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Funimation to Simulcast New Lupin III TV Anime Series
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
FUNimation Entertainment announced at its panel at Anime Boston on Saturday that it has acquired the simulcast rights to Lupin III ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna~ (Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine), the first new Lupin III television anime series in 27 years. The series will stream on the Nico Nico website and on Funimation's website this spring.
Sayo Yamamoto (Michiko to Hatchin) is directing the 13-episode series, making her the first female director on the Lupin III series. Redline director Takeshi Koike serves as animation director and character designer, and anohana's Mari Okada handles the scripts. Dai Satō (Cowboy Bebop, Eureka 7) is acting as an episode writer for the series, and composer/musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi is producing its opening theme as well as in-show music. Kanichi Kurita plays Lupin, Kiyoshi Kobayashi plays Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa plays Goemon Ishikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro plays Fujiko Mine, and Kouichi Yamadera plays Inspector Zenigata.
Last October, the voice cast for the Lupin III anime franchise changed for the first time in 16 years. The voice cast for Lupin the Third ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna is reflecting that change.
The series revolves around the character of Fujiko Mine, depicting her and the rest of the Lupin III cast during their younger days. The series will reportedly capture the "sensuality" present in Monkey Punch's original Lupin III manga in its "daring interpretation" of the franchise.
The series premiered in Japan on April 4.
Update: Press release link added.
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