Anime is often synonymous with the bold and the bombastic: superpowers, intricate mythologies, and stories that push the limits of fantasy. But sometimes, greatness comes in the guise of an old-fashioned crime caper. Shinichiro Watanabe, the visionary creator behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, has long been celebrated for his genre-defying storytelling. In a 2019 Reddit AMA, he shared a revelation that sheds light on the roots of his creative journey, offering fans a rare glimpse into the anime that started it all for him.

When asked about his favorite anime, Watanabe didn’t hesitate. “The first Lupin the Third series is my all-time favorite,” he replied. That series, which first aired in 1971, marked a turning point in Japanese television animation. Stylish, humorous, and bursting with energy, it wasn’t quite like anything that came before. For Watanabe, it left a deep impression, one that continues to echo throughout his career. “I was drawn to the coolness, the jazz-like rhythm,” he once told the press. “Lupin was my gateway to the world of adult animation.”

The Manga That Became a Milestone

Miyazaki and the Shift in Tone

Lupin the Third began life as a manga by Monkey Punch in 1967. Taking loose inspiration from the famous gentleman thief from French literature, Monkey Punch reimagined Arsene Lupin as a chain-smoking, womanizing antihero surrounded by equally iconic companions: gunman Daisuke Jigen, stoic swordsman Ishikawa Goemon, and femme fatale Mine Fujiko. The stories were brash, lewd, and funny. When the Lupin manga made the leap to animation in 1971, the TV series brought this roguish crew to life with bold colors, groovy music, and a wink at the adult audience. The show ran for 23 episodes and ended up laying the foundation for a franchise that is still running today.

The series’ tone shifted midway through its broadcast. After concerns over violence and low ratings, original director Masaaki Osumi was replaced by two young talents from Toei Animation: Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Under their guidance, the show leaned into more playful, inventive stories that appealed to families and softened Lupin’s more cynical edges. According to a 2003 interview, Miyazaki described the transition as “an experiment to find a middle ground between adult subject matter and childlike wonder.” Miyazaki's fingerprints are unmistakable in the more whimsical episodes, hinting at the Ghibli style to come as well as his own Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro.

Cowboy Bebop’s Spiritual Predecessor

A Legacy of Style and Subversion

Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop, released in 1998, In Lazarus, Watanabe’s latest series, those same qualities return, filtered through a near-future dystopian lens.

In interviews, Watanabe has often described his storytelling approach as one that blends “structure with surprise.” That principle is alive and well in Lupin the Third, where slapstick comedy collides with moments of genuine pathos. The show’s willingness to break its own rules, shifting tone, changing pace, and subverting expectations, helped Watanabe see anime as a flexible, living medium. “Lupin wasn’t afraid to be silly or serious,” he once remarked. “That freedom is what inspired me the most.” Today, that influence can be traced across not just his work, but the larger landscape of modern anime.

Lupin’s Enduring Legacy

The Dream Project That Could Be

In 2025, the Lupin franchise continues to evolve. Director Takeshi Koike’s newest film, Lupin The Third: The Immortal Bloodline, features his signature sharp-edged style and dives deep into Lupin’s psychological scars and origins. Meanwhile, reruns of classic Lupin TV specials remain popular, and new manga side projects aim to cater to both longtime fans and newcomers. The series' flexibility, its ability to shift tone, era, and visual style, remains its greatest strength. More than 50 years later, Lupin is still finding ways to surprise.

Could Watanabe one day helm his own Lupin story? It doesn’t seem out of reach. In recent years, the franchise has welcomed guest directors with distinctive styles. Watanabe’s mix of music, melancholy, and razor-sharp visual rhythm would make him a natural fit. “If the opportunity came, I’d have to think about it seriously,” he once said, only half-jokingly. Until then, fans can enjoy the ongoing conversation between Lupin and Bebop, a dialogue that has played out across decades through style, sound, and swagger.