Lupin III/Recap/S2 E35

"Chase the Gorilla Gang", with the English title "Gorilla Tactics". Released in 2004 by Geneon on Volume 7: Royal Scramble.

An elaborate affair is being thrown in Africa by American millionaire Elsa Lockhound to raise awareness of its endangered animals. Naturally, Lupin and Jigen are there, and are not interested in saving critters so much as they are in making off with the beautiful black pearl Mrs. Lockhound is wearing in an elaborate brooch. They run into Fujiko, also interested in the pearl, but unfortunately also spot Inspector Zenigata, who has been hired as security and is lurking outside. The thieves discussing the issue when a group of wild gorillas smash through one of the windows and terrorize the party guests; one smothers Zenigata with affection while the others make off with the Lockheart pearl.

Annoyed that someone else has beat them to the game, Lupin and Jigen pursue the gorillas out of the ballroom, and are amazed to spot them driving away in a pink jeep. A car chase ends when the thieves corner the gorillas in a dead end, only to find the jeep and apes have disappeared without a trace. Confused, the two meet up the next morning with Fujiko and Goemon to discuss the situation. Fujiko proposes that the gang lay a trap for the gorillas by throwing another party and decking her out in various priceless jewels that Lupin had previously stolen. Jigen and Goemon are suspicious, but they agree to the plan.

That evening, Fujiko, posing as "Lady Papanlu" and bedecked in all of Lupin's stolen treasures, along with a disguised Lupin and Jigen, attend their ball. Zenigata, unaware of who is really putting it on, again offers his services to "Lord Papanlu"; Lupin counters with the rumors that Zenigata is having an "affair" with a gorilla, embarrassing the inspector. The party proceeds as planned, with Goemon keeping watch outside. A large model of the Children's Center that Lord and Lady Papanlu are planning on building is loaded into the party to be dedicated, much to the surprise of Lord Papanlu himself. He is even more surprised when the three gorillas burst from the model, throw him through a window, and snatch up Fujiko and run off with her.

Jigen and Goemon are already on the problem, borrowing Lupin's car to again chase the gorillas. In spite of help from Inspector Zenigata and his men, the apes once again get away, this time with Fujiko. However, Lupin, once thrown from the party, took advantage of the chase to make his way to the dead end from before, where he watches a crane pick up the jeep and carry it over the alley wall, causing it to "disappear". The jeep drives off, and Lupin reunites with Jigen and Goemon just in time to follow them. Alas, their plan meets an obsticle when the car runs out of gas; they continue to follow the trail through the jungle on foot.

The gang eventually comes across the gorillas' abandoned jeep, and Lupin spots a small hut nearby, with one of the gorillas in a cage next to it. Another of the gorillas comes out of the house, leaves food for the one in the cage, and then removes his head to reveal a man in a gorilla disguise! Figuring the other missing ape is in the house, as well as the kidnapped Fujiko, the gang waits until nightfall to investigate further. They sneak into some palm trees towering over the house, eventually bending the trees and anchoring them to the roof to get a closer look. Peering in a window, they spy the crooks and Fujiko, but Fujiko isn't their hostage, she's their boss! She paid the two of them to dress up in gorilla costumes, train the real gorilla, and break into the parties so she could get hold of Lupin's jewelry stash.

As she pays her hired hands, the house suddenly starts creaking; the force of the palm trees pulled down on the roof causes the house to tear away from the ground and become suspended high in the air. Goemon cuts a hole in the roof and the gang drops through to confront Fujiko. The thugs go to protect their "boss", but Jigen and Goemon make quick work of them, leaving Lupin free to take back his treasures and Fujiko begging for mercy. Alas, Zenigata has also found the house by following Lupin's trail, and he and the police at his disposal fire on the gang in an attempt to capture them. Climbing on to the roof, each of the thieves grabs one of the ropes attaching the trees to the roof; Goemon severs them at Lupin's signal, causing the house to crash down on Zenigata's raid and flinging the thieves to safety, via some hidden parachutes. Fujiko, however, is chute-less, and as Lupin tries to help her, he drops her handbag containing all of the loot in question over the jungle. Fujiko tells Lupin he should have dropped her instead, but Lupin admits the lost treasure is small price to pay for being allowed to hold her in his arms.

This episode features examples of:

 * But You Screw One Goat!: Lupin taunts Zenigata with the affectionate attitude of one of the gorillas during the first robbery.
 * Car Meets House: Jigen and Goemon crash through a restaurant during a failed attempt to corral the gorilla's jeep.
 * Charity Ball: The gorillas target these to steal the jewels of the rich.
 * Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Ah, yes...thy name is Fujiko.
 * Distressed Damsel: Fujiko appears to be this at first, but she later reveals herself to be the Femme Fatale.
 * Everything's Better with Monkeys: Especially stealing stuff! Lupin also gets a great moment when he acts exactly like a monkey while inspecting the gorillas' empty jeep.
 * Failed a Spot Check: Surely the dedicated Inspector Zenigata would be able to recognize the stolen jewelry Fujiko is wearing?
 * Fight Fur Your Right to Party: The gorillas aren't there to party so much as steal stuff, though.
 * Freeze-Frame Bonus: After Jigen and Goemon crash their car into the restaurant, they acquire a couple of drinks before getting back into the chase.
 * Getting Crap Past the Radar: The English dub has Lupin say he's getting "genus envy" when he's outwitted by the gorillas.
 * Incredibly Lame Pun: The English episode title.
 * Limited Animation: Several shots are egregiously reused during the car chases.
 * Non-Malicious Monster: One of the gorillas distracts Zenigata with kisses while the other two make off with their prize.
 * Shout-Out: In the English dub, Fujiko makes a reference to the "gin joints" of Casablanca when she runs into Lupin and Jigen.
 * After the gorillas disappear the first time, Jigen and Lupin have a quick discussion about flying monkeys.
 * Smug Snake: Fujiko, who plays Lupin for a fool until he finds out her secret and turns the tables.
 * What Happened To The Gorilla?: After it's fed, there's a quick shot of the real gorilla in its cage as the hut breaks away, and it's never mentioned again. Presumably, the police took custody of it. It did seem to like Zenigata, after all.