This is a great anime series. Granted, I feel that some of the movies are better, but this is a pretty wacky show, with some of the funniest humor of any anime. Each episode features Lupin and co. usually getting into some sort of big heist, which usually ends up in him matching wits with a rival criminal, whether it be his love-interest/rival Fujiko Mine or some evil arch criminal, and then of course there's Inspector Zenigata.
Granted, compared to the extremely "R" rated manga, this stuff is kiddy material, but it's still not intended for kids. Some of Lupin's...er, morales, are definityly not intended to be seen by kids ages 12 and under.
Of course, with the good comes the bad, and the bad in this case is the horrible dub that Pioneer gave to this show. Using horrible MODERN-DAY American in-jokes to make it more accessible to American viewers has to have been the worst U.S. dub of an anime in English since FUNimation's Dragonball Z. Avoid the TV show on Cartoon Network at all costs, and only listen to the Japanese audio track.
Sadly, two of the show's best episdoes have not yet been released on DVD. These two episodes are none other than the ones directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Oddly enough, they were released in the U.S. a decade ago on home video under the title, "Lupin III's Greatest Capers." If you can find it, get it, since they probably won't show up in the U.S. for a while. Just be prepared for some painfully bad dubbed voices, particularly Jigen and Fujiko's voices.
BOTTOM LINE: One great show, but it too has been ruined by the poor use of English dubbing.
Granted, compared to the extremely "R" rated manga, this stuff is kiddy material, but it's still not intended for kids. Some of Lupin's...er, morales, are definityly not intended to be seen by kids ages 12 and under.
Of course, with the good comes the bad, and the bad in this case is the horrible dub that Pioneer gave to this show. Using horrible MODERN-DAY American in-jokes to make it more accessible to American viewers has to have been the worst U.S. dub of an anime in English since FUNimation's Dragonball Z. Avoid the TV show on Cartoon Network at all costs, and only listen to the Japanese audio track.
Sadly, two of the show's best episdoes have not yet been released on DVD. These two episodes are none other than the ones directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Oddly enough, they were released in the U.S. a decade ago on home video under the title, "Lupin III's Greatest Capers." If you can find it, get it, since they probably won't show up in the U.S. for a while. Just be prepared for some painfully bad dubbed voices, particularly Jigen and Fujiko's voices.
BOTTOM LINE: One great show, but it too has been ruined by the poor use of English dubbing.