PHENOMENALITY: *uncanny*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *comedy*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *psychological*
GREEN VS. RED has one good joke toward the opening, when we see a few dozen Lupin impersonators gathered together. Instead of the impostors all looking exactly like Lupin does in other iterations of this OVA series, each one emulates one of the many "animation models" used in various Lupin projects since the anime franchise was launched in the 1970s.
This visual in-joke was created to celebrate the impending 40th anniversary of Lupin's manga debut in 1967, just as the title refers to variations in the Lupin cartoons, as to whether the master thief dominantly wears a red jacket or a green one. GREEN takes the metafictional joke a bit further in that by the end of the OVA, one isn't quite sure which Lupin is the real one, or even if the question means anything.
The only sure thing is that one of the Lupin impersonators, Yasuo, doesn't look at all like any of the "on-model" imitators. Yet he nurtures some quixotic desire to become the new Lupin III. Can Yasuo tap into the archetype of Lupin? Even the great thief's best buds-- Goemon, Jigen and Fujiko-- won't take a position, but are content to watch things play out. But there's no real plot, just a lot of posturing and running around, with Inspector Zenigata in his "serious mode" getting more screen time than the Lupin Gang.
This OVA registers as a "bizarre crime" thanks to all the Lupin-doubles, while a lesser crime involving some diamond-theft barely can hold the same stage. There's far less combative action here than in the usual Lupin tales, but since there is at least the promise of a duel between "Green Lupin" and "Red Lupin," I'll include this entry in the combative mode even if there isn't a big payoff.
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