Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) is a fast-paced, swashbuckling animated adventure directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the dashing master thief Arsène Lupin III after a Monte Carlo heist: when the loot turns out to be expertly forged bills, Lupin and his partner Jigen trace the counterfeiting to the tiny duchy of Cagliostro. There they become entangled in a plot to rescue a young bride-princess, Clarice, from the sinister Count Cagliostro and uncover a centuries-old secret fortune—Clarice holds part of a key to a hidden treasure and the count will stop at nothing to keep it. What you’ll experience: energetic, hand-drawn action and memorable set pieces—car chases, narrow escapes, clever heists and a daring castle infiltration—balanced with light comedy and warm character moments. Lupin’s slick charm, Jigen’s cool marksmanship and Goemon’s stoic swordsmanship combine with Inspector Zenigata’s relentless pursuit to create a lively ensemble. Visually stylish and tightly directed, the film mixes adventure, suspense and a surprising emotional core as friendships, honor and courage come to the fore. If you like classic capers, inventive animation and a blend of thrills and heart, this film is a compact, entertaining ride from start to finish.

Actors: Yasuo Yamada, Eiko Masuyama, Kiyoshi Kobayashi

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Runtime: 100 min

Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation

7.0 /10 72 /100 7.6 /10 7.3 /10