Ranked #1896

Lupin III: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure

Agent 007. Part-Time Assassins. Cross Dressing Nazis. Over the top characters? Check.

Three crazy statues. An eight-hundred BILLION dollar treasure. Lupin scores a date. Off the charts absurdity? Check.

Fujiko? Jigen? Zenigata? Check, check and check.

Alright, we got ourselves another Lupin special. Released in 1996, this is just another notch in the Lupin franchise with nothing too unique or defining about it. Unless, of course, you consider the bringing together of two literary icons "unique".

James Bond, born on page in 1953, is one of the most charismatic and captivating characters ever seen to come out of the 20th century. He is an icon, the embodiment of espionage and lady killing. A true master in his craft, an over-the-top personality that overcomes seemingly impossible odds time and time again...all in his best suit.

Lupin the Third, born as we know him on page in 1967, is without a doubt heavily influenced by the cavalier English spy. The adventures, the women, the gadgets...just about anything seen in them Lupin franchise can be traced back to the original exploits of double-o seven.

With all that said you're being led to believe that this story would be one epic tale of heroism, charm, and subterfuge. Well, it isn't. In fact, its rather disappointing all things considered. The two begin as enemies for only a brief while and become a tandem, yet their tandem is also brief and lackluster.

Long story short, same ol Lupin as always. Only difference is we get the rather disappointing inclusion of 007. You'll see the same characters as always reprising their same roles pulling the same gags to the same soundtrack.

I will admit though, I did get a chuckle out of Goemon being a "part-timer".

Lupin fans will enjoy this for what it is. It carried the franchise along in 1996 and has its place. Other than that, I can't recommend this to most anyone else. If you're not a big Lupin fan then theres no reason to catch this specific special. If you're looking to try out Lupin, there are much better representations (Secret of Mamo, Missed By A Dollar, Cagliostro).


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