While anime has only really been a force in the Western media market since the 1990s, the history of anime actually goes back much further than that. There are many classic anime out there that predate the period when anime appeared on international TV, but many of them don’t get the respect they deserve. I was one of those people too, but a lot of–Lupine III–helped me realize the value that these classic anime still have.
The amount of anime in existence exploded in the late 90s and early 2000s, just in time for the rise of the medium in the US and other international markets. Since then, there has been an abundance of quality series to choose from, something that has only become easier as streaming services like Crunchyroll have emerged, offering easy access to hundreds or even thousands of titles. However, in this age of abundance, it’s easy to forget where anime began and all the steps it took to get here. Some franchises from the early days of anime are still around, such as Lupine IIIand watching the latest series can be a great gateway to classic content.
Why I Was Wrong to Ignore Lupine III
The age of an anime is not an indicator of quality
When I started working with anime, at a young age, I wanted to know more about the history of the medium, and that’s when I learned about the great series from the 70s that helped define what anime is. However, my initial attempts to delve into these earlier series often failed; the art style wasn’t what I had in mind as “anime” and so these series didn’t feel quite right to me. Of course, my experience with anime was quite limited at that time; really needed to look Pokémonto use my own personal reference point from then on.
I had more success watching series from the 90s that were considered classics, like Neon Genesis Evangelionas these had a more familiar art style. I also participated in many (then) contemporary series, such as Bleach and Inuyasha thanks to Adult Swim. But it was a long time before I tried to go back to some of those 70s classics and figure out what they were all about. In my mind at least, its older art styles just weren’t as appealing to me as the more modern series, but that was due to the narrow idea I had of what anime was.
Anime style has evolved a lot over the years
What is now considered “Anime” style took a long time to define
It may be hard to believe now, but anime’s original art styles were often inspired by Disney films, which were some of the best animated content at the time. In the 70s, it evolved into some unique styles, but these art styles are still quite different from what fans would recognize as anime today.. Lupine III is a great example because it has a distinct style that is instantly recognizable as Lupineand when it came to reviving the series in the modern day, this art style was preserved because of how iconic it has become in Japan.
Animation is and always has been difficult and expensive, and many classic anime have dealt with this by using low frame rates, static frames with minimal movement, and reused animation – all things that can easily irritate an attentive fan. While these gimmicks have mostly disappeared from the modern anime scene, they still remain, to some extent, as vestiges of the medium’s early days. These days, still frames are often intended to emulate specific manga panels, reinforcing anime’s connection to its print cousin.
When Lupine III I came back in early 2010 with Part 4, I decided this was probably my best chance to figure out what the big problem with the series was. I watched and really liked Part 4, but it still wasn’t enough to make me go back and watch the originals. However, that would all change after a conversation with a younger anime fan, who refused to even watch the ’90s classics because he was so used to widescreen digitally animated series that the old hand-drawn style was too much. difficult for them. I was perplexed as to how anyone could simply dismiss so many great series for something so trivial – until I realized I was doing the same thing.
Anime classics from the past deserve a chance
There’s more to a good anime than animation quality
Determined this time to really get involved with some classic series, I started with Galaxy Express 999just on a whim. While the animation could certainly be a little rough and stilted at times, I was absolutely fascinated by the story, and it had a surprising depth that its silly premise hid. It’s one of the best space operas of all time and I couldn’t believe I ignored it for so long. My success with Galaxy Express 999 finally got me to check out the previous one Lupine III series.
Lupine III It’s a pretty long series at this point, and even now I haven’t watched the whole thing, but I was pleased to find that Lupine and the gang were just as captivating in their early days as they were in Part 4 – and in many ways, even more so. Although it’s a bit dated, the series is still funny even to modern audiences because it draws on a universal type of comedy and plays with many spy, crime, and detective tropes that are still as active as ever.. Much of the action is still exciting, even if it’s not as well animated as a modern anime might be. Furthermore, the old style has its own charm that I have learned to appreciate.
It’s important for anime fans to understand the history of the medium, just as it is for film fans. A classic is a classic regardless of the era, and that means anime fans should be willing to give it a try. If you’re thinking about checking out Lupine IIIgo to part 2 – you won’t regret it!