Almost two years ago I downloaded the new Lupin series. Lupin the Third - Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna (as subbed by Commie). At the time though, I couldn't watch it because my older computer simply couldn't render the frames fast enough. After the death of that computer and the creation of Himawari, I tried it, and it could be handled with ease, but I was distracted by shiny newer things. Now I'm trying to finally finish it.

But it has a lot to recommend it. And some things that you should be warned of. Starting in the titles, there's nudity, and lots of it. That should be a signal: This is not the Lupin of yesteryear, Green, Red or Blue jacket. (For the record, he's wearing green in this series). The whole show is played a lot more straight, not having read the originals, I still get the sense that it may be truer to the original source. That also includes the art style, which LOOKS like animated Manga, not the kind of Clear Line stuff meant to be animated. The use of color and hashed shading results in some really unique visuals.

It's also set in the 60's, as best I can tell. And also set before the whole crew comes together - she meets them individually through her adventures, revealing their origins as well, and as the episodes play out, they slowly coalesce.

The other major difference, since they're playing it straight, is Zenigata, who is not some wacky Inspector Clouseau, but actually highly competent. He's crossed paths with Lupin, but he's actually after a bigger case. There is also a new (to me) character in his Lieutenant, Oscar, who seems to be a closeted gay character with a secret crush on Zenigata that mostly takes the form of trying to outperform his expectations, and a hatred for women, Fujiko in particular, but he's not a major player except in two episodes. However, that's all background.

The story is really about Fujiko and her journey as a character, and it's not entirely a pretty one. From being used by her father for drug experiments, to being a sex toy for wealthy industrialists, to the things she had to do to get herself free, she's had a very warped existence, and some of the events have her on the edge of psychological collapse. She was always a mystery woman in the previous series, and since those shows were aimed at kids, if this is her background, now you know why.

I still have a couple episodes to go, so I can't say how it will end, but I get the impression it will be somewhat sombre.

And in the end, it turns out that past is all fake. Implanted memories from the doctor's real daughter, who then lived vicariously through her.

Posted by: Mauser at 12:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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