Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye

Fun, thrilling, and a little insane
Well what else can you expect from Lupin the 3rd?

But this movie is especially a treat for any fan of Cat's Eye
Though it doesn't quite have the charm of the OG 1980s series, it does have it's own appeal, focusing on some aspects of the story the OG skipped on

While the OG is unbeatable in it's humor and it's heist scenes with enough gadgets to rival James Bond, i always felt like there was something missing, as painting after painting was stolen back, there wasn't really any time given to the meanings behind the paintings save for the simple fact ... they were painted by the Cat's Eye's father, which although is a compelling reason for their cat burglaries, it doesn't get that strong an emotional responce after being repeated for 70+ episodes

Something this movie on the other hand does impeccably well, giving us details about the paintings in question that are sure to shed some tears

Character interactions are top notch, i don't want to spoil too much about how Lupin and Cat's Eye get on, but i will say, the tag team Toshio + Zenigata is an absolute blast!

My only small pet peeve is... they got the eye colors wrong! Rui's the one with blue eyes not Hitomi!

Before I present my brief review, I have to state clearly that I am only familiar with and mainly concerned with Cat's Eye in this movie, and so most of my review will reflect that. I'll leave the critical review of Lupin III to other reviewers.

Let's start with the most obvious stuff. The CGI is HORRIBLE. It is painful to watch the whole movie at normal speed. For an anime that relies on a whole lot of fast action and motion, the CGI should be handled with utmost care, if CGI was even appropriate at all in the first place. That has not occurred. It ... is as if you're watching a typical stop claymotion at twice the speed. The only way I personally could enjoy this CGI product is if the movie was sped up at twice (2.0x) the original speed.

Then, the character design of the Cat's Eye trio is so foreign that I could barely recognize them if there was no "Cat's Eye" in the movie title. The CGI only made it worse. They look like barbie dolls swinging around Beverly Hills in a typical Totally Spies episode, and even one of those episodes has better animation than the Cat's Eye trio does in this movie. In addition, the 2019 City Hunter movie had short but brief cameo featuring the titular trio in an almost identical fashion but with modern animation. There, they looked better in all possible ways one could imagine a Cat's Eye anime in our present day.

The story itself is not exceptional. It is a typical heist action movie with a small grain of mystical element of treasure hunting sprinkled in. It's not terrible in any way, but it's nothing to write home about either. The only concern I have is that the overall (and I emphasize "overall") role of Cat's Eye in this movie has been reduced to nothing but mere stepping stones for Lupin III and gang to shine. Until the very end of the movie, Cat's Eye had everything handed down to them on a silver platter. If you're a Lupin III fan, you may rejoice at Lupin's and his gang's overwhelming appearance, but for one who thinks fondly of Cat's Eye after having finished the whole anime just a few weeks ago, it is rather disappointing to see Cat's Eye constantly overshadowed everywhere they got into action.

I would say that I still enjoyed the movie the first time I watched it, but as the movie concluded, the bitter epiphany began to sink in, especially with regards to Cat's Eye and the trio's involvement in this movie.

If you're looking forward to watching this movie, then try to banish all negative thoughts of CGI anime that might be swirling in your head right now. Oh, and don't expect too much of Cat's Eye in this movie. Do that, and you might just enjoy this movie like any other.

I truly think the creators of "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye" wanted people to like this movie. Combining two classic franchises known for beloved characters, memorable music, and fun action sounds like a love letter for the ages. Unfortunately, no amount of goodwill could have saved it from atrocious animation that brings the entire production down, and a story that deserves it. Whether you're a lover of Lupin or an admirer of Cat's Eye, you have nothing to gain from this -- and an hour and thirty one minutes to lose.

-Story and Characters-
Combining these master thieves in one movie is a comfortable fit, ... but the story that brings them together is shamefully mediocre. The smart writing from previous Lupin outings is unfortunately missing from this by-the-numbers story, leaving it planted in with the worst of the franchise OVAs. Knowing anything about these characters will immediately expose exactly how the plot will go, and the "vs." in the title is a paper-thin attempt at conflict that gets thrown in the trash before the halfway mark.
When you're making a story like "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye", it's a must to earn the crossover -- to something that celebrates the union of two iconic franchises. Instead, I have never seen a more dumbed-down, one-note version of these characters and their pathetic attempt at a plot. It's a disappointment.

-Art and Sound-
Clearly, the animation does not look good in "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye". The models are stiff, action is clunky, and there is a sense of lifelessness that permeates the whole picture. Action figures and statues have more expression than these character models, and honestly that's the worst part. Even in the worst movies, the Lupin gang have always been expressive and filled with personality, but even the actors seem dragged down by their on-screen counterparts. All these actors are veterans of the Japanese voice-over industry, some having played their character for decades, but were chained to animation that sank them like a weight.
It's a shame, because the character designs themselves are sharp and fun, and Yuji Ohno's music should be enjoyed on its own without this disaster of a project.

Had "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye" been a traditional 2D animation on par with some of Lupin's recent projects or CG on the level of "Lupin III The First" maybe something could be salvaged from this Lupin letdown. As is, this is an embarrassing tribute to the franchises it's trying to celebrate. In the 50 years of Lupin, and 40 of Cat's Eye, this entry should be wiped from history.