This Lupin the 3rd TV movie is different than the other ones.

It has more violence and the plot to it is more dark. Still has some humor in it but not a whole lot.

Lupin has to face the most dangerous group of Assassins ever. Who are trained/savaged killers. Lupin also tries to find his lost famous Wather P38 he use to own.

The animation is very smooth and well done.

Character designs are different than the previous TV movies character designs.

This may very well be the most violent Lupin the 3rd anime ever.

It's still worth seeing. I give it an 8/10

Somewhat a change of pace and tone, even in its animation, when compared to the first few bright and lively TV specials. Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins, which I much prefer original title Lupin the Third: Walther P38, had rather a distinctively punchy, somber and violent approach. Sort of mixing together an intriguing whodunnit angle with a ludicrous conspiracy laced adventure sub-plot like out of a James Bond film. The story delves into a past incident of a mysterious figure shooting a familiar looking Walther P38 at Lupin falling out of a plane, well, it's déjà vu, as during a heist, in what looks like a set-up, Lupin's arch nemesis Interpol inspector Zenigata is shot by the same mysterious figure and elegant pistol from Lupin's past. Being framed for the shooting, this leads Lupin to the island of the Tarantula assassins, where he and co go about trying to uncover this shooter from his past, while also stealing the Tarantula's massive gold fortune.

The game plan is set, but it doesn't go so smoothly, as chaos erupts and the revelation to who set it all in motion shows their true self. Action, when it occurs, hits hard and fast with few bang-up scenes in the opening and closing sequences. Once the story hits the island, the operation rarely leaves and it can hit a bit of a bump as it slowly chugs along. In doing so, it felt like it could've been tighter and a little less self-contained, but this opened up a relationship struck between Lupin and one of the assassins, Ellen. The script gave it an opportunity to dig a little deeper into Lupin's psyche, and background showing a serious side whenever he's not being coy. This is powerfully projected in its final melancholy scenes of self-sacrifice and pure reflection - finishing on a beautiful end credits song "Don't Forget My Eyes" by Emi Shinohara, the Japanese voice actress of Ellen and who also did voice work for Sailor Moon and Project A-Ko.

Like any Lupin film, Walther P-38 is completely entertaining, with a wide appeal base. That is to say, anyone can enjoy any film of the Lupin series, be they an otaku or someone not familiar with anime. Unlike others of the series, this film is deadly serious at times, with mature imagery and violence. The slapstick humor is ever present, for that is what endears fans to the Lupin series. For fans, those who find Goeman particularly more entertaining than Jigan (myself certainly NOT included),this film is perfect. The plot centers around an inescapable island on which the greatest cabal of assassins is trained. This fact is certainly reflected in the writing and plot; most of the action take splace on this island and most characters are stoic badasses. Whoever you are watch this movie, but specifically those of you who have watched Lupin, but felt it couldn't complete with more graphic, more adult anime. This one will hopefully have you rethinking that.