I’m sure many anime and manga fans know by now; Monkey Punch, creator of Lupin III, is dead. Ironically Kazuo Koike died from the same cause (pneumonia) just a few days later. With so much attention, it’s impossible not to overlook Kazuhiko Kato. But in all honesty, the only thing he’s got is Lupin III; not that that’s a bad thing. For this segment of Life in Comics, we’re taking a look at what makes this franchise so influential.
The Origin of Monkey Punch
Kazuhiko Kato’s career is all about the risks he takes. Leaving behind his fishing village and the education for electrical engineering; he uses his drawing skills to create manga. With influences from Osamu Tezuka and America’s Mad Magazine; he gains the attention of editor-in-chief Fumihito Shimizu of Manga Story. Shimizu later has Kato go under a pen name for Weekly Manga Action to get fresh readers’ attention. While not enthusiastic about Monkey Punch at first, Lupin III’s explosion in popularity made it his default title.
For two years, this series captures the attention and imagination of readers. The series combines the slapstick action of Tom and Jerry with hard-boiled detective stories for an entertaining read. Overtime, the style begins to develop even further. Most of the characters look the same; serving a few gags and tricks as a result. Afterwards Monkey Punch takes the time to develop them further. Including Lupin himself, each character goes through the steady development; from their designs to their personalities.
Lupin III Animated Reanimates
What people really like to hear about when it comes to Lupin is the several anime series. Starting two years after the manga ends, the first series follows some of Monkey Punch’s work. But rather than sticking strictly to the source material, the directors take Lupin for a spin.
One of my favorite episodes is the Green Jacket series episode “One Chance for a Prison Break” by Masaaki Osumi. Taking cues from the original manga’s second chapter, it enhances the premise to new heights. I’ll cover the details in another post. For now let’s look at a familiar story.
Animating Ghibli’s Future
Two directors get an enriching experience working with Lupin and co. If you follow their work; you know their names from Studio Ghibli. That’s right it’s Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. But everybody knows about them so let’s not waste time.
Through Lupin, Miyazaki finds his style in both design and character; not unlike Monkey Punch. While Lupin retains most of his classic design, he becomes more mellow over time. This is best displayed in Castle of Cagliostro, referencing Lupin’s more reckless and hedonistic past. The movie serves as a pinnacle of Lupin’s development to the classic gentlemen thief. All in all, this series and movie cement Lupin as a driving force of passion. Miyazaki himself shares one aspect with Lupin; being allergic to retirement. It’s no wonder they find ways to surprise everyone.
Lupin III: Ever Experimenting
Lupin III has a reputation for experimenting in different fields. For example, Monkey Punch himself is an early user of Macs and Wacom drawing tablets; even founding the Digital Manga Association. This includes coming back to Lupin with Lupin III: Dead or Alive; one of anime’s earliest times of combining traditional animation with CGI.
In terms of story and plot, each series of anime take a different depiction that changes with the times. For example the ever famous Red Jacket series gets its change from a variety of factors. Lupin’s jacket color represents the anime’s sponsors with red symbolizing Bandai. The series more comedic and fantastical direction is a response from other competing anime. With a larger demographic in female audiences after Space Battleship Yamato; Lupin opens up to more creative stories.
The Best Way to Experiment
One of the reasons Lupin III is so entertaining today is how flexible the franchise is with character and setting. The characters are essentially blank slates; with no set histories, grand ambitions, or status quo, they are free to be whatever they please. The only rule is that their personalities stay intact. As the theme song in Lupin III’s second anime describes; they’re like the superhero characters of America. Lupin remains the intelligent, goofy, yet gentlemanly thief as that is his default persona. Then there are the characters that stick around because they resonate with audiences and creators.
Inspector Zenigata for example is usually the butt of the joke gumshoe detective. However all of his years of chasing Lupin’s tail makes him a great detective. It’s a classic example of clashing steel to make a sharper blade. For that matter, people like Daisuke Jigen because he provides foil for Lupin. He also has his own unique charm in the form of his stubbornness; he’d have to meet my Dad to fix that tooth problem of his. Fujiko Mine is another classic character; she ranges from being a con to a genuinely loving individual. The ever stoic Ishikawa Goemon meanwhile completes the cast with his mannerisms.
The Many Faces of Lupin III
Many people take the reins with Lupin and co. each with their own spin and style to their series. Naturally some of these directions clash with each other. Lupin kills Fujiko’s father; nope apparently that weight lifts a few episodes later. The Red Jacket series takes place in the 70s while Parts IV and V are in the 2010s. Each episode, chapter, special, or movie is a self-contained adventure with almost none of them connecting. However even Monkey Punch himself gets into conflicts over Lupin’s use.
That is until people remember Monkey Punch’s influences. Unlike many contemporary series, Lupin III is a franchise for encapsulating adventure with fun. In a manner similar to reading comic books with long histories; it’s like meeting people for the first time. After a while, you get to know them a little more. There are even times when you will want to know the best times. That’s the beauty of it; there’s something for everyone per time and place. From the animation styles reminiscent of Chuck Jones’ characterizations to the situations that influence others.
Identity of Lupin III
With so many renditions and stories, there’s also the fun of finding out a hidden narrative of Lupin. Is the character really related to the classic gentleman thief Arsène Lupin or is he just using the name? Copyright laws certainly seem to think so. More importantly with all the jackets, personality quirks, and timelines; is there more than one Lupin? The Special Green vs. Red certainly seems to think so. For that matter how many skeletons do Jigen and Fujiko have. Simple answer; who cares?
So does this mean Lupin and Fujiko never get together? Depends on who you ask, Monkey Punch has a manga about their son. There are also plenty of manga available with different artists at the helm. But what about the rest of the cast? Actually Sayo Yamamoto’s The Woman Called Fujiko Mine features a crew dedicating themselves to these people. With animation highlighting their characteristics; the audience gets a real taste of these characters and their personalities. Sure the plots aren’t as good as the character-defining moments, but people love them too much to care any less.
The Influence of Lupin III
Everyone who has some involvement with Lupin just seems to find success. Long after Miyazaki, creators find the spark of inspiration with the thief who steals their imaginations. Notable director Shinichiro Watanabe practically recreates Lupin III in Cowboy Bebop; the only major difference is that this motley crew actually have pasts they rectify. Yamamoto even finds more success after her time with Lupin with Michiko e Hatchin and Yuri on Ice.
Monkey Punch may not have exactly what he wants; but like his creation he lives with it. Today Lupin and his franchise encompass a large portion of media. For all the risks and challenges both creator and creation take; remember to have fun while doing it.
Thanks for coming and as always, remember to look between the panels.