A new digitally remastered edition of The Castle of Cagliostro, famously as the first feature film to be directed by Studio Ghibli maestro Miyazaki Hayao, will be released on Japanese cinema screens on May 9th.
This new transfer has been three years in the making and arrives on the 35th anniversary of its original 1979 release. The film sees classic manga character and master thief Arsene Lupin III attempt to rescue a princess from the clutches of an evil Count and foil a counterfeiting operation in the tiny nation of Cagliostro.
Joined by his regularly gang of allies and adversaries, including chain-smoking partner in crime Jigen, samurai Goemon, beautiful rival and sometimes-partner Fujiko and with Inspector Zenigata as ever on their heels. Miyazaki came to make the film off the back of work on two series of the Lupin anime series and while not actually a Ghibli film, the director's involvement in all areas of production give it a recognizable early-Ghibli style.
Fans of the master thief have something else to look forward to this year with the August 30th release of a new Lupin live-action movie, with Oguri Shun (Space Pirate Captain Harlock) in the title role.
Check out the official website for details on screenings (Japanese only): http://cagliostro-remaster.jp/