The Lupin III anime franchise is turning 55, and the celebration is being shaped by its fans. Nippon TV has announced the “Lupin III Kessakusen” (Lupin III Masterpiece Selection), a lineup of episodes chosen by viewer vote, set to begin on October 3, 2026, in a weekly late-night Saturday slot.
Lupin III is based on the manga of the same name by Monkey Punch. The action series centers on Lupin III, grandson of the legendary thief Arsène Lupin, together with his companions Jigen Daisuke, Ishikawa Goemon and Mine Fujiko, plus his longtime pursuer Zenigata Keibu and a cast of other distinctive characters.
Thirteen Episodes Picked by Fan Vote
The anime’s first episode aired in 1971, which makes 2026 its 55th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the episodes to be broadcast were decided by fan voting, with the selection airing every Saturday late at night on Nippon TV starting October 3.
Thirteen episodes in total will be shown: the first- and second-place episodes from each of Lupin III PART1 through PART6, plus the top episode from the spin-off TV series LUPIN the Third ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna~.
The First-Place Episodes
One episode from each series finished on top of its poll. All seven had already ranked first in the interim results and held their positions through to the final tally.
Lupin III PART1 — First place: “Lupin wa Moeteiru ka…?!”
Lupin III PART2 — First place: “Saraba Itoshiki Lupin yo”
Lupin III PARTIII — First place: “Kinkai wa Lupin wo Yobu”
Lupin III PART4 — First place: “Lupin III no Kekkon”
Lupin III PART5 — First place: “Lupin III wa Eien ni”
Lupin III PART6 — First place: “EPISODE 0 ―Jidai―”
LUPIN the Third ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna~ — First place: “Daitoubou VS Onna Kaitou”
The remaining six episodes, which placed second in their respective polls, will be announced at the time of broadcast.
Special Narration from the Current Main Cast
Every episode of the selection will also feature an introduction narrated by the series’ current main cast. The narration was recorded specially for the Kessakusen, and this broadcast is the only chance to hear it.
| Character | Cast |
|---|---|
| Lupin III | Kurita Kanichi |
| Jigen Daisuke | Ootsuka Akio |
| Ishikawa Goemon | Namikawa Daisuke |
| Mine Fujiko | Sawashiro Miyuki |
| Zenigata Keibu | Yamadera Kouichi |
Streaming and Broadcast Details
Streaming on TVer has also been confirmed, with each episode available from immediately after its broadcast. Fans of the 55-year-old series will not want to miss the anniversary lineup.
Anime 55th Anniversary “Lupin III Kessakusen”
Broadcast: From Saturday, October 3, 2026 — every Saturday late at night on Nippon TV
(C) TMS
(C) TMS・YTV
(C) TMS・NTV
