Lupin III News — First New Full-Length Animated Film in 30 Years Announced, Koike Directs

At long last, the popular Lupin III franchise is receiving a new full-length animated film. What we know so far, below.

By Noah Oskow

For a franchise as long-lasting and perenially popular as the anime action-caper Lupin III, it might come as a surprise how long it’s been since the series’ last traditionally animated full-length theatrical film. The series received its first such film in 1978, with the psychedelic Lupin the Third: The Secret of Mamo. A string of major theatrical outings followed, including 1979’s stone-cold classic Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Miyazaki Hayao. Four more such films were produced thereafter, occasionally with as much as half a decade between releases, ending with 1996’s Lupin III: Dead or Alive. Since then, various short films, crossovers, and CG/live-action Lupin movies have made their way to theaters — but no mainline, full-length 2D anime films. That is, until now.

On November 28th, 2024, the official Lupin III Twitter account announced a new full-length 2D Lupin film, tentatively titled LUPIN THE IIIRD THE MOVIE. The post notes the film’s status as the first Lupin theatrical movie of its type in nearly 30 years. The release date remains ambiguous, with the appended teaser trailer listing…