Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye

In the elegant, if unsteady, 3DCG spectacle that is this film, two legendary heist crews come together in a nostalgic crossover. In a surprising third-act twist that raises the stakes but feels tonally off-balance, Lupin's gang and the Kisugi sisters compete to reclaim three paintings linked to a greater mystery involving sacred stones and a Nazi ritual. Fans of Cat's Eye may feel underappreciated because the trio frequently takes a backseat to Lupin in both action and emotional beats, even though Lupin dominates the story with his signature flare. Despite its ambition, the animation's stilted computer-generated imagery detracts from the action-packed heist scenes. For seasoned fans of either franchise, however, the nostalgic references, lighthearted banter, and jazzy soundtrack make it an enjoyable ride.

Staff:

Directed by: Kōbun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita

Screenplay by: Shuji Kuzuhara

Based on: Lupin the 3rd by Monkey Punch and Cat's Eye by Tsukasa Hojo

Produced by: Takuya Yasue and Takahiro Koda

Starring: Kanichi Kurita, Akio Otsuka^[a], Daisuke Namikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro, Koichi Yamadera, Keiko Toda, Rika Fukami^[b], Chika Sakamoto, Mugihito^[c], Banjō Ginga, Hiroki Tōchi, and Takayuki Sugō

Music by: Yuji Ohno, Kazuo Otani, and fox capture plan

Production company: TMS Entertainment

Distributed by: Amazon Prime Video

Release date: 27 January 2023

Running time: 92 minutes

^[a]: Since Kiyoshi Kobayashi left the role of Daisuke Jigen in 2021 and passed away the following year, Lupin the Third vs. Cat's Eye is the first Lupin the Third movie without him.

^[b]: Toshiko Fujita, who passed away in 2018, is replaced as Rui by Fukami.

^[c]: Since Tamio Ohki passed away in 2017, Mugihito has taken over as Sadatsugu.