Lupin III: Le complot du clan Fûma

First note that Rupan III and Lupin the 3rd are the same character and this is the same movie series. There was some legal trouble back in the 90s over the use of the 'Lupin' name, then still copyrighted in France, and so a couple of the movies were translated as 'Rupan'. So there.

Anyway, this time around the Lupin gang are in rural Japan because Goemon is getting married! But the bride's family are caught up in a feud with the mysterious and deadly Fuman clan, who are searching for a vast treasure in gold. Lupin promises to get to the gold and steal it first, but discovers that it is hidden in a tricky labyrinth - obviously inspired by the Indiana Jones movies, which came out just a few years earlier. The traps and dangers are very cool and imaginative, as is a breakneck car chase scene through a hotel that occurs near the beginning of the picture. I saw this movie in 1992 as a fansub version and it immediately became one of my favorite anime features. The action animation, comedy timing, and suspense are top notch and even though the run time seems a bit short at 73 minutes, that is simply due to the breakneck pacing of the thing and not a scarcity of plot. A lot happens and the whole thing hangs together better and entertains a heck of a lot more than Indy IV did.

The Fuma Conspiracy is the fourth film in the Lupin the 3rd series and turns out to be a fresh and exciting adventure after the disappointment of Legend of the Gold of Babylon. Even though it's one of the shortest films in the series, at only 73 minutes, it manages to pack enough thrills to make it worthwhile.

The film begins at the wedding of one of Lupin's long time partners, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, being married to Murasaki Suminawa. The guest list includes Jigen, Fujiko, and of course Lupin, who has recently faked his death. However, some uninvited guests arrive: Ninjas of the Fuma Clan. During their raid they attempt to steal an urn belonging to the Suminawa Clan. When, their attempted robbery fails, they instead take Murasaki hostage and decide to trade her for the urn. The leader of the Suminawa Clan reveals to Lupin and the gang that the urn contains the secret location of the Suminawa family treasure, which the Fuma Clan has been after for centuries. After saving Murasaki, Lupin steals the urn for himself to search for the treasure with the Fuma Clan in hot pursuit. But that's not all. Recently out of retirement, Inspector Zenigata joins the chase and is determined to have Lupin's gang as well as the Fuma Clan arrested.

So, after summarizing the basic plot, there's not really much else to say about this movie. The action was great, the humor was great, the villain, simply known as The Boss, was great. Really, all I can say to describe this film is that it was great. The only thing not so great about this was the English dub. Hopefully they'll make a better one in the future. Murasaki, Goemon's bride-to-be, is a pretty enjoyable character. She' smart and joyful and the film does a great job of showing her positive influence on Goemon's life. It allows us to see a happier, more human, side of Goemon that we don't usually see often.

There really isn't anything else to say. The movie is great. It just makes me really happy whenever I watch it. If you're a Lupin fan, then go see it. If not, well go see it anyway. It's just great :)

The Fuma Conspiracy a somewhat decent tale brought down by it's flaws.

Goemon is getting married when ninjas swoop in! The Lupin gang has to stop these evil ninjas, save Goemon's bride, and try for some treasure, for good measure.

This 80's OVA has the unfortunate distinction of being the only Lupin anime without the usual Japanese voice cast. This is especially bad, because the voices used don't fit the characters at all, and are distractingly out of place. The English dub is not good either.

On top of the unfortunate voice choices, the characterization is pretty weak here in general. The dialogue is not as clever as usual, and the characters don't gel together as well as they usually do. Inspector Zenigata is very bland in this one too.

Another problem with this OVA is the poor soundtrack. They don't use Yuji Ohno or any classic Lupin themes, and they don't even attempt a jazzy style.

There are some good things though, the animation for example is very fluid, and the art style is nice. There are some fun car chases, and a couple enjoyable action sequences. Any time Lupin and Jigen are in a car, it's decent Lupin fun. Plus Fujiko has some cool motorcycle action.

Overall, this Lupin OVA is really off it's game. It lacks the usual Lupin stylishness and is pretty generic all around. Definitely on the lower end of the Lupin spectrum, but it's a passable if generic action adventure on it's own.

Some good action chase sequences in this one yet there is not enough Lupin "style" in it. The action centers mostly around Goemon who is a likeable character but a bit too stoic to carry the audience's interest. Lupin himself is sort of a side character in this film and it suffers because of it. His smart alec attitude is half the fun of watching a Lupin film!

If, like me, you think Lupin III's gang are just as engaging characters as the master thief himself, this is definitely one of the movies for you. Like 2002's "Episode Zero: First Contact", which tells the story of the gang's first meeting from the viewpoint of Jigen Daisuke, this story is focused on another member of the crew, the enigmatic samurai Ishikawa Goemon. About to marry, Goemon finds his bride and her dowry both abducted by the Fuma ninja clan, and must--with the help of wedding guests Lupin and Co.--battle through all obstacles to get her back. I'm biased here, as deadpan Goemon has long been my favorite member of Lupin's crew, but I honestly think there's enough Lupin hijinks here to keep his fans happy as well. Car chases galore and the dogged but humane determination of Inspector Zenigata keep the energy high throughout. If you like animated martial arts action, though, this is the primo Lupin movie for your collection, as Goemon is the star and fights several terrific sword battles. Extra-cute character designs and fluid animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha add to its charm. A real treat.