Lupin III: The Last Job is the twenty-first Lupin III Made-for-TV Movie. It was directed by Tetsurō Amino, who previously directed the Sweet Lost Night special. It originally debuted on February 12, 2010, and has yet to have an English language release. Rather appropriately given the special's title, and a bit sadly for long-time Lupin fans, this is also the last TV Special to feature long-time voice actors Gorō Naya (Inspector Zenigata), Eiko Masuyama (Fujiko), and Makio Inoue (Goemon).note
A lost cache of Hitler’s stolen plunder is discovered in Germany, and among the items is a gold avatar of Buddha. Inspector Zenigata is in charge of transporting it to Berlin because Lupin III has announced his intentions to steal the statue. Naturally, Lupin strikes, but he ends in failure when the sinister Morgana takes the treasure right out of his hands and adds insult to injury by killing Zenigata when the determined detective tries to get it back.
Lupin decides the best way to honor Pops' memory is to complete the job. Sure enough, the statue itself isn't the true item of value, but has something contained within that leads to another and greater find. Combined with a number of other rare items, it will help reveal the location of "Fujin," a lost artifact of great value. In Lupin's way is not only Morgana and his eccentric cronies, but a rogue ninja from the lost Fuma clan who is determined to get the treasure for her own purposes. Will Lupin honor Zenigata's memory properly, or will this be his own last job?
Complete spoilers below — don't read further if you don't want to know how this caper turns out!
This TV movie features examples of:
- Absurdly Sharp Blade: Zantetsuken opens up an armored car like a tin of sardines. And if you’ve ever watched Lupin, you can pretty much guess what's going to happen to that Rugendamm Bridge...
- At the end, it's also used to destroy Fujin at Maya and Asuka's request.
- Anachronism Stew: The film plays seriously the idea that Roman scientists would have been able to build hi-tech technology such as robots, lasers and a black hole generator, though apparently it can't decide if he's talking about the Roman Empire (who kinda lacked interest in any science which wasn't useful for warfare or city building)or Renaissance Italy, as it credits the creation of Fujin to a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci (who, as the name suggest, wasn't even roman).
- Antagonist in Mourning:
- Not only is Lupin devastated by Zenigata's death, he’s determined to complete the job he started to get back at Morgana.
- And likewise, Zenigata for Lupin after he thinks the thief has been disintegrated by Fujin.
- Armor Is Useless: Averted by Andre: his golden-plated armor manages to prove too much even for Jigen's Magnum, or Morgana's hidden armor (which, at one point, saves him from Zantetsuken).
- Artistic License – History: Asuka clams that it's been documented that Romans visited Japan. This is only correct if you consider "romans" as the missionaries who went to Japan during the Sengoku period, as the historical romans (Roman Empire) did knew about the Han Empire, but it's unlikely they had contacts with Japan.
- Ax-Crazy: Andre, whose sole purpose is pretty much "psychotic killer for hire."
- Been There, Shaped History: According to Morgana, the Morgana sect included both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who sacked Japan in order to find Fujin. Adolf Hitler was apparently one of them too, looking for the Fujin to win the war.
- Blow You Away: Fujin is a wind-based clay idol with Eolo's name inscribed on it that can create Black Holes.
- Brick Joke: At the beginning, Lupin mocks Morgana's Italian origins by portraying his caricature eating a huge dish of spaghetti. Much later, when Asuka tells him that the Oni and Tengu demons could have been exiled romans living in the Japanese mountains he asks if that means that Oni and Tengu liked spaghetti as well.
- Buried Alive: Asuka used a technique to put Zenigata into a death-like coma so he wouldn't get involved in her struggles with Morgana. Good thing they didn't try to cremate him!
- Butt Biter: Kotarou to Lupin and Zenigata, usually at inappropriate but hilarious moments. With Fujiko though, he only licks her butt.
- Calling Card: Lupin sends an elaborate pop-up one to Zenigata at the beginning of the film. It's all part of his plan, of course.
- Canine Companion: Kotarou, Asuka's loyal Akita. Also a ninja dog.
- Fuuma Kotaro: Technically speaking he's a big homage to the man.
- Catch Your Death of Cold: Goemon, after attempting to purify himself in the freezing ocean. It becomes important later on when a sneeze nearly gets him killed. And after he defeats his foe who retreats into the freezing water:Goemon: Try not to catch a cold.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Poster child Fujiko is up to her usual tricks of trying to make off with all the treasure all for herself.
- Clothing Damage: In order to get Maya or Azuka's voice, Morgana turns up the electricity so much their clothes start to disintegrate.
- Determinator: Zenigata makes an impressive show at the beginning of the film. As an example, after Lupin gets away, he proceeds to drive a large truck through a concrete barrier and off of a high bridge to make sure the master thief doesn't get away. He even tries to drive it underwater to catch Lupin's boat!
- Dub Name Change: Minor one, in the Italian dub, Koutarou becomes "Toratarou", after the alternate spelling of Kou (tiger).
- Evil Weapon: Downplayed, but Goemon senses a powerful baleful aura coming from Kagetora's sword.
- Facial Markings: Morgana's mask hide the crest of the Morgana clan on his forehead (a shield with a coiled snake on it).
- Fartillery: At one point when Asuka's dog Kotomaru is going to bite Lupin again he repels him with a fart.
- Gut Punch: They killed Zenigata! Lupin looks like someone shot his dog when he sees that.
- Implausible Fencing Powers: Goemon is up to his usual tricks, including blocking automatic fire, Defeat by Modesty, and slicing something away without damaging what it surrounds.
- Killer Yoyo: Andre’s giant yo-yo of death. Lampshaded by Lupin.
- MacGuffin: The Buddha statue, Kagetora's sword, Hitler's armor... they abound in this one.
- The main one seems to be Fujin a relic of the Fuma ninja clan that was made by Roman scientists to make black holes
- McNinja: Morgana and his flunkies The Fuma as well in ancient times when Roman scientists fled to Japan and formed an alliance with bandits to form the clan.
- Oddly Shaped Sword: The Kagetora sword held by Maya. Justified in that it's called a "Houtou", a Treasure Sword, whose original purpouse might have been as a decoration.
- Running Gag: Starting with Goemon's purifying swim in the cold ocean, everyone keeps getting dunked into cold water. Jigen usually comments on someone getting "purified" whenever this happens.
- Kotaroh biting somebody (usually Lupin) in the butt.
- Shrine to the Fallen: Goemon rather touchingly uses his Implausible Fencing Powers to carve an effigy of Zenigata in the rubble where the inspector fell; Jigen then adds his lit cigarette balanced upright in front as a parody of the incense normally placed in front of shrines. Lupin puts Zenigata's hat on top.
- Stripperiffic: Asuka's kunoichi's garment, lampshaded and justified as that's the traditional attire of kunoichi in lore.
- Tagalong Reporter: The brave Asuka, following the moving of the phantom national treasure, who ends up unwittingly capturing Lupin's heist on camera... as well as Zenigata's death. And then subverted; she’s actually an undercover officer for Interpol. And then subverted again, as she's also a descendent of the Fuma ninja clan.
- Technicolor Ninja: Fuma clan descendents Asuka and Maya.
- Tracking Device: Zenigata stashes one in the treasure Lupin steals.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Lupin just went out of his way to help Asuka out, put himself in great danger to rescue Asuka and her sister and saved the world from a madman who had a weapon to create black holes. What does Auska immediately suggest she and Zenigata do after the dust has settled? Arrest Lupin and have her dog chase him. She is still an Interpol Officer after all.
- Urine Trouble: Kotarou, among other indignities, pees on Lupin's head to get his attention after the master thief is knocked silly.
- Wolverine Claws: A member of the Fuuma Ninja wears them in form of gloves and greaves on his arms.
