Lupin III: Why Italians Consider a Japanese Anime Completely Their Own
Lupin III — the grandson of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief — was created by Japanese manga artist Monkey Punch in 1967. It became an anime, aired internationally, and was moderately successful in many countries. But in Italy, something extraordinary happened. The Italian dubbing team transformed the character so completely that generations of Italians feel Lupin is essentially Italian. The charm, the wit, the irony, the philosophical flippancy — it all sounds, in Italian, like it could only have been written in Italian.
The Italian dub of Lupin III has gone through several eras and slightly different tones, but the classic version — aired extensively on Italian TV from the late 1970s through the 1990s — cemented the character in Italian culture. Lupin in Italian is quick, elegant, and self-deprecating. His companion Jigen became 'Jigen' in a slightly rougher Italian register. The ice-cold samurai Goemon became 'Goemon' with an almost Zen dignity. And the villainous Inspector Zenigata became 'Zenigata' — an obsessive, lovable fool whose relentless pursuit of Lupin is as much a partnership as an opposition.
What Lupin III says about Italian culture is revealing. Italy has always been drawn to the elegant thief — the furbo (the cunning one) who outsmarts the system. Lupin is the ultimate furbo: he steals from the rich, humiliates authority, never quite gets caught, and does it all with impeccable style. He also has a complicated, never-resolved relationship with the woman thief Fujiko — a relationship of mutual attraction and betrayal that resonates with Italian notions of passion and suspicion. The films produced by Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, especially The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), are beloved in Italy partly because Cagliostro is Italian — Lupin literally comes to Italy and the film plays with Italian iconography throughout.
The Castle of Cagliostro deserves special mention for Italian learners. The film is set in the fictional principality of Cagliostro — a name that evokes the eighteenth-century Italian adventurer and con man Alessandro Cagliostro — and the Italian references are everywhere: the cliffside setting, the medieval castle, the underground waterworks, the medieval festival. Miyazaki clearly loved Italy, and the film's landscape is a kind of dreamlike composite of the Italian countryside. Watching it with Italian audio is a particular pleasure — the Italian dialogue perfectly matches the visual romanticism of the setting.
Italian vocabulary from Lupin III
Lupin è il perfetto ladro gentiluomo. — Lupin is the perfect gentleman thief.
Sei proprio furbo, eh? — You're really cunning, aren't you?
Lupin usava sempre travestimenti elaborati. — Lupin always used elaborate disguises.
La rapina era perfetta, ma qualcosa andò storto. — The heist was perfect, but something went wrong.
L'ispettore Zenigata non rinunciava mai all'inseguimento. — Inspector Zenigata never gave up the chase.
Fujiko era spesso la sua complice — e spesso il suo nemico. — Fujiko was often his accomplice — and often his enemy.
Il piano si basava su un sottile inganno. — The plan was based on a subtle deception.
Phrases every Italian knows from Lupin III
«Sono Lupin III, il più grande ladro del mondo!»
"I am Lupin the Third, the world's greatest thief!" — His standard self-introduction. Every Italian child knew this line by heart.
«Zenigata, non mi prenderai mai!»
"Zenigata, you'll never catch me!" — The classic taunt. In Italian it has a particular rhythmic quality that made it irresistible to imitate.
«Quella Fujiko...»
"That Fujiko..." — Said with a mix of exasperation and longing. A phrase Italians use today to refer to any beautiful, untrustworthy person they can't stop thinking about.
The Lupin III Gang — Italian Names
| Character | Italian voice description | Key trait in Italian dub |
|---|---|---|
| Lupin III | Charismatic, fast-talking, witty | The wit feels specifically Italian — quick, ironic, self-mocking |
| Jigen Daisuke | Rough, laconic, loyal | The tough-guy sidekick who never wastes words |
| Goemon Ishikawa XIII | Dignified, philosophical | The samurai's honour sounds surprisingly Roman in Italian |
| Fujiko Mine | Seductive, unpredictable | Classic Italian femme fatale register — dangerous and beautiful |
| Inspector Zenigata | Obsessive, comic, surprisingly noble | The foil whose Italian enthusiasm makes him almost heroic |
Lupin III in Italian is a masterclass in colloquial Italian: witty, fast, full of irony and wordplay. The vocabulary leans toward B1–B2 but the short scenes and visual context make it accessible for motivated A2 learners. The Castle of Cagliostro (Il Castello di Cagliostro) is available with Italian audio on major streaming platforms and is the perfect starting point — it is set largely in a fictional Italian location and the Italian dialogue is particularly rich.
2,500+ free exercises are waiting for you.
Start practising free →