Lupin III: Part VI - What We Know So Far

On October 24, 1971, the anime series on the adventures of "Lupin III" made its debut. The series, based on Monkey Punch's 1967 manga, starred gentleman thief Arsene Lupin III who ventured on criminal escapades alongside the skilled swordsman Goemon, eagle eye sharpshooter Jingen, and the femme fatale Fujiko Mine — while doggedly being pursued by Interpol Officer Koichi Zengata. Although persistent, Zengata usually failed in his mission as Lupin and his crew made the slip for more daring global adventures. For decades, Lupin continued to steal our hearts and minds through countless adaptations, including "Castle of Cagliostro," an excellent film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. 

Much of Lupin's legacy is rooted in multiple TV anime series. The latest one, "Lupin III: Part V," wrapped up three years ago. But the gentleman thief would not dare to miss out on celebrating his 50th Anniversary. To mark the special occasion, TMS Entertainment announced on its Twitter the series is returning to TV with "Lupin III: Part VI." The big question is, which color jacket is Lupin sporting this time?

Here's everything we know so far.

Fortunately, an official release month has already been announced. Via the TMS Entertainment website, "Lupin III: Part VI" will premiere in October 2021, just in time for the series' birthday. There isn't a specific date in October listed yet, but this planned schedule puts "Lupin III: Part VI" squarely in the fall anime season, which is already stacked with new and returning series. Still, the long legacy of the "Lupin III" series should give it proper footing to stand out.

Sentai Filmworks announced that they acquired the home video license and streaming rights for the upcoming series in North America. Toonami on Adult Swim is a familiar western hideout for the "Lupin III" series, as the block not only aired the first 1970s "Lupin" anime but also aired the recent "Part IV" and "Part V" of the series. Also, Toonami has hosted other Sentai Filmworks-licensed anime such as "Parasyte: The Maxim" and "Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma."

The official website for "Lupin III: Part VI" hasn't listed the voice cast for "Lupin III: Part VI." However, it's possible that much of the voice talent used for the latest projects, like the 2019 "Lupin III: The First" movie and last two anime television series, will reprise their roles — especially the iconic voice of Arsene Lupin III. Per Anime News Network, Japanese comedian Kanichi Kurita has served in the role of Lupin III since the 1995 film "Farewell To Nostradamus." It's hard to imagine that the new anime series wouldn't have him return as the titular character.

On the production side of the anime series, information is much more concrete and it appears the main team has collective experience from previous "Lupin III" projects. The official website says that Eiji Suganuma will direct the upcoming series, making it his second "Lupin III" project after the 2019 TV movie "Lupin III: Prison of the Past." He's joined by character designer Hiroki Marufuji, music composer Yuji Ohno, and series composer Takahiro Ohkura.

According to Sentai Filmworks, the legendary thief will clash with a legendary detective. Sherlock Holmes is after Lupin following the murder of his longtime partner Dr. Watson. Lupin is the prime suspect in the murder and has to prove his innocence. He also has to deal with an evil organization called The Raven. As the TMS site notes, the key visual of "Lupin III: Part VI" is supposed to depict Lupin's complexity. The image showcases the head of a smirking Lupin, but the sides of his face differ. While the right side of his face looks like the normal easygoing protagonist we're used to seeing, the left side, covered in shadows with a piercing red eye, makes him look more villainous. The image may symbolize how Holmes sees the thief in the series versus how others see him, which makes sense given that Lupin is suspected of murder.

Based on the trailer, the tone could be more serious for this anime. While most of the TV versions of "Lupin III" are lighter in tone, other works like "Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine" and the trilogy of films directed by Takeshi Koike are much darker. This is more in line with Monkey Punch's original manga, which was heavier on sex and violence and had more black humor compared to some of the TV series' more zany moments. The trailer definitely presents a somber air for our favorite gentleman thief, and we're excited to tune in this fall.