Lupin III: Pilot Film English Sub & Dub

About Lupin III: Pilot Film

Here is what Lupin III: Pilot Film (ルパン三世 Pilot Film) is about, retold in plain terms: an action anime by Tokyo Movie Shinsha (1969). What the story covers: Two years after the birth of the manga a pilot film was realized. It was a brief film of only 15 minutes that had the purpose of assay the response to a possible future anime realization of Lupin III.

From there, the pilot opens with a challenge call from Lupin to Zenigata from a public phone. A remastered version was realised in 1978, re-photographed in cinemascope and re-dubbed for being screened in cinema before the 1st movie The Secret of Mamo.

With action at the core, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Taichirou Hirokawa as Arsène Lupin III and Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Daisuke Jigen. Think of it as a pick for viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. With 1 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which means the visual identity of Lupin III: Pilot Film follows that studio's craft. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.1/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Taichirou Hirokawa voicing Arsène Lupin III gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 1969, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.