Introduction
Lupin, the master thief/spy/Jack of all Trades, has been executed, but he is still alive, and not even Lupin himself knows how that is possible. While trying to figure out, however, he and his gang are thrust into a conspiracy involving clones, Lupin's un-trustworthy rival Fujiko, and a miniature madman's plot to take over the world.
(Source: ANN)
Audience reviews
9 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Olorin666
I was not very familiar with the Lupine the Third franchise. But I wanted to do it for a long time. But since I don't have time for long series, I decided to start with full-length films. And I was satisfied with the result.
What is the best way to describe this franchise? Imagine a mix of Indiana Jones, James Bond and adventurous detective novels. I think that best describes this franchise! I do not want to reveal the plot, I will only say that it is so absurd that it borders on genius. Add to that the incredible art, design, music and the adult humor and brutality inherent in the series. At the output, we have a bunch of elements that, at first glance, should not work, but which work flawlessly, and look fresh and interesting even in our time.
Read at the sourcedeathunderadoor
The direction on Mamo is so good in a way that's hard for me to properly describe, it's so cinematic for its level of limited animation that it's crazy. Like it's some genius work when you break it down.
I love the character designs on them in this one a ton, it might be my favorite part. The form in their bulbous, yet smooth faces are so good, Lupin's cheeks being such a highlight to look at, and their bodies so lanky, and yet they have a palpable sense of meat on them. They're like the inverse of muscled, yet plump and smooth Greco-Roman figures. Their poses all also have fantastic gesture behind them, that's a big part of it. They're lovely, you can imagine touching a nice vinyl figure of them in all its contours by looking at the drawings in this movie, the bumps, curves, and long tube…
Read at the sourceLegionIscariot
Mamo, a very old, and extremely rich man calling himself “God” is searching for the secret to eternal life.
The secret may lie within the Philosopher Stone (or as the Americans call it: The Sorcerer's Stone).
Which he gets Fujiko to manipulating Lupin into stealing. And in exchange she, aswell as Lupin, will be granted eternal life in this new world.
But immortality is a curse, not a gift. And Lupin has no interest in living forever. After all he does what he does for the thrill. If there were no risks what would be the motivation.
And if Fujiko thinks that she’d be free and spend her life with Lupin in this new world she’s wrong. Because Mamo will need a queen by his side. And the beautiful Fujiko would make a great trophy.
Despite it taking a while to actually get to the main plot t…
Read at the sourcefortuneye
[THIS WAS WRITTEN RIGHT AFTER WATCHING IT AND ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACC. KEEPING THIS HERE FOR AN ARCHIVE]
Finished Mystery of Mamo and hooooly shit. This is definitely one of my new favorite lupin movies ever if not my number one favorite. The plot is actually really interesting for once, the characters r so much fucking fun to watch, the animation is amazing, and the art itself is unbelievably good. This was the first lupin movie ever made and yet somehow doesn’t even feel like it, it’s just that spot on. Every little piece of this film feels just so creative and inspired like I’ve never seen any kind of animated movie like this before. A little hyperbolic I’ll admit but it’s really something else. It amazes me in retrospect how mamo was made in 1978 and holds up as if it hasn’t even been a…
Read at the sourcePup_Linton
Such a CRAZY movie.
The plot is... kind of absurd actually, but sometimes absurd doesn't means bad. Lupin gets involved in some crazy stuff just to impress Fujiko, and sometimes is such a FREAK with her. The persecution scenes are very impressive and some of the magical ways the gang gets to be saved are so absurd that are good. The main villain is also a bit wacky but scary enough to be a competent antagonist. In short, the story revolves around the search of eternal life and the consequences of playing God. It has such an interesting mix of tropes: sci-fi, action, comedy, mystery, political tension that could lead to the activation of powerful weapons...
There are some things that makes it really enjoyable. First of all, the characters are charming and the chemistry between them is gre…
Read at the sourceInuyoujo
I really like this one because it shines more of a positive light on Fujiko! In this one, it starts off with Fujiko seemingly same-old-same-old. IT turns out the lady thief is helping a madman because she believes him and his power, and wants to share it with Lupin. She says and shows her affection for her rival, and it's not weird or sleazy on her part.
I feel like her character was very earnest with her intentions, and it all went wrong because of the madman. "But, why would she even trust a madmen?!" Well, who hasn't trusted people they shouldn't have trusted, around here? All the characters are guilty of trusting characters we see as clearly untrustworthy. I'm so into the way Fujiko and Lupin were in this one. It lost points with me for using magic on Fujiko right after they were sayi…
Read at the sourceBowlingJD
Hey, the first Lupin movie. And, it was weird...
Directed by Soji Yoshikawa who has only directed some of Ashita no Joe beforehand really went to left field on this one. The story follows Lupin and the gang, of course, stealing something, but it begins with Lupin’s death?
First off, the art is really different compared to the show. For example, Fujiko looks like the main female character from Samurai Champloo (if you have seen it), and for some odd reason Goemon the samurai is either Arab or got a really good tan. These are just some of the odd changes in art style the viewer will notice right away with any previous Lupin experience.
Music and character development is your typical Lupin with catchy Lupin themes to Lupin being his annoyed quirky self. The story however, gets really sci-f…
Read at the sourceangelsreview
It starts out with Lupin dieing… I kid you not; this is really how it starts. The guy had the same fingerprints, DNA, and even looked the same as him. And yet, after a while, you see him rather fine and alive moments later. It’s rather creepy in a way. Then when we get to the story with Mamo, it gets even creepier and action packed with one chase scene after another.
Lupin is none to bright, though he is a rather lucky guy. His addiction to women even breaks the trio up for a time when he picks Fujiko over his partners. He’s irrational at times when not seeing the full picture and so it tends to get him into a lot of trouble that the others have to bail him out of. Fujiko is actually a rather good counterpart, using her sex appeal to make him do as she wants, and yet in this movie, it app…
Read at the sourcePsycho_Sanji
The Secret of Mamo is a crazy, memorable, and pretty enjoyable Lupin movie.
The first theatrical Lupin movie, this has some very solid animation for 1978, and some very interesting direction. Very colorful and lively. The soundtrack by Yuji Ohno is a blast too, and of course the original voice cast delivers.
The story in this one is pretty crazy, and by the end it's pretty much pure nonsense. Lupin is up against a psychotic diminutive man with a god complex, and it leads to some very strange things. Including a cameo from Hitler, naturally.
This movie has a fairly brisk pace for the most part, bad things just keep happening to the Lupin gang. One minute they're on the run from a freakishly large truck, the next they're being bombarded by bombs.
Where this movie gets really weird is the…
Read at the source