#Creators of Case Closed, City Hunter, and More Share Their Lupin the Third Memories

Lupin the Third has been stealing hearts for the last 50 years onscreen, starting with its first TV series in 1971. To celebrate its anniversary year, big names from the world of entertainment — from artists to writers to actors — are sharing their own art and memories of the Lupin Gang.

Contributors were asked to share their first encounter with Lupin the Third, as well as where they expect the series to be 50 years from now.

Case Closed creator Gosho Aoyama pens a lovely picture of Fujiko Mine. The manga artist’s characters have gone toe-to-toe with the gang twice, in two Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan movies. Aoyama says he first encountered the series when he was in elementary school, and was already familiar with Maurice Leblanc’s Arséne Lupin books. As for what he expects 50 years from now? Lupin the Eighth vs. Detective Conan the Third, naturally.

Screenwriter Ryota Kosawa (Great Pretender) and actor Tadanobu Asano (who appeared as Zenigata in the 2014 live-action Lupin the Third film) also sent along art:

City Hunter and Cat’s Eye creator Tsukasa Hojo describes seeing a commercial for the anime while he was in junior high, during a “lovely Sunday family lunch.” Apparently things got a little awkward when the commercial betrayed just how adult the anime would be.

As for his ideas for Lupin’s future? Lupin IV ga Ippai, in which Lupin’s many children around the world vie for the title of Lupin the Fourth, claiming to be his rightful heir. The protagonist would be Fujiko’s daughter… and the Third himself would be the judge of this competition.

DJ Kenichi Aono says his love of Lupin the Third and his love of European culture are tied together, and talks about his father’s business trips to Europe when Aono was a teenager. Just as he looked forward to souvenirs from his father, he looked forward to reruns of the anime. He describes the character’s aesthetic as both “cool” and “sad,” and hopes that that will remain the same 50 years from now.

Last but not least, long-time Lupin the Third animator and director Kazuhide Tomonaga pens this super-cool anniversary art of Lupin, Jigen, and the Fiat. You can watch him bring the art to life in this video:

Lupin the Third‘s 50th anniversary bash comes in many forms, chief among them being Part Six. The new series is currently streaming on HIDIVE, and takes the gang to London where they face off against a modern-day Sherlock Holmes.

Source: Comic Natalie