Lupin III and formula

[robotech_master]

I've been watching a number of Lupin III TV specials and episodes lately. And you know, it's really interesting how formulaic the series has become, especially the yearly TV special movies. They're usually not bad, but the formula means that what makes them worth watching is not the ground they cover but how stylishly they cover it. Even Castle of Cagliostro uses most of the same formulaic elements.

Here's what that formula looks like to me. This may constitute vague spoilers for, well, all the Lupin movies, but nothing specific.

The McGuffin: A fabulous treasure beyond the dreams of avarice (of anyone except Lupin and companions, of course), or else some item that provides the only existing key or map to said treasure.
OPTIONAL (common): Is associated with some famous literary or historical figure (Hemingway, Napoleon, Columbus, the Kennedies, etc.)
OPTIONAL (common): Ends up being lost in the end, something Lupin can't use after all, or "too big for my pocket."
OPTIONAL (less common): Is object of or associated with a conspiracy theory (real-world or fictitious).
OPTIONAL (less common): Also has some sort of super-magical or super-scientific power, usually suitable for the Adversary's world domination schemes.
OPTIONAL (rare): The McGuffin is also the Foil (see below).

The Adversary: A corrupt government and its armed forces/secret police, a Secret Society or cult, a crime syndicate, a corrupt business concern.
OPTIONAL (common): An organization that embodies two or more of these categories.
OPTIONAL (less common): Two or more of the above organizations in competition.
OPTIONAL (less common): The organization is modeled after a real (fictitious or historical) group, such as the Mafia, Triads, Illuminati, or Freemasons.
OPTIONAL (less common): The organization or its members have magical powers.
OPTIONAL (rare): A "legitimate" law-enforcement or intelligence body (not counting Zenigata, though he may be working with them).

The Foil: A cute or beautiful girl or woman with whom Lupin (or, rarely, one of his companions) will fall in mutual love (filial or romantic). Will probably be either the target of or a member of the Adversary.
OPTIONAL (common): Has a secret past.
OPTIONAL (common): Starts out hating or at least disliking Lupin (or the companion).
OPTIONAL (common): Is associated with the McGuffin in some way or (rare) is the McGuffin.
OPTIONAL (less common): Will die in Lupin's (or the companion's) arms by the end of the show (especially if she's a member of the Adversary).

Lupin's Companions:
Jigen: Almost always hanging around with Lupin, but is sometimes (rarely) off on a job of his own that subsequently intersects with Lupin's current caper for good or ill.
Goemon: Is often teamed with Lupin, but just as often on his own, training or otherwise refusing to take part in Lupin's scheme until circumstances force his hand.
Fujiko: Is sometimes teamed with Lupin, but is usually ingratiating herself with the head honcho of the Adversary (or whoever the wealthiest person otherwise involved in the plot is). Will often work at cross purposes to Lupin, and may (try to) steal the treasure from him.
Zenigata: Depending on whether the writer can figure out what to do with him, he ranges from bumbling incompetent comic relief with no real effect on the story (especially in early specials) to one of Lupin's most competent foes and staunchest (albeit most reluctant) allies (especially in later specials). He is sometimes saddled with a partner, who often turns out to be incompetent, a villain in disguise or, rarely, Lupin's foil.

OPTIONAL (less common): Each of Lupin's companions is specifically matched against a bad guy for a one-on-one bout that plays to his specific strengths.
OPTIONAL (rare): Lupin's partners are unable to help him or, at the extreme, forced to compete against him for most of the show.

The Setting: Locales as exotic as any James Bond movie. Often some major world metropolis, but just as often some remote island replete with an Adversary base, booby-trap-laden ancient ruins, or both. The base or ruins will generally end up exploding, collapsing, or otherwise self-destructing by the end of the show.

Misc.: Lupin will use a variety of gadgets that would make James Bond turn green with envy, including masks, fake (often exploding) body parts, gimmick wrist watch, shoes, belt, chewing gum, etc. Especially in early shows, these gadgets may be shaped like a duckling or a die.

Lupin will probably disguise himself as Zenigata at least once, and may fake his own death to get the Adversary (or Zenigata) temporarily off his back.

There are other formulaic elements that I've no doubt forgotten, but those are the essentials.

But the thing is, despite the formula, the Lupin III shows are by and large ripping good films. And since they're so formulaic, they can get by without relying excessively on backstory that could confuse new viewers; someone who's never seen a Lupin III film can pick up any one of them and start watching it and not have any problems following along.

Thanks to Funimation and fansubs, I have a decent portion of the extant Lupin III animated stuff. All I really lack are some of the early movies (Mystery of Mamo, Gold of Babylon, Plot of the Fuma Clan) and a couple of the OAVs (Napoleon's Dictionary, Seven Days' Rhapsody). And, of course, the entire second and third TV series, but those are not exactly easily obtained at this point in my finances.

What I would really like to see would be a Lupin III TV series that was one continuous story, rather than the half-hour picaresque tales of the prior Lupin series. Wonder if that will ever happen.

Comments

[kjc.livejournal.com]

I've never seen a Lupin movie, but that's a nice job on the plot analysis. Sounds like a LOT of movies, actually.