Key Master: Lupin III - Part ll

Original key master setup including genga created for Lupin the Third: Part II, Episode 21, produced by TMS Entertainment in 1978. This hand-painted setup features Lupin in the memorable massage sequence, a comedic moment from the series’ golden period. The cel and its original matching background form a complete key master composition, used exactly as seen on screen.

This episode aired during the period when Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata were directly involved in directing and supervising episodes of Lupin the Third: Part II. Their influence is visible in the meticulous composition, human gestures, and grounded humour that distinguish this scene. The expressive posture of Lupin and the tactile handling of the towel reflect the subtle animation realism that Miyazaki would later carry into The Castle of Cagliostro (1979).

Title: Lupin III – The Massage Scene
Series: Lupin the Third: Part II
Episode: 21 – “Goemon’s Revenge” (1978)
Director: Yūzō Aoki
Supervising Directors: Hayao Miyazaki & Isao Takahata (TMS period involvement)
Studio: TMS Entertainment / Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Type: Original key master cel setup
Medium: Hand-painted acetate on matching gouache background
Condition: Cel & background stuck, genga shows handling and edge damage.

Key master setups from Lupin the Third: Part II’s Miyazaki-Takahata period are exceptionally scarce. As a complete key master from 1978, it stands as both an artefact of the series’ legacy and a glimpse into the artistic evolution of Japan’s most celebrated animators.