#plus it's a big step towards the anime taking more influence from mp in general

[waddlehekk]

If early Part 3 episodes and the animation version of Lupin VIII are any indication, it seemed that they tried to course-correct and converge into Manga Goemon's design, or at least the Shin Lupin III era, but decided to go back to Part 2 and Part 1 designs by the time that the specials and Part 4 aired? There's the Dead or Alive designs, but it pains me so to see that Goemon reflect the post-manga Goemon design. Design's great, but it's like seeing manga Goemon reprinted with black hair... :(

Yeahhhh

It really did seem like there was an effort to slowly push him towards the manga design, but with the changing directors and artstyle of Part 3 I guess the idea wasn't fully communicated and some only knew Goemon for how he was in the popular Part 2. I genuinely wonder that if the design had stuck for Part 3 and if Lupin VIII was published, if Part 4 would have shown an even more manga-like Goemon.

I remember seeing that Samba Temperado animation and the Mankatsu segments which were based on the manga and I did like them, but it still kinda hurt seeing Goemon's design being so obviously altered for the sake of the anime. The black hair doesn't sit with me well either.

I really do like the blonde-brown hair because it's meant to go alongside his cleft chin and eyes to show that he's mixed despite his upbringing with only Japanese culture, and for a character who is literally supposed to represent moving forward in bringing together culture, a major theme of Monkey Punch's works, it feels a little backward that the anime now instead wants to portray him as close-minded. The sideburns probably exist in his manga design for the same reason too.

He was meant to be naive and accepting, not resentful.

(English Conversation Maneuvers of Lupin III)

I really do wonder if they color his hair black and avoid making him mixed for the same reason as why they also changed the skin tones of the characters over time. It's a shame because I really do believe early Part 3 at least understood the idea of making everyone's race ambiguous like the manga did, even if Goemon's hair was made black.

I feel though that recoloring his hair, and/or using his anime personality makes his design feel incomplete and even contradictory, so if they're going to go as far as to appeal to the manga I would rather they go all the way. In my opinion, from what's been attempted already, if TMS does want to try pushing his general design to be more like the manga again, trying to mix both designs just won't stick for long.

I've said this a million times but I really want to see him properly animated!!!