Opinions on Lupin Sansei: Neighbor World Princess?

[Hooder]

Ok genuine question, how many of you are aware this even exists?

Lupin III Neighbor World Princess is an Isekai manga spinoff created by Yōsuke Saeki and currently serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion since August 26th, 2021. Five volumes have been released by Akita Shoten since 2022[1].
(taken from Lupin III wiki)


I came across this back in late 2021 and it's a wild ride, to say the least.
I'm not a fan of Isekai anime nowadays but throwing the lupin cast into such a bizarre fantasy world is pretty interesting to see, normally in an Isekai the mc (main character) becomes over or is already overpowered which imo makes it pretty boring, the lupin gang here who of course can't as easily take on a dragon like an overpowered mc could.

From memory, the lupin cast is really well written but the actual Neighbor world princess stuff is basic Isekai stuff.

I haven't checked it in a good 6 months or so but 14 chapters were English translated, I won't be sharing the link due to *ya know* but you can easily find them.

To people who have read them, what do you think? even with all the Isekai stuff do you enjoy the story?

 

[Tsushi]

I was definitely aware of it, but I haven't had a lot of interest in checking it out after skimming a bit of the first chapter it didn't hook me.

 

[lobac]

Unfortunately I think it'd be an overstatement to say I even skimmed it. The only thing that stuck with me was Lupin just instantly turning into a shadow demon with a shonen manga killing aura when he got told Zenigata died

 

[Tsushi]

Unfortunately I think it'd be an overstatement to say I even skimmed it. The only thing that stuck with me was Lupin just instantly turning into a shadow demon with a shonen manga killing aura when he got told Zenigata died

See this is the kind of thing I would actually like LOL

 

[MystSaphyr]

I skimmed the first few translated chapters and the main things I took away other than Lupin’s reaction to Zenigata’s “death” are “dwarf girl with axe cute” and “hell yeah Zenigata judo flips a gargoyle”. Also I kinda adore the bit at the start with Jigen just, basically getting adopted by the dwarves LMAO

The art style is not my cup of tea, but I kind of want to see how much has been translated since I last gave it a shot. It’s a fun generic isekai ride if nothing else??

(Also from the manga cover art I’ve seen, Zeni brings out the jutte in later chapters, and with how little we actually get in canon of him using jittejutsu, color me interested. Especially since it’s contrasted by being in a Western fantasy setting hahah)

 

[Hooder]

Unfortunately I think it'd be an overstatement to say I even skimmed it. The only thing that stuck with me was Lupin just instantly turning into a shadow demon with a shonen manga killing aura when he got told Zenigata died

Hol up..

I remember him holding some dark scepter thing but didn't it reject him?

 

[PixelatedDork]

It was pretty okay at first, but after a little while I definitely lost interest in it.

There is just so much focus on the 6+ NPC characters. I understand since it's a new setting you kinda need new characters, but did every one of the main guys need an NPC girl??? Like everyone said the best part was for sure Lupin turning into a shadow demon when told about Zenigata's supposed death. There seems to be something about Lupin's soul being "corrupted" but I'm honestly not sure? He acts a bit off sometimes but I can't tell if it's because of the dark scepter...or he's just weird. But! I will say my favorite chapter has to be the one with Lupin going out of his way to be able to make cigarettes and Japanese food for Jigen and Goemon respectively. It was super sweet. There are a few cool moments for the gang here and there which are appreaciated. Besides that though(Aside from a personal gripe with something unimportant), there's not much else I can say that really interested me. Especially since the biggest draw towards the manga for me was possible getting magic shenanigans with the gang, but none of them have magic which is . They even tease/hint that people coming to this new world CAN get magic, but it was never developed any further from what I've read which was a little disappointing for me.

The last chapter I looked through was like chapter 42, now it's at chapter 66 so needless to say I'm a little behind. Maybe I'll give it another look through to see what I missed though. Anyways sorry I ended up rambling so much XD

 

[lobac]

Hol up..

I remember him holding some dark scepter thing but didn't it reject him?

This happens way past the translated chapters, 40-something I think! I flipped through the first and then the last chapters lol

 

[aisterion]

Ok genuine question, how many of you are aware this even exists?

Lupin III Neighbor World Princess is an Isekai manga spinoff created by Yōsuke Saeki and currently serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion since August 26th, 2021. Five volumes have been released by Akita Shoten since 2022[1].
(taken from Lupin III wiki)

View attachment 2174
I came across this back in late 2021 and it's a wild ride, to say the least.
I'm not a fan of Isekai anime nowadays but throwing the lupin cast into such a bizarre fantasy world is pretty interesting to see, normally in an Isekai the mc (main character) becomes over or is already overpowered which imo makes it pretty boring, the lupin gang here who of course can't as easily take on a dragon like an overpowered mc could.

From memory, the lupin cast is really well written but the actual Neighbor world princess stuff is basic Isekai stuff.

I haven't checked it in a good 6 months or so but 14 chapters were English translated, I won't be sharing the link due to *ya know* but you can easily find them.

To people who have read them, what do you think? even with all the Isekai stuff do you enjoy the story?
View attachment 2173

gonna be completely honest here im not one for isekai stories because it's mostly just the same shit and it over-saturates the market/overshadows concepts that i find more interesting. to see roopy and crew do this as the odd men out is neat but it's kinda sad that it falls into the tropes that modern lupin media has ie, characters that I don't care about that probably won't show up in any other media despite their writing and portrayals not to mention the "audience surrogate/insert" stuff that I don't think is necessary nowadays for how long the Lupin Franchise has gone on

 

[aisterion]

Hol up..

I remember him holding some dark scepter thing but didn't it reject him?

lame. lupin needs to get a little fucked up sometimes

 

[lupingavemebrainrot]

just started reading it i like how bland the fantasy protag oc is so i can self insert, I just love isekai stories, because the fantasy protags are so bland I could live their power fantasy. its cheap and sleazy like 5 dollar little ceasers pizza.

 

[aisterion]

just started reading it i like how bland the fantasy protag oc is so i can self insert, I just love isekai stories, because the fantasy protags are so bland I could live their power fantasy. its cheap and sleazy like 5 dollar little ceasers pizza.

Was going to bring up that this is exactly the reason why isekai is so popular in the first place, this whole self-insertion aspect. It's pretty easy to do this as an excuse for not having to create a likable or interesting protagonist though (not to mention, a good portion of the time we never see the protagonist's face when they were in the real world pre-reincarnation). At least Lupin is one of the more interesting characters to self-insert into considering most of his whole gimmick is being a self-insert character for the audience to have some wonder for and be all "I wish I could do some of the things he does"

 

[lupingavemebrainrot]

Was going to bring up that this is exactly the reason why isekai is so popular in the first place, this whole self-insertion aspect. It's pretty easy to do this as an excuse for not having to create a likable or interesting protagonist though (not to mention, a good portion of the time we never see the protagonist's face when they were in the real world pre-reincarnation). At least Lupin is one of the more interesting characters to self-insert into considering most of his whole gimmick is being a self-insert character for the audience to have some wonder for and be all "I wish I could do some of the things he does"

but lupin is not bland though, like he's witty, he's charming, and multifaceted one moment you get idiot savant, next you get le monke.. it always really depends on whose handling him and animating at the time. Lupin is less of an isekai protag and more like a blank slate, he's been either one extreme or another that it allows literally enough freedom and interuptation to make a good story. because he's both extremes, and its up audience interuptation, is he a jokeresque nihilistic anti hero living to serve what ever base desires he may have as in the manga? or a charming albeit a little bit idiotic and immature, darling monkey that would while swipe your wallet but would rescue you if in danger? is he a criminal who would kill you as well as rob or a knight in tarnished armour? thats what I think makes lupin III stand out, because of how he is its really up to audience interuptation.

but then again I am a dirty isekai story junkie, been chasing that high since fusighi yuugi and the 12 kingdoms, my addiction to those stories are so bad I am in the chinese manhua section of manga sites, looking for my next hit and have a webtoon membership. I don't think they'll ever make a good isekai like those too again but I will keep searching anyway, who knows I might be pleasantly suprised, if not sao abridged wasn't bad.