In the anime Lupin Zero, which serves as a prequel to the broader Lupin the Third franchise, the character of Lupin III is depicted as a young junior high school student living in Tokyo during the 1960s. Coming from a wealthy family with a long lineage of legendary thieves, he is the grandson of the famous gentleman thief Arsène Lupin and the son of Lupin II. At the start of the series, he is a bored and somewhat aimless teenager, raised in privilege but uncertain of his own path. He has been trained in the arts of thievery by his grandfather, yet he remains a mix of maturity and childishness, described by those around him as half a mature adult and half an idiot. His motivation initially is a search for excitement and meaning; he takes an interest in a mysterious and impressive young marksman named Daisuke Jigen, drawn to Jigen’s wolf-like intensity and skill. Their developing relationship forms the emotional core of the story, as Lupin repeatedly tries to prove himself and forge a partnership. Over the course of the series, Lupin undergoes significant development: he moves from being a naive, privileged schoolboy to taking his first deliberate steps toward becoming a self-made thief. His personality is marked by curiosity, boldness, and a streak of troublemaking, though he still has much to learn about the dangers and moral compromises of the criminal world. His notable abilities at this stage are not yet fully refined, but he already demonstrates a quick mind, a talent for improvisation, and the foundational knowledge passed down from his grandfather. His role in the story is that of an origin story protagonist—a young boy climbing the staircase to villainhood, discovering what it truly means to carry the Lupin name. Key relationships include his growing bond with Jigen, which resembles a classic buddy dynamic, as well as interactions with his grandfather Lupin I and his father Lupin II, both of whom influence his understanding of legacy and crime. Through the six episodes, he begins to shed his innocence and claim the identity that will eventually make him the world’s greatest thief.