I heard a lot of people comparing this one to THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO-- quite a high standard. While I don't think LUPIN THE FIRST quite hits that lofty mark, it is a solid feature-length entry in the series. Like the original Red Jacket series, this movie is marked by slapstick and Indiana Jones style adventure. The more emotional elements of the script (represented by the Lettitia character) are rather conventional, but they work and never bog down the breakneck pacing. The animation looks pretty good on the whole, with the designs of these iconic characters transferring well to CG, though sometimes certain movements seemed to lack weight behind them-- and no, it wasn't during the comedic moments either. But still, this is a fun adventure I would recommend to Lupin fans, though if you've never seen a Lupin movie before, you're probably better off being introduced to this amazing franchise via CAGLIOSTRO or THE MYSTERY OF MAMO.
