Arsène Lupin III carries the legacy of Maurice Leblanc's gentleman thief as his grandson, a globally acknowledged master thief famed for executing seemingly impossible heists. His Japanese heritage is suggested through claims of a great-grandfather named Jirokichi, a farmer from Kawamuko, though this detail is sometimes presented as potentially fabricated to mislead adversaries. Lupin's character varies significantly across media; the original manga portrays him as crude, remorseless, and sexually aggressive, contrasting with most anime adaptations where he displays chivalry, humor, and a moral compass that drives him to aid the vulnerable or thwart violent criminals. Physically, Lupin possesses a slender frame, dark hair with distinctive long sideburns, and favors colorful jackets—often color-coded to specific anime series, like red in "Elusiveness of the Fog." His personality blends a childlike love for adventure with intellectual brilliance; he relishes the challenge of theft more than possessing the stolen items, frequently relinquishing treasures if others demonstrate greater need or rightful claim. He pursues diverse pastimes including gambling, race car driving, and sleight-of-hand tricks utilizing gadgets like explosive cigarettes or bubble gum plastique. Despite fluctuating loyalty within his gang—marksman Daisuke Jigen, swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII, and femme fatale Fujiko Mine—Lupin prioritizes their safety, enduring torture rather than betraying them. This loyalty extends unexpectedly to his pursuer, Inspector Koichi Zenigata, whom he respects as a worthy adversary and has protected from lethal threats. Lupin's skills encompass masterful disguise, vocal mimicry, marksmanship, and technological proficiency, enabling feats such as escaping high-security prisons or reverse-engineering advanced devices. His standard equipment includes a Walther P38 pistol, a grappling hook watch, and a versatile yellow Fiat 500 capable of improbable maneuvers. In "Elusiveness of the Fog," Lupin is transported 500 years into feudal Japan alongside Jigen, Goemon, and Zenigata by the time-traveling antagonist Kyosuke Mamo, who seeks revenge for grievances involving a future Lupin descendant. Within this historical setting, Lupin collaborates with Ofumi, an ancestor of Fujiko Mine, to navigate the dangers of warring factions and protect temporal causality—ensuring Ofumi's survival so Fujiko can exist in the present. His adaptability and resourcefulness remain central as he maneuvers through unfamiliar eras and conflicts, reinforcing his core identity as a thief motivated by challenge rather than material gain.