Lupin The 3rd The Castle Of Cagliostro Is A Gem

A dashing thief, his gang of desperadoes and an intrepid cop struggle to free a princess from an evil count, and learn the secret of a treasure that she holds part of the key to.

Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Writers
Monkey Punch Maurice Leblanc Hayao Miyazaki
Stars
Yasuo Yamada Eiko Masuyama Kiyoshi Kobayashi

The foundation of Studio Ghibli was laid during the production of CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO. The film has many themes and art style that would define the Studio Ghibli films later on. It wont be until NAUSSICA VALLEY OF THE WIND that the studio is firmly established.

After successfully robbing the Monte Carlo Casino, Lupin The Third and Jigen Daisuke soon learn that their money is in fact counterfeit and they go after the man responsible: Count Lazare de Cagliostro. The two soon find out that the Count is behind something far worse than counterfeiting money for casinos: he has been keeping a family secret hidden deep in his castle. Can Lupin find out what this is and live to tell the tale? With the help of Jigen and the wise samurai Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Lupin is hell-bent on finding out the Cagliostro family's secret fortune and make it his own

The Castle of Cagliostro has garnered high praise, with critics and historians noting the film's influence on Miyazaki's later works, becoming the most popular and well-regarded entry in the entire Lupin III franchise, and has since been recognized as a cult film. However, some have disapproved of its depiction of Lupin as a gallant hero instead of his original persona as a ruthless criminal. The film has served as a major influence on animators and directors worldwide, such as filmmaker John Lasseter and several Walt Disney Animation Studios films, including titles of the Disney Renaissance.