Two of the most iconic band of thieves in the world of manga and anime will come together in a massive crossover movie when Lupin the Third vs Cat's Eye lands on January 27, 2023, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This epic production by TMS Entertainment will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lupin the Third anime and the 40th anniversary of the Cat's Eye manga.
Lupin is the gentleman thief created in 1967 by mangaka Monkey Punch, spawning one of the most successful anime franchises of all time, including seven seasons, eleven movies, live-action adaptations, TV specials, and much more. The series inspired many creators, including Tsukasa Hojo, who in 1981 published the manga Cat's Eye, which came to be one of Weekly Shonen Jump's best-selling series and one of the best-selling manga of all time. While both series feature a group of skilled and cunning thieves, the three sisters of Cat's Eye only steal works of art that previously belonged to their missing father, while Lupin, Goemon, Jigen, and Fujiko have far fewer concerns.
The first teaser trailer and visuals for Lupin the Third Vs. Cat’s Eye was released in September 2022. The movie, which features CG animation, will be directed by Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita, famous for the Godzilla: Planet of Monster series of films. Kanichi Kurita returns as the voice of Lupin, alongside Keiko Toda, the voice of Hitomi Kisugi from the original 1983 Cat's Eye anime. Amazon released a new visual and trailer on December 6, which lets fans take a glimpse at the incredible action sequences that they can expect from the movie.
Lupin the Third vs Cat's Eye Will Introduce Two Beloved Franchises to A New Generation of Fans
According to the information released until now, the movie takes place during Cat's Eye's original timeframe, the 1980s. Both groups of thieves are after the same target, three paintings that were left behind by the three sister's father. This will lead to an epic showdown between the Lupin gang and the Cat's Eye sisters, but of course the treasures are also the keys to unveiling a huge mystery lost to time, in classic Lupin fashion. Fans of classic anime and manga will not want to miss the movie, which follows the successful Lupin III: The First from 2021, the first Lupin movie to be animated fully in CG. The previous appearance of the Cat's Eye sisters, instead, was in City Hunter the Movie: Shinjuku Private Eyes, another crossover with a successful franchise, City Hunter, also created by Tsukasa Hojo.
One of the most amazing characteristics of manga and anime is that they can create franchises that last for decades, with new generations of fans coming on board constantly. Lupin the Third and Cat's Eye are two milestones in the industry, and this movie will surely celebrate their legacy while also introducing these beloved series to a new generation of fans.
Lupin the Third vs Cat's Eye will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from January 27, 2023.
Source: Crunchyroll.