Lupin III: Part 6 - Jidai

Temper your expectations, because this isn't exactly the grandiose send-off that it could have been. Labeled as "Episode 0", this is effectively a special prelude to Part 6 to commemorate the retirement of OG Jigen voice actor Kiyoshi Kobayashi. With the weight of a 50 year history with the character on its shoulders, you'd certainly hope for this production to provide something truly special. Its important to recognize however, that that's simply not what this is. At best, this is a perfectly "okay" Lupin episode that operates as a loose tribute mostly from behind the scenes. There's not necessarily a whole lot wrong with it,but I personally feel as if its severely lacking in ambitiousness. I was really hoping that they would go all out for something like this, and aim for something uniquely gripping and sentimental, but its really just a pretty standard character episode with a couple of small nods relating to its underlying meta. The narrative effectively has Jigen considering retiring in-universe, followed by a series of dialogues between him and each main character, reflecting on their dynamics and relationships. It's a cute setup, and there are some fun moments and standout lines that do somewhat cement that sense of history and nostalgic sentimentality, but the fairly basic nature of the episode overall personally left much to be desired. Its also worth noting that the presentation is not especially that strong. This is a pretty massive downgrade compared to Parts 4 and 5 in the visual department, and is a lot more in line with what you'd expect from the generic mediocrity of the TV specials. The designs this time around feel perhaps a bit uninspired, leaning in this weird middle ground between the classic Part 1 designs and their modern counterparts, and the animation and art in particular are pretty wildly inconsistent, typically ranging from average/decent to outright bad. It does have its moments though, with occasional instances of moody lighting/compositing as well as some surprisingly interesting directing and editing moments. If nothing else, at the very least it demonstrates that it has some aesthetic potential, which I can only hope will be amplified in Part 6 proper. The music is about what you'd expect, Yuji Ohno is still pumping out absolute bangers. Ultimately, it's a perfectly serviceable send-off, but just not much beyond that.

If you like Lupin III, you'll love this, but there's something magical about this special that made it feel so much more than just another entry into the series or a normal episode of the show. It has all the standard Lupin beats of daring escapes, secret hideouts, and Fujiko betrayals, but the themes it explores are what elevates it. This was Kiyoshi Kobayashi's final role as Jigen, and as such, they made it a great story revolving around the character. We get a quick little character study on what makes him special to those who know him, why he's Lupin's closest ally, and how theever-changing world makes the gunman feel unsure of himself. This special was very uplifting. Just as the Lupin gang finds their way out of another tight situation, you get the sense that Kobayashi's performance is as timeless as the characters themselves. Lupin states he would support Jigen's decision to leave if it was what he really wanted, and it felt like this was being said of the man who'd brought Jigen to life for so many years. It's ok if it's time for you to rest and retire, you've given us so much and the least we can do is support your own choices in a non-judgmental way as the torch is passed on. This special gives me high hopes for the upcoming Part 6. It felt like a beautiful tribute, and I am hoping the fun energy of this special as well as the gorgeous visuals and sound design is something that remains for the full season.

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