Discotek Media announce two new Lupin Blu-ray releases!
Discotek Media have taken to social media platform Bluesky to announce two new Lupin III home video releases in the United States!
The first is Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye, the 2023 released cross-over between the two classic anime series. The film initially released exclusively on streaming platform Amazon Prime Video, but hit physical media in Japan on the 14th of March 2024. Two years later, Discotek are giving the film a similar treatment in the United States!
According to the Bluesky post, the U.S. release will include Japanese 5.1 and 2.0 audio with English language subtitles, plus the English language dub starring Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, and the rest of the crew. A selection of special features is also due to be announced as we approach closer to the film’s release, which while unconfirmed, is expected to be later in 2026.
Just like Lupin, the Cat’s Eye manga features daring heists, inspiring characters, and even a fight against the Nazi regime. If you like one of these series, it is very likely that you will enjoy the other, and as such, this cross-over event is like a match made in heaven! Cat’s Eye is also set within the same universe as Tsukasa Hojo’s City Hunter, another popular manga and animated show from the 1980s. City Hunter features a goofy-come-cool detective protagonist, whose addiction in chasing beautiful women rivals only that of Lupin himself!
As previously mentioned, an exact release date will be announced at some point in the near future. We’ll be sure to update you when it does. In the meantime, if you want to read our review of the film, click here.
Second up is an unexpected but welcome surprise - Lupin the 3rd: The TV Specials Collection 1 - 5!
While Discotek have achieved the incredible feat of releasing all Lupin III television specials in the United States, many have not had the Blu-ray treatment. Do you remember when Discotek used only released films on DVD? Some specials included in this collection were localised during that time - so it is nice to see them finally make the jump to a more modern format!
Five television specials released between 1989 to 1993 are included here, with HD visual quality. Not all five of them are dubbed - check the list below to see which language options are included in each:
Bye Bye, Lady Liberty (1989) - Includes both Japanese and English language audio
The Mystery of the Hemingway Papers (1990) - Japanese language audio only
Steal Napoleon's Dictionary (1991) - Japanese language audio only
From Siberia with Love (1992) - Japanese language audio only
Orders to Assassinate Lupin / Voyage to Danger (1993) - Includes both Japanese and English language audio
The set also comes with a bunch of special features, including three commentary tracks, liner notes, galleries, commercials, and more!
Friend of the website Vegetable Saute (菜っ葉の油炒め) has assisted Discotek Media with the release, helping with translation support, correcting misinformation, adding new commentary, and more. It is exciting to see a super-fan like Saute working on an official home video set, and it shows how much Discotek care in making this product the best it can be. Saute’s knowledge of this franchise is extremely vast, and we can know in full confidence the special features will be of the best possible quality.
Like with VS. Cat’s Eye, there is currently no release date for this set. Fingers crossed we also see it hit later this year.
While the specials included here have had releases in the U.S. previously, it is fantastic to see them get this extra level of care and attention for their jump to Blu-ray. The artwork design for the packaging is gorgeous, and it would certainly stand out on the shelf in any fans collection. We can only hope we see more follow suit, spanning specials across the rest of the franchise!
