TMS announced on Wednesday that production on a 50th anniversary project for the Lupin III franchise has been green-lit under the title Lupin wa Ima mo Moeteiru ka? (Is Lupin Still Raring to Go?). Monkey Punch, the original creator of the Lupin III manga, is the project's chief director. Monkey Punch said that the anniversary work is filled with material from previous installments in the franchise, but also allows the staff to try out new things in animation.

TMS and Telecom Animation Film previously announced in July that the franchise will get a fifth series set in France. Wednesday's announcement does not mention if this new project is related to the previously announced fifth series, or if it is a new project entirely.

Monkey Punch's Lupin III manga about the titular thief's escapades inspired four previous television anime series, several theatrical anime films, and a near-annual string of television anime specials. It also inspired the Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine television anime series and live-action adaptations, including 2014's live-action film.

Lupin III: Part IV, the first Lupin III television anime series in three decades to star the titular character, premiered in Japan in October 2015, after first premiering as Lupin III - L'avventura Italiana on Italian television on August 29, 2015. The story took place in Italy and San Marino, and it featured a blue-jacketed Lupin in his 20s.

Crunchyroll began streaming Lupin III: Part IV in January 2016. The television anime then premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami block on June 17 with an English dub. The Lupin III Italian game special aired in January 2016, and TMS Entertainment premiered it in the United States at Anime Expo earlier this year.

[Via Ota-suke]

Update: "Lupin wa Ima mo Moeteiru ka?" is an updated reference to the title of the first Lupin III television episode, "Lupin wa Moeteiru ka?" The anniversary work's image visual above shows Lupin in a blue and white helmet and racing suit, just like the ones he wore in that first episode. The episode ranked #5 in the Lupin III Best Selection rerun of the favorite episodes, as chosen by a web fan poll. Lupin III Best Selection ended on Wednesday with the anniversary work's announcement. Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web