I only saw bits of the anime series Lupin III, and I really did not care for it. That’s why I put off watching Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro for so long. But as an admirer of Hayao Miyazaki’s work, I had to watch it sometime and so tonight was the night. As one of his pre-Ghibli works, I didn’t expect it to live up to Miyazaki’s later work. But if I am to appreciate his later work, then I should watch his early films when I have the opportunity. And I did see bits and pieces of Miyazaki’s future artistry here and there.

The plot is simple enough. Lupin and friends are out to rob a master counterfeiter, and end up rescuing a princess in destress. There are close escapes, action, explosions, and so on. Actually, it is an entertaining film, though not on the level of Miyazaki’s Ghibli films. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro lacks the spirit, pathos, and humanity that we see in those later films. Still it is a must see for Miyazaki fans and students.