Import Series 1 4k Lupin Set Coming to Japan Next Year.
- Thread starter GATSU
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YOOOOO I've been so waiting for this to come! 
If I'm not mistaken this is one of the first series in the franchise to get a 4K release
If I'm not mistaken this is one of the first series in the franchise to get a 4K release
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Japan and North America are both Region A in terms of Blu-ray discs, so it should be compatible. These days I think some discs are even region-free, not sure about this set, but it should work regardless.
This isn't a Blu-ray but rather 4K that requires its own player (but can still play Blu-rays). Most 4Ks are region free however this will be completely in Japanese. Also by its design, this will be the only Lupin TV series outside of any possible future productions that will have a 4K release (not sure on Part 3 due to not sure whether 16mm or 35mm, Part 2's out of the question, apparently Parts 4 and 5 are 720p so those are upscaled anyway and don't know about Part 6, Lupin Zero apparently is even a low resolution upscale since it was using a similar method to Megalobox where they downsampled, put a filter and upscaled for a "retro" look). As mentioned in the past, there's not really too many options for Lupin in 4K.
A trailer has been posted showing examples from Episode 1:
There are some minor changes such as color revision, some spots that got removed and a more stable picture that was advertised but the most noticeable one sadly is that apparently an AI filter is used scrubbing out the detail such as trees when Jigen gets changed into his driver's outfit. The only plus about it is that it doesn't have the "frozen grain" that was on the earlier Japanese Blu-rays that kind of did get distracting yet knowing detail got wiped out...
The reception this is getting is rather negative (even Yasushi Yamaguchi as in the creator of Tails from the Sonic series is complaining, that surprised me since I didn't know he's a fan of the series too like Naoto Ohshima) meaning that Discotek is unlikely to release the 4K in the US with the English dub, the same reason why The Mystery of Mamo doesn't have an English 4K release. Can see an Italian release though but not for a while and even then it would only be first Italian dub + Japanese with Italian subs if it happens.
I think quite a lot will stick to the Discotek Blu-ray if they already have it, a shame really as some people were looking forward to this...
A trailer has been posted showing examples from Episode 1:
There are some minor changes such as color revision, some spots that got removed and a more stable picture that was advertised but the most noticeable one sadly is that apparently an AI filter is used scrubbing out the detail such as trees when Jigen gets changed into his driver's outfit. The only plus about it is that it doesn't have the "frozen grain" that was on the earlier Japanese Blu-rays that kind of did get distracting yet knowing detail got wiped out...
The reception this is getting is rather negative (even Yasushi Yamaguchi as in the creator of Tails from the Sonic series is complaining, that surprised me since I didn't know he's a fan of the series too like Naoto Ohshima) meaning that Discotek is unlikely to release the 4K in the US with the English dub, the same reason why The Mystery of Mamo doesn't have an English 4K release. Can see an Italian release though but not for a while and even then it would only be first Italian dub + Japanese with Italian subs if it happens.
I think quite a lot will stick to the Discotek Blu-ray if they already have it, a shame really as some people were looking forward to this...
- Pronouns
- he/him
I saw the stills comparison on reddit and the loss of quality in the trees behind Jigen at one point was pretty bad. Could have used 3rd good source to compare to but I digress.
Sure they have to do something, but how about doing a proper job of it? I mean if it gets a bad reception then that's counter productive.
There was also something, I think on Bluesky, about some 55th anniversary plastic standups that are supposed to be Lupin from every Part, only the Part 4 image was actually from Part 5 and the Part 2 image was a later drawing of Lupin in his Part 2 outfit, but not actually from Part 2. The Part 4 thing bugs me more.
Sure they have to do something, but how about doing a proper job of it? I mean if it gets a bad reception then that's counter productive.
There was also something, I think on Bluesky, about some 55th anniversary plastic standups that are supposed to be Lupin from every Part, only the Part 4 image was actually from Part 5 and the Part 2 image was a later drawing of Lupin in his Part 2 outfit, but not actually from Part 2. The Part 4 thing bugs me more.
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Matteo Caronna (Maborupa) (@matteocaronna.bsky.social)
These acrilic stands reminds me of how bad TMS is at handling the Lupin The Third franchise and at catering to the fans, which is probably one of the reasons why its popularity is in steep decline in Japan. These acrylic stands are completely inconsistent and even contain a giant mistake.
bsky.app
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I agree with that post overall, I think it's a shame how little care they put in on the series sometimes. But I also think I've seen them go all out in the past few years (such as with the release of The First and with Immortal Bloodline and what it seemed like they were trying to do on Part 6) and see huge losses. Like, having a big worldwide theatrical release for those and really having just.. bad luck on their timing and efforts due to Covid and other things.Matteo Caronna (Maborupa) (@matteocaronna.bsky.social)
These acrilic stands reminds me of how bad TMS is at handling the Lupin The Third franchise and at catering to the fans, which is probably one of the reasons why its popularity is in steep decline in Japan. These acrylic stands are completely inconsistent and even contain a giant mistake.
To be real, I don't mind too much if the series stays pretty unpopular, because I think a bigger fandom usually comes with a lot of unfun aspects. But it's still sad to see careless mistakes like those when I really think that something like that should be pretty simple to do with more care.