Lupin III releases update

[livingfruitvirus]

For those who have lost track or don't keep track at all, here's the release schedule for upcoming Lupin the 3rd DVDs.

Lupin the 3rd #1: The World's Most Wanted - 1/28/2003 [cover (http://www.rightstuf.com/images/large_images/pd11945.jpg)]
Lupin the 3rd #2: Love Heist - 4/8/2003
Lupin the 3rd #3: Family Jewels - date unknown (up for pre-order though)

Lupin the 3rd movie: Dragon of Doom - 2/11/2003 [cover (http://www.rightstuf.com/images/large_images/fun03973.jpg)]
Lupin the 3rd movie: Voyage to Danger - 5/20/2003

[sl4]

Sweet! 6 episodes on the first disc, and still only $22? :eek: I know I'll definitely be buying those!

[JeffTMBG]

Looks like slow going. Still, I'm glad to see some of the movies have been announced. IIRC, Voyage to Danger is a good one which features Zenigata getting fired and joining the Lupin crew.

[Daisuke Jigen]

I've got a preview copy of the first disc right now, along with the Sideburns soundtrack. The soundtrack is great. I'm reluctant to watch the disc though. I'm having too much fun living out my fantasies of watching Lupin on TV. :D

[Daisuke Jigen]

Originally posted by JeffTMBG
Looks like slow going. Still, I'm glad to see some of the movies have been announced. IIRC, Voyage to Danger is a good one which features Zenigata getting fired and joining the Lupin crew.

Is this the one where Lupin and crew steal the submarine?

[jeffrey 228]

Originally posted by superloud4
Sweet! 6 episodes on the first disc, and still only $22? :eek: I know I'll definitely be buying those!

Pioneer must be in Budget problems it seems, like Viz is at right now, but that is a deal that you can't pass up. :)

[Chris Wood]

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen
Is this the one where Lupin and crew steal the submarine?

Yes.

[Daisuke Jigen]

Originally posted by Desslar
Yes.

I just watched that this weekend. If its been picked up, I should stop sharing it then, shouldn't I?

Its got great animation, but the story is kinda...eh. However the sub I got is EXCEPTIONAL.

[JeffTMBG]

Originally posted by jeffrey 228
Pioneer must be in Budget problems it seems, like Viz is at right now, but that is a deal that you can't pass up. :)

Viz has always been stingy with episodes. They went for years releasing Ranma 1/2 with only 2 episodes. Bear in mind that Ranma has over 150 episodes. They've only recently bumped up episode counts to 3, still sad for long series like Ranma and Inu Yasha.

As for Pioneer, they still haven't gotten on the 4+ episodes per disc bandwagon, at least for new series. I guess if people are willing to pay, they'll keep it up.

[Cyporiean]

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen
I just watched that this weekend. If its been picked up, I should stop sharing it then, shouldn't I?

Its got great animation, but the story is kinda...eh. However the sub I got is EXCEPTIONAL.

All the Lupin Movies are licensed -_-

[Daisuke Jigen]

Originally posted by Galvatron
All the Lupin Movies are licensed -_-

Then I won't distro what I have now.

I'm really not up on whats liscensed and whats not right now.

For the longest time it was just : Cagliostro, The two Animeigo movies, and those tapes with a few final episodes ala "Aloha Lupin".

[Cyporiean]

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen
Then I won't distro what I have now.

I'm really not up on whats liscensed and whats not right now.

For the longest time it was just : Cagliostro, The two Animeigo movies, and those tapes with a few final episodes ala "Aloha Lupin".

yea, Funimation has the rights to all the remaining ones..

[Beat]

Which leads to confusion.

Am I the only one that thinks the CN is trying to make Lupin into a late night pop fad?

[SSDDR]

i wouldnt mind, popularity = cheap dvds! and perhaps a US release of the new PS2 game thats actualy not that bad, like a Metal gear solid with lupin.

[Lupin the Wolf]

Actually, no one has laid any official claim on these Lupin movies:

(2002 TV) Episode Zero: First Contact
(2001 TV) Alcatraz Connection
(1989 TV) Bye Bye Liberty - Begin Emergency!
(1990 TV) The Riddle of the Hemingway Papers
(1991 TV) Steal Napoleon's Dictionary!
(1992 TV) From Russia With Love
(2002 OAV) Return of Pycal

So they're not all licensed.
FUNimation got all the TV movies and theatrical features released between 1993 and 2000 (10 in all). Anything outside of that timeline *appears* to be up for grabs. Pioneer and FUNimation I'm sure are competing for those remaining licenses at this point. Though, there is some speculation that Pioneer has a lot more Lupin than they are admitting to.

Edit: Adjusted movie dates and added "Steal Napoleon's Dictionary!"

[Mike Toole]

There's also the soundtrack CDs that Pioneer is releasing.

The first disc, which comes out before the end of January, is the 'Sideburn Club Mix'. It's not actually a soundtrack, but rather a remix of several of the best songs from Lupin III (some versions of the OP, 'Love Squall', 'Superhero', and others). If you've stumbled across the three import-only "Punch the Monkey!" remix CDs at an anime convention or shop, this is familiar territory-- this disc plays like a "best of" of those discs. It's quite decent, but again, it's NOT really a soundtrack.

Fortunately, Pioneer will be releasing the actual soundtrack (apparently) in April. :D :D

[Chris Wood]

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen
I just watched that this weekend. If its been picked up, I should stop sharing it then, shouldn't I?

Its got great animation, but the story is kinda...eh. However the sub I got is EXCEPTIONAL.

Yeah, that is one of the few serious Lupin films. If you don't go for that kind of Lupin, I would also avoid Cagliosotro, Dead or Alive, and Walther P-38. These films have their high points (especially if you like action), but don't have much humor. I prefer the funny ones myself.

[Chris Wood]

Originally posted by Lupin the Wolf
(1989 TV) Bye Bye Liberty - Begin Emergency!
(1990 TV) The Riddle of the Hemingway Papers
(1991 TV) From Russia With Love


Those films can rot for all I care. They're mostly boring and mediocre. Bye Bye Liberty is especially poor.

[Lupin the Wolf]

The four TV Movies between '89 and '92 were pretty lame. But they did have a few good lines of comedy.

[JeffTMBG]

I believe the Mystery of Mamo is now unlicensed as well. The DVD has been out of print for some time now. I wouldn't be surprised if Pioneer redubs it and finally adds a subtitle track sometime soon, though.

[Daisuke Jigen]

I've got the Alcatraz connection, and it has a pretty darn good story. I'm also quite fond of Napoleans Dictionary.

I wonder if "In Memory of Walther P-38" will get released here? As I understand, it is quite dark, and bloody.

[atomic_afro]

Does anyone know when The Gold Of Babylon will be re-released on DVD? My old VHS copy is starting to wear down....

[Lupin the Wolf]

"The Fuma Conspiracy"--one of AnimEigo's two Lupin licenses--will be released sometime within the next month or so (gotta love their "firm" street dates :P ). The CEO, Robert Woodhead, has stated that the release of "Golden Legend of Babylon" will rely on "The Fuma Conspiracy's" sales. This is a fair enough decision, as most viewers seem to think "Fuma" is the better film of the two, anyhow.

[livingfruitvirus]

Originally posted by Desslar
Yeah, that is one of the few serious Lupin films. If you don't go for that kind of Lupin, I would also avoid Cagliosotro, Dead or Alive, and Walther P-38. These films have their high points (especially if you like action), but don't have much humor. I prefer the funny ones myself.

I believe FUNimation will be releasing "Dead or Alive" and "Walther P-38" (which will be called "Island of Assassin").

[Sprocket]

Originally posted by Mike Toole
There's also the soundtrack CDs that Pioneer is releasing.

The first disc, which comes out before the end of January, is the 'Sideburn Club Mix'. It's not actually a soundtrack, but rather a remix of several of the best songs from Lupin III (some versions of the OP, 'Love Squall', 'Superhero', and others). If you've stumbled across the three import-only "Punch the Monkey!" remix CDs at an anime convention or shop, this is familiar territory-- this disc plays like a "best of" of those discs. It's quite decent, but again, it's NOT really a soundtrack.

Fortunately, Pioneer will be releasing the actual soundtrack (apparently) in April. :D :D

While this is indeed great news, is there any chance that we'll see the 'Punch the Monkey' collection over here? I've yet to find them online, and I really want to find the source of a remix of Lupin's theme done by Masanoi Ikeda.

That would make my day.

The Lupin the 3rd Jazz Collection however, would REALLY make my day.

[Mike Toole]

Originally posted by Lupin the Wolf
"The Fuma Conspiracy"--one of AnimEigo's two Lupin licenses--will be released sometime within the next month or so (gotta love their "firm" street dates :P ). The CEO, Robert Woodhead, has stated that the release of "Golden Legend of Babylon" will rely on "The Fuma Conspiracy's" sales. This is a fair enough decision, as most viewers seem to think "Fuma" is the better film of the two, anyhow.

Will they be sticking with the "Rupan" business? You'd think that it's no longer an issue...

And I think it's safe to say we'll get "Golden Legend..." based on Fuma Conspiracy. IMO it's an excellent movie, almost the equal of Cagliostro in a few parts. (The only problem is the cast, who don't do it for me nearly as much as the originals.)

I'd also love a re-release of Mystery of Mamo, which is vastly underrated IMO. I like the Streamline dub, despite the rewrites-- I own the out of print (and quite expensive on eBay) DVD, but a subbed version would be nice, as would the original '78 dub.

Sprocket: I rather doubt we'll see an unexpurgated release of Punch the Monkey!, since, as I said, Sideburn Club Mix is a 'best of' collection of songs from the 3 discs. Maybe if it sells REALLY well, we'll get more. But if I were you, I'd look into importing.

As much as I love some j-pop (and shibuya-kei in particular), the Punch the Monkey! discs never grabbed me. I REALLY want more original TV BGM and songs, though. That stuff is classy and fun to listen to.

[Sprocket]

Sounds good. As long as we get Picizatto Five, The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and the Ventures, I can't complain.

And yeah, the TV soundtrack is something I'm looking forward to too. Considering that my favorite music from Cagliostro turned out to be straight from the series, I think I'll enjoy this.

And Mike, I'm curious, who did the 1978 dub. Was that the one they made for the airline for American passengers, or am I thinking of something else? And who was in that one?

As for the Fuma Consipracy, which cast? I never could figure out why they couldn't get any of the original Japense actors for that release, myself. Was their ever a reason given? I doubt that it was because it was an OAV. It was even given a theatrical release later on, I believe.

And I went to Animeigo's site. It's still 'Rupan' there. Ugh.

[Lupin the Wolf]

AnimEigo is required by contract to use the "Rupan" name (something that was determined back in 1994), and I rather doubt they'll bother renegotiating that contract in an attempt to use the name "Lupin." In fact, I worry that AnimEigo will begin to claim that "Rupan" his Lupin's true name (one of the AE employees at their booth at Anime Expo began arguing with me on the matter, as well as the comment in the Macross TV liner notes: "We'll leave the Lupin/Rupan argument for our liner notes on our titles for that series").

The 1978/79 dub of "Mystery of Mamo" dub was made for Japan AirLines transatlantic flights. No one is really certain who the VA's were, though I've heard reports on Usenet of people hearing their voices in some other productions.

The Fuma Conspiracy (more accurately translated as "Plot of the Fuma Clan") had a different Japanese voice cast because of budgeting issues. The story is that Yasuo Ohtsuka (a long-time artist for the series, and is currently working on the latest Lupin manga) wanted to take a different approach to Lupin than many directors had in the past. Note the lack of Yuji Ohno jazz music in the soundtrack, as well. Monkey Punch agreed to the cutting of the budget for voice acting, but ended up in hot water with Yasuo Yamada (Lupin's VA) over a miscommunication. Up until Yamada's death in 1995, Monkey Punch and Yamada's relationship was strained, which is, of course, very sad...
Anyway, yes it was totally a budget thing.