Lupin the 3rd: Prison of the Past (ルパン三世 プリズン・オブ・ザ・パスト) is a 2019 Japanese anime television special directed by Hatsuki Tsuji from a screenplay by Shatona Nishida serving as the 27th television special in the Lupin the 3rd series, itself based on the manga series of the same name by Monkey Punch. Produced by TMS Entertainment, the special debuted on Nippon Television on November 29, 2019 as part of the channel's Kinyo Roadshow.
This was the first Lupin the 3rd anime adaptation to be released during the Reiwa period and was also the first to be released after original creator Monkey Punch's death in April of that year.
Plot
A world famous "Robin Hood" criminal known as Corbett Finnegan is sentenced to death after spending several years locked up in a high security prison in the Kingdom of Dorrente. Lupin and the gang plan to infiltrate the prison and break him out in hopes of claiming his vast treasure. Each member of the crew has a specific reason for wanting to help Finnegan; Jigen has history with him and feels indebted, Goemon desires to see a "modern day Robin Hood", and Lupin wants to prove himself the superior criminal. Fujiko, meanwhile, has manipulated many skillful thieves from around the world to bust into the prison, in hopes of taking the treasure for herself from one of them.
The thieves each try to get to him first, but are each unable to break through the prison's defences. Inspector Zenigata and his partner Yatagarasu arrive to assist the warden, Lorensa, having deduced Lupin would be involved, however a disguised Lupin is able to manipulate the guards into thinking they are Lupin in disguise and have them arrested.