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Lupin III and formula
Apr. 2nd, 2007 01:22 pmI'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.
( My rendering of the Lupin III formula. )
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.
Here's what that formula looks like to me. This may constitute vague spoilers for, well, all the Lupin movies, but nothing specific.
( My rendering of the Lupin III formula. )
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.
