Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro Returns to Theaters in 4K Restoration

Hayao Miyazaki's debut feature film, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, originally released in 1979 and based on Monkey Punch's manga, will be re-released in Italian cinemas on March 4, 5, and 6, 2024. The film, which launched Miyazaki's international career and won him an Oscar decades later, will be shown in a 4K remastered and restored version with original Italian voice actors. The distribution is handled by Nexo Digital, known for recovering and distributing Japanese animation milestones. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, the film was the first anime ever screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980. The story follows gentleman thief Lupin III who, after robbing a casino, discovers the money is counterfeit and heads to Cagliostro to find the real treasure. Characters include Fujiko, Jigen, Goemon, and Inspector Zenigata. Though not a box office hit, the film is considered a cult classic that influenced animators and launched Miyazaki's legendary career.