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Lupin the 3rd: the woman called Fujiko Mine
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:CreationDate: 2014-03-19 12:04:09
:Id: anime/review/fujiko-mine
:tags: - anime
- review
:rating: 4
:original: https://www.easternkicks.com/reviews/lupin-the-3rd-the-woman-called-fujiko-mine
(aside: it's pronounced "Mee-neh", not "mine")
It took twenty-seven years, but we finally have a new Lupin
series. Only, this time he's just a co-star: the spotlight is firmly
on his lover / accomplice / adversary, Fujiko, showing even more
agency and determination than usual. And that's no small feat.
For those of you who did not grow up watching anime in the Eighties, a
small history lesson is probably in order. Arsène Lupin III was
created by mangaka Monkey Punch (KATOU Kazuhiko, 加藤 一彦) in 1967,
as the grandson of the original gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin, written
at the beginning of the 20th century by Maurice Leblanc. His
adventures have been serialised in manga (nearly 70 volumes) and anime
ever since, with a mostly fixed cast of characters: in addition to the
titular thief, we have Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and Inspector Zenigata.
Lupin the Third is much less of a gentleman than his literary
grandfather, always romancing all the women he gets close to (with
rather limited success, though), but sharing the tendency to do what's
right even when it's going to cost him the loot. Jigen Daisuke is a
great marksman, the quickest and deadliest shooter with any
firearm. Ishikawa Goemon is a master swordsman, affecting the look and
behaviour of an ascetic samurai; his sword can cut through anything
with supernatural speed and precision. Mine Fuijko is a beautiful
woman who uses her assets to lure and manipulate others to do her
bidding, and she's often in competition with Lupin and the
others. Zenigata Koichi is a police officer who's made it his life
mission to capture Lupin, developing a friend / enemy relationship
with him through the years (just as Lupin is the grandson of a
fictional thief, so Zenigata is the grandson of the great fictional
Japanese detective Zenigata Heiji).
Since their first appearance on TV in 1971, they have starred in four
series ('71-'72, '77-'80, '84-'85, and this one from 2012), seven
movies (the most famous one, at least outside of Japan, is surely
Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Miyazaki Hayao in 1979), three OVAs,
and 24 yearly TV specials since 1989. They are often faced with
insurmountable odds against apparently supernatural enemies, but they
always get away thanks to their talents and a large helping of luck.
With this much material already published, you'd think there would be
very little new to say about these characters, but this new series
proves that they can still surprise us.
This series is a first in many ways: not only it's a Lupin story where
Lupin is not the main character, it's also set before the '71 series,
and it's written and directed by women. Director YAMAMOTO Sayo (山本沙
代, Michiko and Hatchin, Redline) and writer Okada Mari (岡田 麿里,
Black Butler, Toradora, Vampire Knight, `Fractale <../fractale/>`_)
explore the character of Fujiko and her first meeting with each other
member of the regular cast, showing us that she is her own woman and
in control of her own story, even when up against crafty manipulators
and international intrigue. And when she occasionally needs rescuing,
she's quick to repay her debts and set out on her way, as free as she
needs to be. Sure, she's often naked and she uses her sensuality to
get what she wants, but it's always on her terms, and in the end
no-one can shackle her for long.
Another very interesting character in this story is Oscar, a policeman
helping Zenigata chase Fujiko and Lupin. I'm still not sure if Oscar
is a gay man or a trans woman in denial, but what is clear from the
start is that they're in love with Zenigata, and the contrast between
Oscar's and Fujiko's way of dealing with desire and relationships is
probably the one aspect most worthy of attention and analysis in the
whole series.
In conclusion, this long-awaited fourth series gives us a new look at
beloved characters, and reflections on sex, power, agency, and
gender. It also works as an introduction to Lupin's world for a new
generation. I recommend it heartily to everyone.
