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2011 Lupin III TV Special Gets 14.0% Average Rating
posted on by Egan Loo
Lupin III: Chi no Kokuin Eien no Mermaid (Lupin: Blood Seal -Eternal Mermaid-), the television special that introduced the franchise's first voice cast change in 16 years, earned an average rating of 14.0% rating on Friday. It garnered a 15.8% rating in Tokyo's Kantō area.
The special had popular voice actor Kouichi Yamadera assuming the role of Inspector Zenigata, Lupin's eternal nemesis. Daisuke Namikawa and Miyuki Sawashiro took on the roles of Goemon Ishikawa and Fujiko Mine, respectively. However, Kanichi Kurita and Kiyoshi Kobayashi retained their roles of Lupin III himself and Daisuke Jigen, respectively. Guest stars included Masako Nozawa and Akira Ishida.
Monkey Punch's original manga inspired three television series since 1971, six theatrical films, and an irregular series of two-hour television specials since 1989. It has been 22 months since the last television special, Lupin III: the Last Job. That special earned a 17.6% rating in Kantō on February 12, 2010. The Lupin III vs. Detective Conan television anime movie earned a 19.5% rating in Kantō on March 27, 2009.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
