TMS Entertainment announced that the crossover movie Lupin III vs. Detective Conan The Movie will be available for free on its official YouTube channel beginning October 24. The stream will feature the English‑dubbed edition, which was originally produced by Discotek for home video release.
The film pits the master thief Kid the Phantom Thief against the teenage detective Conan Edogawa. In the plot, Kid pulls off a daring diamond heist, employing a real firearm and a yakatabune houseboat for escape. During the chase, Goemon Ishikawa XIII inadvertently splits Conan’s skateboard, leading to the revelation that Kid is actually Lupin the 3rd in disguise.
Discotek’s Blu‑ray edition, released in recent years, combines the classic Lupin English voice cast with the newer theatrical cast from the Lupin the 3rd series and the Detective Conan movies. The company originally issued a Japanese‑only DVD with subtitles in 2015 before adding the English dub for the Blu‑ray version.
The crossover originally hit Japanese theaters in December 2013, following a TV special that aired in 2009. Both releases were celebrated by fans of Monkey Punch’s Lupin III and Gōshō Aoyama’s Detective Conan (known as Case Closed in the United States).
Detective Conan Episodes Arrive on Netflix
In parallel with the free film stream, Netflix has listed the fourth “specially curated” batch of Detective Conan episodes, set to debut on the platform on November 1. The selection continues the service’s recent effort to bring classic episodes of the long‑running series to a global audience with fresh English dubbing.
Netflix’s announcement follows earlier releases of Conan episodes on both Netflix and Crunchyroll, expanding the catalog for fans who prefer streaming over traditional broadcast.
How to Watch
- YouTube: Visit TMS Entertainment’s official YouTube channel on October 24 to watch the full movie. The stream is free but limited in time, so viewers are encouraged to tune in early.
- Netflix: The new Conan episode block becomes available on November 1. Subscribers can stream the episodes in the region‑specific library, with English dub options provided.
Background on the Franchises
Both Lupin III and Detective Conan have enjoyed decades of popularity. Lupin III, created by Monkey Punch in 1967, spawned a prolific anime franchise that began broadcasting in 1971 and has produced numerous TV seasons, movies, and specials. Detective Conan, launched by Gōshō Aoyama in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1994, follows high‑school detective Shinichi Kudo, who is transformed into a child after being poisoned. He adopts the alias Conan Edogawa and solves cases while hiding his true identity.
The two series have intersected before, most notably with the 2009 TV special and the 2013 theatrical crossover. Their joint appearance offers a rare blend of Lupin’s flamboyant heists and Conan’s meticulous investigations, delighting fans of both properties.
For those interested in exploring the source material, TMS Entertainment remains the animation studio behind both franchises’ recent productions, handling everything from television episodes to feature‑length movies.
Keep an eye on TMS’s official X/Twitter feed for any updates on the streaming window or additional promotional events.
Featured image: © Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan • YTV • TMS 1996
Source: Anime News Network