Dead or Alive (Lupin the 3rd)
Encyclopedia
is a 1996
anime film. It is the fifth and latest feature film in the Lupin III
franchise. The North American release was done by FUNimation; the film is available both individually and as part of the "First Haul" box set.
has set his sights on a the national treasure of the country of Zufu, placed for safe-keeping on a mysterious floating island by the country's late king. The island's super-intelligent defense mechanism, however, proves to be too much for Lupin, Jigen
, and Goemon
to handle by themselves. The key seems to be linked to the princess of Zufu, the only surviving member of the royal family. She is held prisoner by Zufu's current ruler, General Headhunter, who recently acquired rule over the country when he secretly pulled a coup d'etat
and executed the country's king and prince. When Lupin's gang kidnaps the princess to get hold of the key, they pull in trouble by way of a deadly Zufu police agent named Olèander and a million-dollar bounty placed on Lupin's head by the psychotic Headhunter. Now, Lupin must find a safe way to the treasure, dodging bounty hunters at every turn.
only directed the opening and ending sequences; the rest of the film was primarily handled by the assistant director. He added he found the experience too demanding, and has no desire to direct any animation again. Monkey Punch has discussed this in both written interviews and on the brief video interview on the Dead or Alive DVD as released by FUNimation.
1996 in film
Major releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...
anime film. It is the fifth and latest feature film in the Lupin III
Lupin III
, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
franchise. The North American release was done by FUNimation; the film is available both individually and as part of the "First Haul" box set.
Summary
LupinArsène Lupin III
is a fictional character introduced by Monkey Punch in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. According to its creator, Lupin is the grandson of Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin....
has set his sights on a the national treasure of the country of Zufu, placed for safe-keeping on a mysterious floating island by the country's late king. The island's super-intelligent defense mechanism, however, proves to be too much for Lupin, Jigen
Daisuke Jigen
is a fictional character in Monkey Punch's Lupin III series.-Abilities:Jigen is master thief Arsène Lupin III's marksman. He can perform a 0.3-second quick-draw and has an accuracy that borders on superhuman; he can shoot skeet with a handgun, explode a missile before it hits by targeting the...
, and Goemon
Goemon Ishikawa XIII
is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his Lupin III series. Goemon is the thirteenth generation of renegade samurai, a descendant of the historical figure Ishikawa Goemon...
to handle by themselves. The key seems to be linked to the princess of Zufu, the only surviving member of the royal family. She is held prisoner by Zufu's current ruler, General Headhunter, who recently acquired rule over the country when he secretly pulled a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
and executed the country's king and prince. When Lupin's gang kidnaps the princess to get hold of the key, they pull in trouble by way of a deadly Zufu police agent named Olèander and a million-dollar bounty placed on Lupin's head by the psychotic Headhunter. Now, Lupin must find a safe way to the treasure, dodging bounty hunters at every turn.
Production
In spite of his director's credit, Monkey PunchMonkey Punch
Monkey Punch is the pen name of Japanese manga artist Kazuhiko Katō , creator of the successful Japanese manga series Lupin III...
only directed the opening and ending sequences; the rest of the film was primarily handled by the assistant director. He added he found the experience too demanding, and has no desire to direct any animation again. Monkey Punch has discussed this in both written interviews and on the brief video interview on the Dead or Alive DVD as released by FUNimation.