and Translation
(Fan-subtitled N/A)
Animation
Apparently recieving a large jump in animation budget from the previous special,The Secret of Twlight Gemini (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/twilight.htm), this story has fluid animation with a style never quite duplicated since. The framerate is smooth, and the action is followable but never sacrificed.
Review
A fantastically written action story, and easily one of the best full-length Lupin stories, this feature takes a more dark approach to the storytelling, with less humor than most of the Lupin specials. The directorial style hearkens back to the early Lupin TV episodes (and the previous year's Dead or Alive (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/dead.htm)), where really gloomy things are going on, and Lupin knows more about it than we're let in on at first. All around a very enjoyable experience that does not insult the intelligence of the viewer.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 4
Notes
In yet another nod to the Cagliostro (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/castle.htm) film, a page of ICPO's files shows a picture of both the late Count Cagliostro (who died in 1996, it claims) and his home, the "Chateau de Cagliostro." There is also some English text, but it is unrelated to the illustrations.
The official who is assassinated early in the picture looks remarkably similar to the balding old fellow Cammy kills in the beginning of Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. A reference, perhaps? I'd think it more likely if this special had been made by the director of the previous year's special (http://larryhovis.net/lupinnet/anime/twilight.htm): Gisaburo Sugii. Sugii directed SFII. Though, it's possible the guy is a generic, public domain, "guy who gets assassinated early in the movie" character design that all the various studios use...?
FUNimation has announced the acquisition of this title, but its English release has yet to occur. The English version may be released under the name "Island of Assassins." (Nick's Note: the movie will be released on April 26, 2005)
The Following Review Is Courtesy of Kain of www.animeacademy.com (http://www.animeacademy.com)
Just about every Lupin (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=298) fan concedes that Castle of Cagliostro (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=301) is the pinnacle of the franchise. I wouldn't be one to disagree, but I must contend that In Memory of the Walther P38 comes very, very close.
Probably what I enjoyed most about this movie is that it is not your typical Lupin (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=298). Yes, Zenigata is a bumbling, stumbling fool who fails yet again to put the famous thief behind bars. Jigen, Fujiko and Goemon are mainly along for the ride and help move the plot along. But something is different... Lupin shows a dark side of himself that will no doubt take fans off guard. Some will not like it; I found it absolutely refreshing. It's good to see the "old man" is more than a one-dimensional womanizer for once. I will admit that trying to dig into Lupin's psyche and unearth moments of his past could have resulted in disaster, but the execution in this anime is fantastic. Every scene, be it comedic or dramatic, melds together without interruption.
Speaking of comedy, most Lupin movies, while filled with humorous moments, have a few jokes that just don't work as intended. Not so with Walther P38. I laughed heartily and often at the running gags, especially those involving Zenigata. I understand Mugs' trepidation toward Zenigata's role, but I found his scenes, brief as they were, to be key in allowing the viewer to come up for air once in a while. That animation is notches above what I expected, as well. If there was one thing I felt uncomfortable with, it was Kurita Kanichi's portrayal of Lupin. It seemed to me that he was trying too hard to emulate the emotional and vocal range of his predecessor, the late, great Yamada Yasuo. Without a doubt he had big shoes to fill, but Kurita should instead try to form his own style. Just my opinion.