Tokyo, September 17, 2021 – Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced that it will enter a digitally remastered 4K edition of the feature-length animated film Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro in the 11th Beijing International Film Festival, which runs from September 21 to 29, 2021.
Rakuten will also enter into a licensing agreement with TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. for the distribution and merchandizing rights of the film in China. Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro will be entered in the Festival's "Panorama" category, as part of the “Restored Classics” section, which screens world-renowned masterpieces which have been restored using the latest cutting-edge technology. This marks the film’s first time being screened in China.
The film is widely known as acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial debut and is the second film in the Lupin the 3rd series. Since its original 1979 theatrical release in Japan, it has gone on to gain popularity with audiences around the world. Going forward, Rakuten plans to distribute the film in China, as well as develop and sell a line-up of related merchandise.
Additionally, screening Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro in China marks Rakuten’s first foray into its new global media franchise business, which will see Rakuten handling comprehensive production of a variety of content, from distribution to merchandising. With operations in 30 countries and regions worldwide, Rakuten intends to leverage its accumulated experience in the content business to expand its media franchise business globally, beginning with China.
Rakuten aims to continue delivering a diverse array of IP-based entertainment experiences through its media franchise business.
- Rakuten Group, Inc.
Rakuten Enters Digitally Remastered 4K Edition of Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro into 11th Beijing International Film Festival
Overview of Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro
Original creator: Monkey Punch
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki, Haruya Yamazaki
Music: Yuji Ohno
Starring: Yasuo Yamada (Lupin III), Eiko Masuyama (Fujiko Mine), Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Daisuke Jigen), Makio Inoue (Goemon Ishikawa), Goro Naya (Inspector Zenigata), Sumi Shimamoto (Clarisse), and more
Original comic books created by Monkey Punch
© Monkey Punch All Rights Reserved.
© TMS All Rights Reserved.
Under License to Rakuten Group, Inc.
Produced by TMS ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
About TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Based on our animation production, licensing, and merchandising business know-how, we are able to maximize our collective capabilities from both the creative side (e.g., creating intellectual properties) and the business production side (e.g., improving the customers' satisfaction). We also have our eyes set on an international market and promoting a global business with our nationally famous and beloved animations such as Lupin the 3rd, Anpanman, and Detective Conan, in addition to more than 440 works and over 12,000 episodes.
TMS official website: https://www.tms-e.co.jp/