This is notably the only Lupin film where he wears the pink jacket from Rupan sansei: Part III (1984). In most other features he wears either a red or green jacket.
When Mamoru Oshii was set to direct, the original story was that Lupin would attempt to steal the fossil of an angel, an insane architect would build a Tower of Babel in the heart of Tokyo, and that Lupin would transcend reality.
This movie wasn't dubbed in English until 33 years after it was released in Japan. The longest duration for any of the Lupin III anime theatrical films.
When Tokyo Movie Shinsha decided to make this movie, they first chose Mamoru Oshii as director, based on a recommendation from Hayao Miyazaki. Pre-production under Oshii got as far as concept designs and posters; however, the company considered Oshii's story to be too unconventional for an adventurous thief, and replaced him with Seijun Suzuki and Shigetsugu Yoshida.
Oshii would eventually work on the Lupin feature The Killers in the Diner (2021).
Oshii would eventually work on the Lupin feature The Killers in the Diner (2021).
This was the first and only animated film directed by Seijun Suzuki, who wrote and directed Lupin III Part III Episode 13.