I wonder if it's another of those "popular in Japan but unknown internationally" because I never saw anyone admiting to watching that series
ElduRSverO2025-12-26 17:38
Not only is it huge in Japan for, among other things, starting Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata’s directing careers, it’s also a huge deal in Italy. IP disputes have negatively impacted the series for a long time, as in many countries the name "Lupin" couldn’t be used.
MyNameIs-Anthony2025-12-26 18:16
Lupin is decently big everywhere that isn't English speaking.
It's a good example of how anime kind of just *was" in a lot of places because of being licensed as normal cartoons (see: Lupin in Italy, Anpanman in India, Dragon Ball in Mexico, and Captain Tsubasa/Saint Seiya in France) rather than being handled as something exotic like it was in the English speaking world. The western reflex toward stigma never developed.
Riskybusiness6222025-12-26 18:18
Was on tv in US it’s a known quantity.
NullOracle2025-12-26 18:26
Yeah, uses to watch it as part of toonami's anime rotation in the early 2000s.
DJ_CLARKO2025-12-26 19:21
Castle of Cagliostro literally has references in hundreds of western medias. Simpsons probably being the most famous one
Salty1452025-12-26 17:58
Devastated that it’s looking like I won’t be able to see the new movie in theaters. The only showing is 30 minutes away from me and I’m starting my new job that day (which is 30 minutes in the other direction) and the scheduling is just not working out.
Edit: I think I might be able to make a different day work. I do kinda want to see it on the big screen, so time to put in a little elbow grease and make it work.
Salty1452025-12-26 18:13
Never really dawned on me that his style is a mix of Kawajiri and Kanada, but now that he’s pointed it out, I guess it makes sense lol
An_Absurd_Word_Heard2025-12-26 18:42
Dunno if this is an unpopular opinion, but his run of Lupin movies have been pretty mediocre/disappointing, especially since *The Woman Called Fujiko Mine* ruled (which he didn't direct but was the character designer + animation director on).
Was happy to see this channel upload again either way, I highly recommend folks watch their series of Madhouse interviews, they're the kind of access and longform interview format that's sorely lacking in the anime sphere.
tiny_nipples2025-12-27 01:20
As far as I can tell, this is indeed an unpopular opinion. At the time of its airing, Woman Called Fujiko Mine was dinged by fans for having a poor conclusion, but more power to you if you feel the opposite. I plan to rewatch it in advance of all five Koike flicks becoming digitally available, so maybe I'll make more sense of its ending the second time around.
void0052025-12-27 16:05
That is quite the hot and spicy take. Jigen's Gravestone and Bloodsoked Goemon are some of the most well received installments in the franchise and WCF is quite divisive to this day.
Sweet-Message11532025-12-26 19:04
Castle of Cagliostro & Lupin III : The First should be must watch for anyone interested in anime movies
MumrikDK2025-12-27 02:53
>Castle of Cagliostro
The clearly best one too of what I've watched.
deadacclaim2025-12-27 06:04
Not really surprising considering who directed it
OddyGaul2026-01-15 22:43
Thanks for posting this! It's been a grip since I've seen a Koike interview, he looks *so* different with the glasses and that cut.
Love to hear that him and Ishii are still collaborating creatively, and that's a cool fact that Yamamoto did chara designs for *World Record*, I had no idea.
As much as I've enjoyed these OVAs, I'm sort of excited to hear how definitive he was about being done with Lupin at the end there... maybe now that this is wrapped up and his kids have grown up a bit, he's got that fire back in him for another original 👀
FierceAlchemist2026-01-15 23:00
Agreed. I wonder if he realized when he signed on to Lupin it would take over a decade to complete.
Commentaires
It's a good example of how anime kind of just *was" in a lot of places because of being licensed as normal cartoons (see: Lupin in Italy, Anpanman in India, Dragon Ball in Mexico, and Captain Tsubasa/Saint Seiya in France) rather than being handled as something exotic like it was in the English speaking world. The western reflex toward stigma never developed.
Edit: I think I might be able to make a different day work. I do kinda want to see it on the big screen, so time to put in a little elbow grease and make it work.
Was happy to see this channel upload again either way, I highly recommend folks watch their series of Madhouse interviews, they're the kind of access and longform interview format that's sorely lacking in the anime sphere.
The clearly best one too of what I've watched.
Love to hear that him and Ishii are still collaborating creatively, and that's a cool fact that Yamamoto did chara designs for *World Record*, I had no idea.
As much as I've enjoyed these OVAs, I'm sort of excited to hear how definitive he was about being done with Lupin at the end there... maybe now that this is wrapped up and his kids have grown up a bit, he's got that fire back in him for another original 👀