How did a boy become "Lupin the Third"? A new anime "LUPIN ZERO" depicting the boyhood of "Lupin the Third" will be distributed in December 2022!

LUPIN ZERO," a new anime depicting the boyhood of "Lupin III," will be distributed in December 2022.

The anime "Lupin the Third Part 1" was first broadcast on TV on October 24, 1971. On that memorable October 24, a new anime "LUPIN ZERO," which depicts the boyhood of "Lupin III," was announced.
It will be distributed through a newly launched video distribution service starting in December, and the destination video distribution service and distribution date will be announced later.

LUPIN ZERO" is set in the 1960s, the same year as the original "Lupin the Third" manga series by Monkey Punch, and depicts a nostalgic yet new original story of a "boy Lupin" who is still a nobody, running around Japan during its high economic growth period. The story is a nostalgic yet new original tale of a "boy Lupin" who is still a nobody.


The original story is both nostalgic and new, taking hints from the original "Boy Lupin" story. The production studio is Telecom Animation Film, which has worked on many "Lupin the Third" series. The retro and unique worldview will be revived in the modern age. Music is by Otomo Yoshihide ("Amachan," "King of Dogs"). He will be in charge of the music accompaniment, including music arrangements by Takeo Yamashita, who worked on "Lupin the Third Part 1.

The teaser visual, special video, and scene photos of "LUPIN ZERO," which finally depicts his veiled beginnings, have been released, along with comments from the film's director Daisuke Sakamukai and producer Koji Nozaki, and an announcement that the film will be screened at the Anime Convention in New York, USA, from November 18 to 20 next month. It was also announced that the film will have its world premiere at Anime NYC, an anime convention to be held in New York City next month from November 18 to 20.

The cast, theme song, and video distribution service will be announced in due course, so stay tuned for more information.

Special Report Video

Director Daisuke Sakamukai and Producer Koji Nozaki Comments

1: What made you decide to make an animation about Lupin's childhood?
［Producer Nozaki answered.]
⇒I was inspired by Monkey Punch's depiction of Lupin as a young boy (Jalilupin) in the original story, so I depicted him as a boy.

2: How did you create the image of a boy? What was important to you in portraying him?
［Director Sakamukai answered.]
⇒We used a few episodes from Monkey Punch's original story and the memories of the adult Lupin III to imagine what kind of boy Lupin was. Our depiction of Lupin III is the Lupin III in the anime world, but he himself is the third generation of the Lupin family, according to him. The staff thought about one of the possibilities of what he might have been like when he was 13 years old.

3：What was your particular preference in setting the film in Tokyo in the early 1960s?
［Director Sakamukai answered.]
⇒Lupin III's age is unknown and his nationality is unknown, but there is no doubt that he was once a boy. The first time Lupin III appeared in an animated film was at the Hida Speedway in 1971. Thinking back to that time, I am sure that he must have been there as a boy in the mid-1960s, at that time and place. Therefore, I made this work with the feeling that I was intruding a little into that time period, and let myself peek into his boyhood. I think he might not like to be seen as a child, though.

4：What is the theme of the story throughout the six episodes?
［Director Sakamukai answered.]
⇒Lupin III is an adult thief by profession, but I wondered if his profession when he was 13 was junior high school. The family business is just that of a thief, but he hasn't taken over yet. I don't know if he has the character to honestly take over when he is told to take over in the first place. He is at an age where it is aggravating to do what others tell him to do. But that does not mean that he will always be a junior high school student. This is the story of such a boy, Lupin, who thinks and decides for himself.

5：What did you challenge in "LUPIN ZERO" that you haven't done in previous series?
［Director Sakamukai answered.]
⇒What the adult Lupin III can't do is to make him a child again. 13-year-old Lupin has a brain like an adult, but his physique and strength are not as good as an adult's. He plays an active role with his wisdom and ingenuity. This story is a characteristic of "LUPIN ZERO" this time.
As a result of his spontaneous movement as a boy, the animation is exciting to watch. Even if you are not familiar with Lupin III, you will enjoy his activities. Those who know the adult Lupin III will enjoy seeing the cute boy Lupin before he grew up to be an adult.

Film Information

LUPIN ZERO
<Distribution Date>
December 2022

<Staff>
Original Story: Monkey Punch
Director: Daisuke Sakamukai ("Lupin the 3rd Part 5" Assistant Director, "Yokai Watch" Animation Director)
Series Composition: Ichiro Okochi ("Lupin the 3rd Part 5", "Kabaneri the Iron Castle")
Setting Design: Haruichi Shirado ("Lupin the 3rd Part 5", "Jormungandr")
Character Design: Asami Taguchi ("Lupin the Third Part 5", "Chain Chronicle: HEXETAS no Sen")
Music: Otomo Yoshihide ("Amachan", "King of Dogs")
Animation Production: Telecom Animation Film
Production: TMS Entertainment, Inc.

<Outline of the work
How did a boy become "Lupin III"?
Monkey Punch's popular manga "Lupin the Third" began to be serialized in 1967. Since then, the great thief of the century, who has been active in various media and across the globe, still had a blue "boyhood". ......
LUPIN ZERO" finally depicts his beginnings, which have been shrouded in a veil. The story takes place in the 1960s, when the original story was first serialized.
The "boy Lupin," who is still a nobody, travels around Japan during its period of rapid economic growth!

While taking hints from the "Shonen Lupin" version of the original story, a nostalgic yet new original story will be developed. The production studio is Telecom Animation Film, which has worked on many "Lupin the Third" series. The retro and unique worldview will be revived in the modern age. Music is by Otomo Yoshihide ("Amachan," "King of Dogs"). He will be in charge of the music for the film, including music arrangements by Takeo Yamashita, who worked on "Lupin the Third Part 1.
A boy climbs the stairs to becoming a villain. What was he thinking and what step did he take?
This is the story of the "beginning" of the great thief that everyone knows, but no one knows. ＜6 episodes

Official HP: lupin-zero.com
Official Twitter: @lupin_zero Hashtag #Lupin Zero

Original story: Monkey Punch (C)TMS