Return of Pycal

{{Short description|Japanese original video animation}} {{notability|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox animanga/Header | name = Lupin III: Return of Pycal | image = Return of Pycal.jpg | caption = VHS release cover | ja_kanji = ルパン三世生きていた魔術師 | ja_romaji = Rupan Sansei Ikiteita Majutsushi | genre =  | creator = Monkey Punch }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ova | director = Mamoru Hamatsu | producer = | writer = Ryō Katsuragi | music = Yuji Ohno | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=Discotek Media}} | released = April 3, 2002 | runtime = 48 minutes<ref name="TMS">{{cite web|url=https://www.tms-e.co.jp/alltitles/lupin/010404.html |title=ルパン三世生きていた魔術師 |work=TMS Entertainment |language=Japanese |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref> }} {{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{nihongo|'''''Lupin III: Return of Pycal'''''|ルパン三世生きていた魔術師|Rupan Sansei Ikiteita Majutsushi|{{lit}} "Lupin III: The Magician Lived"|lead=yes}} is a 2002 Japanese original video animation based on Monkey Punch's ''Lupin III'' manga. Directed by Mamoru Hamatsu and released on April 3, 2002, it is the second OVA in the ''Lupin III'' franchise. The story features the return of the magician Pycal, in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the manga's first television anime adaptation. ''Return of Pycal'' won an Excellent Work Award at the 2003 Tokyo International Anime Fair.<ref name="VAP">{{cite web|url=https://store.vap.co.jp/syousai.asp?item=VPBV-11722 |title=ルパン三世生きていた魔術師 |work=VAP |language=Japanese |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref> It was released in North America on July 27, 2021, by Discotek Media.

==Plot== When Lupin attempts to steal a gem, he is interrupted by Pycal, a magician who was considered to have died after facing off with Lupin in the past (chapter 7: "Magician" of the original manga and episode 2: "The Man They Called a Magician" of the first anime series). Pycal, once a trickster, now seems armed with real magical abilities, and seems determined to get his revenge on Lupin.

==Release== ''Return of Pycal'' was released on VHS and limited edition DVD by VAP on April 3, 2002.<ref name="TMS"/> The limited edition DVD set includes a CD-ROM with a puzzle game, which if beaten would provide a password for ZIP files containing wallpapers, and a CD of the soundtrack. On April 23, 2003, a standard DVD version and a standalone CD of the soundtrack were released separately.<ref name="VAP"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_アニメ_000000000013179/item_ルパン三世-生きていた魔術師-オリジナル･サウンド･トラック_587729 |title=ルパン三世生きていた魔術師オリジナル･サウンド･トラック |work=HMV Japan |language=Japanese |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref> Vap released ''Return of Pycal'' on Blu-ray on September 15, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.vap.co.jp/syousai.asp?item=VPXV-71095 |title=ルパン三世生きていた魔術師 |work=VAP |language=Japanese |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref>

Discotek Media announced their North American license to the OVA in December 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-14/discotek-licenses-kodocha-kenichi-daimos-black-rock-shooter/.167443 |title=Discotek Licenses Kodocha, KenIchi, Daimos, Black Rock Shooter |work=Anime News Network |date=2020-12-14 |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref> They released it on upscaled Blu-ray on July 27, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-05/discotek-releases-black-rock-shooter-city-hunter-2-mahoraba-lupin-iii-return-of-pycal-anime-on-july-27/.172471 |title=Discotek Releases Black Rock Shooter, City Hunter 2, Mahoraba, Lupin III: Return of Pycal Anime on July 27 |work=Anime News Network |date=2021-05-05 |access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{ann|anime|2023}} * [http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com/anime/ova/return_of_the_magician ''Return of Pycal'' at Lupin III Encyclopedia] * {{IMDb title|0420138|Lupin III: Return of Pycal}}

Category:2002 anime OVAs Category:Lupin the Third Category:TMS Entertainment