Japanese Title: Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro
Related: Lupin III (parent series)
Similar: Cowboy Bebop
Watched in: Japanese & English
Length: 1 hr. 40 min.
Positives:
- Energetic.
- More to it than first imagined.
- Consistent laughs.
Negatives:
- Uneven audio.
- Princess doesn’t do much.
Just when Lupin and Jigen thought they had pulled off the ultimate heist, it turns out their loot is fake, counterfeit bills almost indistinguishable from the real product. They head to the Castle of Cagliostro to find the counterfeiter responsible for these “Goat Bills.” And to see if the castle holds any other treasure they could…borrow without permission. The proprietor, Count Cagliostro, has something strange in his manner, as well.
The Castle of Cagliostro is a heist adventure of car chases, disguises, beautiful dames, and ancient mysteries. I felt a strong Tintin vibe from this film, tirelessly incompetent detective included, only from a scoundrel’s perspective instead of a journalist’s view – it has similar slapstick humour, goofs that trip into an even more comedic accident, each action making things worse, never losing that sense of fun.
Going in, I expected a rather straightforward plot – reach castle, few traps to avoid, confront antagonist, get loot, and escape. However, I was surprised to find The Castle of Cagliostro held more than the typical heist film. The Count’s designs and the castle itself are unusual and interesting in their own right, adding that Tintin quality of including history elements and lore to the setting. We also have a few references to the Lupin III main series. The detective on Lupin’s tail is an absolute riot and a participant in many of the best comedic moments.
Not much else to say, really. As long as don’t expect a film of deep insight, you will have a good time. The Castle of Cagliostro is the perfect anime film when you want to relax with something fun, comedic that doesn’t lack quality.
Art – High
Cagliostro’s energetic animation is fitting to the action. The art is colourful, but could do with some extra detail.
Sound – High
The dub is of a better technical quality than the Japanese is; however, the better quality voices sound a bit off alongside the lower quality sound effects. The music, like animation, is energetic, up-tempo jazz, xylophone fitted to the action.
Story – High
A master thief and his partner track down the source of counterfeit bills to a mysterious castle with an intriguing owner. Lupin delivers a fun heist adventure with a few surprises in the mix.
Overall Quality – High
Recommendation: A fun adventure easy to recommend. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is simply enjoyable. Nothing wrong with that.
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Positive:
Negative: None
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