Lupin III is incredibly popular in Italy and has a huge fanbase. In homage to this fanbase, much of this show is set majorly in Italy; the series was broadcast in Italy in August, two months before the official broadcast; and two episodes of the show are bonus episodes exclusively for the Italian audience.
Lupin prominently wears a blue jacket throughout the show. Thus this series is known as the "Blue Jacket" series to fans.
Previously features have shown Arsène Lupin III as either acting ruthless and cold-blooded (in tribute to his manga version) or cheeky and comical (a more toned-down and childish version). Kazuhide Tomonaga aimed to fuse these two differing sides of Lupin into one rounded character; this will be the first time this has happened with Lupin.
Rebecca Rossellini is the first Lupin lover in a "Lupin III" series to last throughout the whole series. The previous shows had his lovers last for 1-2 episodes.
The opening credits pays homage to the introductions from previous "Lupin III" features:
- the main cast are introduced within framed vignettes, as in the opening credits of Edgar, le détective cambrioleur (1977)'s first season
- the shot of Fujiko riding her bike comes from her introduction in Rupan sansei: Pilot Film (1969) and the closing credits of Edgar de la cambriole (1971)
- the shot of Fujiko in the shower comes from the first episode of Edgar, le détective cambrioleur (1977)
- the shot of Goemon Ishikawa in the bamboo forest was taken from his introduction in Edgar de la cambriole (1971)
- the shot of Lupin and Jigen in their Fiat is a homage to the title sequence of Le Château de Cagliostro (1979), where they were on a journey to a new adventure.