Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye

Fun, thrilling, and a little insane
Well what else can you expect from Lupin the 3rd?

But this movie is especially a treat for any fan of Cat's Eye
Though it doesn't quite have the charm of the OG 1980s series, it does have it's own appeal, focusing on some aspects of the story the OG skipped on

While the OG is unbeatable in it's humor and it's heist scenes with enough gadgets to rival James Bond, i always felt like there was something missing, as painting after painting was stolen back, there wasn't really any time given to the meanings behind the paintings save for the simple fact ... they were painted by the Cat's Eye's father, which although is a compelling reason for their cat burglaries, it doesn't get that strong an emotional responce after being repeated for 70+ episodes

Something this movie on the other hand does impeccably well, giving us details about the paintings in question that are sure to shed some tears

Character interactions are top notch, i don't want to spoil too much about how Lupin and Cat's Eye get on, but i will say, the tag team Toshio + Zenigata is an absolute blast!

My only small pet peeve is... they got the eye colors wrong! Rui's the one with blue eyes not Hitomi!

Lupin III and Cat's Eye. Two old-school anime that people love have ed together in a cross-over special.

As far as I'm concerned, who was not able to properly watch Cat's Eye, I watched this before I dive into the classic Cat's Eye series. Is this movie worth watching?

I think it's okay. For fans of either series, it's not a bad watch, especially for Cat's Eye. Lupin III from the '70s up to the present continues to put out new material, but Cat's Eye ended in the '80s, and I'm not even sure if the live-action movie was well-received in the '90s. So fans of Cat's ... Eye will definitely watch this regardless of quality.

That said, it's a pretty mediocre film. The identity of the bad guy is pretty much predictable. The animation quality is subpar. If you previously watched both in cel animation, it takes getting used to the new character designs.

It's fun watching it and watching it as an introduction to Cat's Eye, it's fine. But I'm afraid it's forgettable.

I truly think the creators of "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye" wanted people to like this movie. Combining two classic franchises known for beloved characters, memorable music, and fun action sounds like a love letter for the ages. Unfortunately, no amount of goodwill could have saved it from atrocious animation that brings the entire production down, and a story that deserves it. Whether you're a lover of Lupin or an irer of Cat's Eye, you have nothing to gain from this -- and an hour and thirty one minutes to lose.

-Story and Characters-
Combining these master thieves in one movie is a comfortable fit, ... but the story that brings them together is shamefully mediocre. The smart writing from previous Lupin outings is unfortunately missing from this by-the-numbers story, leaving it planted in with the worst of the franchise OVAs. Knowing anything about these characters will immediately expose exactly how the plot will go, and the "vs." in the title is a paper-thin attempt at conflict that gets thrown in the trash before the halfway mark.
When you're making a story like "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye", it's a must to earn the crossover -- to something that celebrates the union of two iconic franchises. Instead, I have never seen a more dumbed-down, one-note version of these characters and their pathetic attempt at a plot. It's a disappointment.

-Art and Sound-
Clearly, the animation does not look good in "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye". The models are stiff, action is clunky, and there is a sense of lifelessness that permeates the whole picture. Action figures and statues have more expression than these character models, and honestly that's the worst part. Even in the worst movies, the Lupin gang have always been expressive and filled with personality, but even the actors seem dragged down by their on-screen counterparts. All these actors are veterans of the Japanese voice-over industry, some having played their character for decades, but were chained to animation that sank them like a weight.
It's a shame, because the character designs themselves are sharp and fun, and Yuji Ohno's music should be enjoyed on its own without this disaster of a project.

Had "Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye" been a traditional 2D animation on par with some of Lupin's recent projects or CG on the level of "Lupin III The First" maybe something could be salvaged from this Lupin letdown. As is, this is an embarrassing tribute to the franchises it's trying to celebrate. In the 50 years of Lupin, and 40 of Cat's Eye, this entry should be wiped from history.