Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: The First Contact

Released in 2002 by VAP, Lupin the 3rd: Episode 0: The First Contact was produced to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Monkey Punch’s original manga series. This television special serves as a definitive origin story, chronicling the formative encounters between the series' core cast—Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko—as well as the beginning of Lupin’s lifelong cat-and-mouse dynamic with Inspector Zenigata. By revisiting the genesis of the team, the production aimed to bridge the gap between the character's varied incarnations throughout the decades.

The production sought to establish a cohesive backstory in an era where the franchise’s continuity was often loose and episodic. The design and animation direction emphasize a grounded, gritty aesthetic that pays homage to the 'Red Jacket' era of the 1970s while utilizing the technical capabilities of early 2000s digital animation. It was received by fans as a significant entry in the franchise, valued for its attempt to provide emotional depth to a group of characters who had previously functioned primarily as archetypes in heist-driven narratives.