Lupin the Third: The Mystery of Mamo

Arsene Lupin III stumbles into a high stakes game when a glamorous rival draws his eye and his ego alike. He pursues her while a bigger prize hovers in the shadows: a reclusive, powerfully rich man whose longevity and secrets threaten everyone around him. The chase snakes through glamorous cities, casino rooftops, and sly street schemes as Lupin tests a plan that blends flirtation with deception. Jigen, Fujiko, and Goemon tag along, adding humor, grit, and sharper-than-average traps. The adventure keeps the mood breezy even as it hints at darker motives, forcing Lupin to weigh romance against a dangerous obsession with the truth. The balance of wit and danger keeps the momentum high without tipping into excess.

The film grossed about 4.2 million worldwide on a two million budget, boosting international interest in Lupin's cinematic adventures and expanding the audience.

The Mystery of Mamo cemented Lupin's flashy, psychedelic 70s persona and reinforced the franchise's habit of blending sly humor with stylish capers. Its bold visuals and quick quips fed fan art, late night screenings, and lively debates among longtime fans. Its visual bravado and cheeky pacing echoed in later anime capers and influenced fans' tastes for high energy heist narratives.

Critics praised the film's brisk pacing and inventive capers, even as some noted rougher animation by modern standards. The storyline probes obsession, risk, and the lure of immortality, pairing campy humor with a noirish undertone that resonates with the Lupin mythos. Critics at the time noted the film's audacious tone and its willingness to mix humor with darker undercurrents.

This feature is grounded in Monkey Punch's Lupin III manga, with Atsushi Yamatoya, Soji Yoshikawa, and Kazuhiko Kato credited as creators. Animation was handled by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, bringing Yasuo Yamada as Lupin and a voice cast including Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Eiko Masuyama, Makio Inoue, and Gorō Naya. The production reflects the era's experimentation with color and motion, pushing animation techniques toward a kinetic, almost jazzy tempo that matches Lupin's swagger.