Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
After a successful robbery leaves famed thief Lupin the Third and his partner Jigen with nothing but a large amount of expertly crafted counterfeit bills, he decides to track down the forgers responsible—and steal any other treasures he may find in the Castle of Cagliostro, including the 'damsel in distress' he finds imprisoned there.
Miyazaki's directorial debut feature is a showcase of kinetic, inventive animation that influenced countless action-adventure films. The chase sequences and castle architecture are rendered with extraordinary spatial imagination and wit, earning top marks for cinematography. The film's blend of slapstick comedy, genuine heart, and old-fashioned adventure feels wholly singular — a Lupin caper that transcends the source material and stands as a one-of-a-kind work. The plot is relatively straightforward rescue-and-heist fare, competent but not labyrinthine, and the ending, while satisfying, leans on bittersweet genre convention rather than surprising. Voice acting (in any language) is charming but unremarkable. Overall a deeply beloved and influential work whose visual craft and tonal distinctiveness are its crowning achievements.