Hayao Miyazaki's missing piece: Legendary director's debut anime hits global screens after 46 years

In December 1979, Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro made its theatrical debut in Japan as this marked the directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, who would go on to cofound Studio Ghibli.

Over 46 years later, the film is making a return with a new international release and a fresh English dub.

Now available for pre-order through Crunchyroll’s online store, a special Steelbook Collector’s Edition of the film is being released by Crunchyroll and Discotek Media.

The new Blu-ray features cast and crew interviews, original trailers, an art gallery and a commentary track by Discotek’s Reed Nelson.

The English dub includes familiar voices from the Lupin III series such as Tony Oliver, Michelle Ruff, Richard Epcar and Lex Lang and the release is set for December 15, 2025.

The story adapted from Monkey Punch’s original manga, follows master thief Lupin and his partner Jigen to the mysterious country of Cagliostro, chasing counterfeit money.

“In the twilight of his career, master thief Lupin the Third’s greatest caper has hit a snag...” Chaos ensues as they rescue a princess, face deadly traps and battle a villainous count with help from Fujiko and Goemon.

While Lupin the 3rd was not a blockbuster in Japan as the film earned critical acclaim for its animation and thrilling action.

The film played a key role in launching Hayao Miyazaki’s stories career, finally leading to the creation of Studio Ghibli and beloved films like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service.