#58 Lupin the Third

Cartoon Network is currently airing this classic 1971 anime by Monkeypunch (Yeah, that's his name). Think of Lupin as Japan's James Bond, if 007 were a lanky jewel theif who hangs around with a bearded thug (Jigen), a samurai (Goemon) and a busty lady crook (Fujico). Like many Americans, my first encounter with the lanky superthief was in playing the Laserdisc Video game Cliffhanger. Lupin's misadventures have been the subject of several tv series, manga and films. A young Hayao Miyazake cut his directing teeth Lupin's adventures. His touch is most evident in the excellent film Castle of Cagliostro.

Lupin airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim Monday through Thursday at Midnight