This begs the question, Where do I start?
Simple, it is episodic. So much so, that you could catch almost any of the movies, TV series or manga chapters and hardly be out of touch with what is going on. In the history of how I first saw Lupin and his merry gang, I rented Castle of Cagliostro on VHS at a video store in the 90's.
I had no problem figuring out that Lupin was a thief, a good one. He had a rather loyal if not beatnic looking partner named Jigen and a sometimes extra partner in the form of a hired Samurai named Goemon.
I also quickly learned Lupin had a rival/love intrest in the form of the full figured Fujiko and a comic nemesis in the form of the always trench coat wearing, ICPO cop, Zenigata.
Anyhow, the movies in my opinion are a good way to go, but that does not mean you could not just start with one of the TV series. Expect comedy/unbelievable events/ and action.
*Edit, 1 movie that might be good to have at least seen Lupin in some other form, is Green Vs Red. And Fujiko Mine, is an interesting title, because it comes at the franchise in a whole new way, it follows the main female Fujiko Mine, and offers a version of how the group met.
Some of Lupin III titles.
- Lupin III,
- Lupin III: Castle Of Cagliostro,
- Lupin III: Dead or Alive,
- Lupin III: Farewell to Nostradamus,
- Lupin III: Green vs Red,
- Lupin III: Legend of the Gold of Babylon,
- Lupin III ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna~,
- Lupin III: Part II,
- Lupin III: Part III,
- Lupin III: Return Of Pycal,
- Lupin III: Secret Files,
- Lupin III Special 10: Crisis in Tokyo,
- Lupin III Special 12: Missed by a Dollar,
- Lupin III Special 13: Alcatraz Connection,
- Lupin III Special 14: Episode 0: First Contact,
- Lupin III Special 15: Operation Return the Treasure,
- Lupin III Special 16: Stolen Lupin,
- Lupin III Special 19: Kiri no Elusive,
- Lupin III Special 1: Bye Bye Liberty Crisis,
- Lupin III Special 20: Sweet Lost Night,
- Lupin III Special 21: Lupin III vs Detective Conan,
- Lupin III Special 22: The Last Job
