Parts and spinoff shows!

OVERVIEW

THOUGHTS / HIGHLIGHTS

CONTENT WARNINGS / BAD THINGS

23 episodes.
Green jacket.
One of the first? the very first? teen / young adult oriented anime. The first approx. half was directed by Masaaki Osumi, the guy responsible for both the Lupin pilot film and that '69 Moomin series with the guns. Osumi was fired after the second episode aired because the ratings were so low and he refused to make the show appealing to a wider audience. Then, character designer Yasuo Otsuka decided up and coming animation powerhouses Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki were to take over directing. Both halves are great, in my opinion (though I like Osumi's half a little more). Mostly episodic, but develops Goemon's relationship with Lupin and co. over the course of a couple episodes.

My favorite part! The animation is really good for its time, and very charming now. The tonal shift created by the directorial change is really interesting. I am very grateful to A-Pro, and specifically Miyazaki, for giving us the Zenigata we now know and love (though I do still kinda prefer morally corrupt bastard Zenigata haha). Fujiko's (long hair) design is, in my opinion, the best. This Part is funny sometimes and sweet sometimes and the music is so bizarre that, in combination with the surreal environments, it has a very distinct feeling to it that I just can't get enough of. Also, the stupid soundtrack caused about 10% of the words I think to be "Go, go, man... you've got to... feel it"

Misogynistic. Slightly graphic violence in the first few episodes. The first three episodes are weird. I dislike the 20th and 21st episodes.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE episodes.
Red jacket.
Almost all episodic; there's at least one two-parter.

The dubbed portion is very unhinged, if you like that. Has some spectacular episodes (Miyazaki directed 145 (best Lupin + Miyazaki combination ever) and 155 (weird but I like it)). It's a widely beloved show.

Basically like playing Russian Roulette; you'll either get an outstandingly great episode or you will be killed instantly.

50 episodes.
Pink jacket.
It's a normal show. I'd recommend maybe starting with the 30th episode and watching to the end before starting at the beginning. I don't remember why this worked for me better than watching all the way through.

Decently consistent with the tone of Shin Lupin III (meaning surrealism and sex) and includes various adaptations of Shin chapters and one from Sexy Lupin III. So aggressively 80s; the colors are incredible. The art styles are COOL and you cannot argue with me on that point. The animation is much better than in- well, pretty much all the mainline shows. Jigen is sweetly smiley and Fujiko is weird in a very endearing way.

It's still misogynistic. There are various stereotypical Chinese villains and henchmen, and all Black side characters and background characters are designed in the style of minstrel shows, which is to say, there's racism. Go into this show with caution.

26 episodes.
Blue jacket.
They're in Italy, adventuring! Lupin gets married to... some woman we don't know??

This is actually a pretty good show to start with if you're looking to get into Lupin. The art style is interesting, the animation is good, and the opening credits sequence is SICK!!!!! WHOAA!!!!!!! And it's cool that they did something big for Italian fans! Rebecca is a memorable character, and definitely one of the best Lupin girls. If you like the weirder bits of Part II, you'll like the climax of this show; it's weird.

There's a strange focus on young women and girls' trauma related to sexual violence; it's not super sensitive. There's piss. The characters... kind of don't like each other? Which is weird and not the aww found family that I look for in Lupin. My main issue with this show, though, is that I don't like it. I just don't like it!

24 episodes, but it's split into four "episodes," which are stories that span multiple episodes, that are separated by one-offs devoted to previous parts.
Blue Jacket.
Tons of references and homages to other Lupin things.
Modern technology threatens the very livelihood of our old-fashioned thieves! How will they cope? By adopting a child

I remember excitedly telling my friend how much I liked this show after I finished it. Lupin and Jigen's little French flat is very cozy; it's always nice when they have a decently memorable hideout. I go wild for a Part I reference. And that one episode with all the manga antagonists.

Ami, who is ambiguously somewhere in her mid-late teens but unambiguously a child, is somewhat sexualized, and there's a panty shot in the first episode (main mistake they made with this show is not putting Ami in cargo shorts- she'd love those). Includes two Sherlock-style "Queer fans are not welcome here and this is not for you freaks" jokes. Like in Part IV, the characterization just kind of rubs me the wrong way? (Except Fujiko; she's perfect.)

24 episodes (and episode 0); it's split into two stories with lots of one-offs.
Green jacket.
The first half poses the question "Have you read some classic literature lately?" and the second half is about LUPIN'S MOM???

I really like the second half of this show!! Mattea is my favorite Lupin girl by a long shot; I adore her. I did cry a bit at the end.

The animation is bad and the art style is boring. The first half of the show is generally boring. Since Lupin III vs. Sherlock Holmes is a great concept and they made it boring somehow, it's extra disappointing. The whole show is poorly paced.

13 episodes.
Green jacket.
Technically a prequel to Part I.
So have you ever wondered why Fujiko is like that? Here's why.

This is, weirdly enough, a decent place to start with Lupin. It's a fantastic show. The only thing in the franchise written and directed by women! And pretty much the only thing that actually addresses the franchise's misogyny. This show's existence has affected how Fujiko is depicted in future entries very positively. Also it's gorgeous and I cannot stress enough that it is a really good show.

It's super mature. No more violence than your typical Lupin but more sex. Also it's about misogyny and sexual abuse and childhood trauma. Lt. Oscar is also there, and he's every negative stereotype associated with queer people. Maybe he's commentary though?

I watched one episode and it was too cop drama-y for me but I'll try again later

6 episodes.
Green jacket?
Also a prequel to Part I, though it directly contradicts TWCFM. That's the fun of Lupin!
A loose adaptation of the Confession series of the first manga. Lupin is approximately 13 and living with his grandfather and going to school in Japan when he meets Jigen, an approximately 13 year old with a gun who works for the mob.

Fantastic. Wonderful animation and art style, and they use the Part I music I love so much! It's sweet and will make you very sad. I consider it to be a very interesting, overwhelmingly positive, and very comforting sort of queer coming-of-age story.

Suicide. Weird perspective on revolutionaries. Lupin and Jigen get into some terrifying situations for children to be in. There's a scene where an adult man beats Lupin up and I remind you he is a child. Also some nudity and graphic violence.