Japanese Title:
Rupan Sansei: Tenshi no Sakuryaku ~Yume no kakera wa Koroshi no Kaori~~
Jacket Color:
Red
Release Date:
2005 July 22
Run Time:
90 minutes

Synopsis

Deep in Area 51, Lupin has just purloined the extra-terrestrial "original metal" from a government research facility. With Zenigata and his new partner Emily hot on his heels, Lupin finds himself the target of an all-female assassin group known as the Bloody Angels. Can Lupin outwit the heavenly tactics of these deadly beauties?

Angel's Tactics promotional image

On the surface, Angel's Tactics combines a number of elements from previous specials into a decent but predictable story. With over thirty years of heists and capers, Lupin has pretty much left his mark on nearly every recognizable facility around the world. Area 51 provided a great opening sequence that showcased the combination of humor and action that has kept Lupin going over the years.

Unfortunately, the story seems to lose its way once Lupin has made off with the alien Original Metal. The remainder of the special features the Bloody Angels attempting to grab the Metal for themselves but finding Lupin and his gang thwarting their efforts at every turn. What is missing from the plot is a sense of a larger goal or plan that the Bloody Angels have for the Metal.

The best Lupin material makes the item stolen at the beginning a central piece to a larger mystery. The story then begins to reveal why it was a key piece to the villain's plan and why Lupin must keep it out of their hands. This special fails to build up any sense of mystery or grand plot leaving the viewer to watch the characters go through motions seen far too often.

The Bloody Angels also started off as interesting characters by using their feminine charms and playing to each character's individual weakness towards women. However, they are soon reduced to the standard gun versus gun, sword versus sword archetypes with Lupin mopping up the rest with his Walther.

One bright spot in the special was Lupin's interaction with Sophia, one of the Bloody Angels. She struggles to take down Lupin at every turn, but Lupin sees through her every effort. Their conversations and the way they play out in the story was one of the more enjoyable aspects and brought a bit more than the standard action formula seen in a number of the specials.

Overall, it is difficult to label this as a mediocre special; it kept a nice pace going and never felt boring. It had plenty of decent action sequences and comedic touches combined with homages to a number of past specials. Lupin and Sophia's relationship throughout also proved to be a delightful surprise, yet nearly everything in this special is something the audience has seen many times over. It just did not manage to bring a fresh angle to the plot elements to elevate it to the top tier.

Lady Jo:
Kaoru:
Emily O'Brian:
Jingorō Higashi:
Daisuke Jigen:
Goemon Ishikawa:
Poison Sophie:
Fujiko Mine:
Lupin III:
Chin Gensai:
Inspector Zenigata:
Bomber Linda:

Cast data provided by Anime News Network. Check their official page for any additional data not supplied through their API.

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Staff data provided by Anime News Network. Check their official page for any additional data not supplied through their API.