Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Lupin III: Dead or Alive Blu-ray Movie Review

Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is a thrilling action-adventure feature-film the long running franchise. The film was the sixth entry in the theatrical film series. Produced by Nippon Television Network, Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is an essential installment in the series. Created by Monkey Punch, Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is noteworthy from other Lupin films as Monkey Punch was involved in directing the film. The feature-film showcases animation produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha (Space Adventure Cobra, Treasure Island). Produced by Hidehiko Takei (Game Center Arashi, Lupin the 3rd: The Hemingway Papers), Chuji Nakajima, and Tadahito Matsumoto (Lupin III: Farewell to Nostradamus, Lupin III: Voyage to Danger), Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is an essential entry and one that all fans of the film series will want to experience.

Lupin III (Kanichi Kurita) is tasked with one of his most complicated missions to date. Set against the warring nation of Zulu, Lupin must enlist the help of numerous elite criminals in order to help with uncovering the secrets of the Drifting Island. In order to gain the help of these criminals, Lupin helps free them from their prisons. The island relies on nano technology and the treasures of the Drifting Island are even harder than ever to crack.

The word on the street is that Princess Emera (Chisa Yokoyama) is the one to seek in order to enter the Drifting Islands. Yet it turns out Emera is actually an undercover agent, Ole (Minami Takayama). Making matters far more complicated, Prince Panish (Tōru Furuya), formerly deceased, is now leading a revolt against the ruthless Headhunter.

Lupin, Jigen Daisuke (Kiyoshi Kobayashi), Goemon Ishikawa XIII (Makio Inoue), and Fujiko Mine (Eiko Masuyama) are fighting the good fight while forming an alliance with Panish in order to help save the Drifting Island, find the treasure, and come out ahead. There might be a $1,000,000 bounty on Lupin’s head this time around but that doesn’t mean the master thief is calling it quits in the high-stakes mission – even with Inspector Zenigata (Gorō Naya) on his trail (as always). Can Lupin and his friends defeat their enemies and win the day?

The journey of Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is one that just wouldn’t be possible without the outstanding cast of characters. Lupin remains the lovable lead – the super-thief extraordinaire. Alongside comrades Fujiko, Jigen, and Goemon, the characters make the ensemble franchise one that is irresistible for anime fans. The dynamics between these characters is something that makes the world of Lupin one of the most compelling creations in anime history. There is so much to appreciate about these characters and their unyielding vigor.

The character designs by Marisuke Eguchi (The Life of Budori Gusuko, Nozomi Witches) are essential to the production. Eguchi did a terrific job adapting the original character designs while adding a unique touch to the feature-film. The designs in Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive are a bit distinctive when one compares them to the other entries in the franchise.

 The character designs have a bit more depth, dimension, and ruggedness than expected. There is a realism in the designs here that is sometimes missing from other entries in the film franchise. Though some might prefer the more jubilant designs as seen in other installments, the film displayed compelling character designs regardless of which style of character designs one prefers for these characters.

The mecha designs by Isamu Imakake (Lupin III: The Secret of Twilight Gemini, Mighty Space Miners) add to the filmmaking, too. The mecha designs provide a bit more ambitiousness to the experience and the work as a thrilling backdrop to the action. A solid effort by Imakake.

The animation is exquisite and Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is amongst the best-looking films in the anime franchise. Featuring stunning art direction by Kazuhiro Arai (The Boy Who Saw the Wind, Case Closed) and Toshihisa Tojo (The Slayers, Armored Trooper Votoms) and chief animation direction from Marisuke Eguchi (Lupin III: The Secret of Twilight Gemini, The Life of Budori Gusuko), Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is a stunning artistic achievement from the animation team. The team provided the franchise with a unique artistic style within the film series – true to the original while adding some distinctive flavor to the film.

The cinematography by Hajime Hasegawa (Lupin III: Crisis in Tokyo, Lupin III: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon) helps the animation to soar. The cinematography highlights the grittier aspect of the feature film production. The darkness in the production of Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is emphasized well throughout the cinematographic process. A great part of the equation.

The score composed by Yuji Ohno (Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Lupin III: Part II) and Takayuki Negishi (Cardcaptor Sakura, Lupin III: The Secret of Twilight Gemini) is one of the best parts of the production. The music soars with incredible vitality and enery. Ohno is one of the most gifted anime composers and as the chief composer for the Lupin franchise (television and film), Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is another testament to their enduring legacy. Co-composer Takayuki Negishi is talented as well and provides plenty of energy to the production. A strong team of composers.

Written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara (Case Closed, Lupin III: Voyage to Danger), Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is an installment in the film series that is bursting with creativity. The concept for the film is enormous fun and there are plenty of great sequences showcasing the iconic dynamics of the characters. The screenplay is enjoyable and full of charm. A great script by Kashiwabara.

Directed by Monkey Punch and Hiroyuki Yano (Lupin III: Island of Assassins, Monster Rancher), Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is one of the most interesting installments in the long-running film series because Monkey Punch helped direct the film. It is unusual for the creator to be involved in the director’s chair and this is something that sets this installment apart. The directing is exceptional and the film has plenty of fun providing an exciting thrill ride for fans. Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is a must-see entry – a film with incredible artistry. The action filmmaking is the greatest strength of the film (with the second half of the film becoming gradually more intense as the sequences become all the more ambitious and epic in scope). No Lupin fan will want to miss Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive.

Lupin III: Dead or Alive Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Discotek Media, Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The high-definition presentation on the release is exceptional. The transfer quality is first-rate and the video appears naturally filmic. The print looks exceptionally sharp and crisp and the print doesn't suffer from issues with dirt, debris, or scratches. A beautiful presentation and one that capably preserves and reproduces the animation. The encode also handles the action scenes exquisitely well. A great video presentation from Discotek Media.

Lupin III: Dead or Alive Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English 5.1 surround sound, English 2.0 stereo, and Japanese 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio on the release is an essential part of the viewing experience. The lossless Japanese audio sounds especially great here. Dialogue is crisp and clear. The soundtrack is well reproduced on the release. The English subtitles are excellent and are free from any glaring spelling or grammatical errors.

Lupin III: Dead or Alive Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release comes with a nicely designed o-card slipcover. The art underneath the slipcover has reversible artwork (so that one can have unique key art from the main art displayed on the slipcover). A nice design by Discotek Media.

Interview with Monkey Punch (SD, 14:49)

Japanese Teaser & Trailers (HD, 2:26)

International Opening & Ending (SD, 6:41)

Vintage English Credits (SD, 1:49)

Art Gallery includes 37 click-through images.

Lupin III: Dead or Alive Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive is an essential entry in the beloved anime franchise. The feature-film has an outstanding sense of style with first-rate animation. The film is one of the most iconic in the entire franchise due to the involvement of creator Monkey Punch (who was involved in the director's chair). The film has received a noteworthy Blu-ray release with a top-notch video and audio presentation alongside a nice selection of bonus features. Highly recommended.