Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Lupin is coerced into the heist because Fujiko Mine has been captured and fitted with an explosive collar that will detonate if he refuses to cooperate. The mysterious employer Alan Smithee uses Fujiko's life as leverage, forcing Lupin to stage the diamond theft as a test of his abilities before targeting the more valuable Cherry Sapphire.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene shows Lupin abandoning the initial diamond theft, hinting that something more significant drives his actions.

• lupin third
• fujiko mine
• hostage
• cherry sapphire
• coercion
• alan smithee

The Vespanian ore is a rare mineral that enables stealth technology, making it extremely valuable for military applications. Lupin was secretly hired by the Vespanian government to retrieve this ore from the Cherry Sapphire, which is partially made from the material. The geopolitical stakes involve shifting the military balance of power against a neighboring nation.

Foreshadowing: The Cherry Sapphire is repeatedly described as something far more valuable than a simple gem, foreshadowing its unique composition.

• vespanian ore
• stealth technology
• military
• cherry sapphire
• geopolitics

Alan Smithee is a shadowy employer who orchestrates the heist by coercing Lupin through Fujiko's capture. His true goal is to obtain the Vespanian ore embedded in the Cherry Sapphire to develop stealth technology that would offset a neighboring nation's military strength. He operates from behind the scenes, hiring Lupin while also working with Italian mafia connections.

Foreshadowing: Smithee's identity is revealed gradually through the convergence of multiple factions, with his motives tied to the larger political scheme.

• alan smithee
• employer
• stealth tech
• military balance
• vespanian

Fujiko Mine is held hostage by Alan Smithee's organization with a dangerous collar around her neck that will explode if Lupin fails to complete the assigned tasks or attempts to betray them. This creates constant personal stakes for Lupin, who must balance completing the mission with saving Fujiko's life.

Foreshadowing: The early reveal of Fujiko's captivity establishes the emotional motivation that drives Lupin's reluctant cooperation throughout the film.

• fujiko mine
• hostage
• explosive collar
• danger
• lupin

Italian pop singer Emilio Baretti arrives in Japan for a concert, unaware that his tour is being used as a cover for illegal dealings by his producer Luciano Carnevale, who is affiliated with the Italian Mafia. Daisuke Jigen infiltrates Baretti's entourage as part of Lupin's coordinated operation, and the concert venue becomes a key location where the various schemes converge.

Foreshadowing: Conan notices Jigen among Baretti's group early on, signaling the connection between the seemingly unrelated concert and the heist.

• emilio baretti
• concert
• italian mafia
• jigen
• lupin crew

During the climactic mid-air confrontation, Alan Smithee fires missiles at the aircraft. Lupin reveals that the Cherry Sapphire is partially made from Vespanian ore, which has properties that allow him to counter the missile strikes and stabilize the plane. This turns the gemstone into a crucial tool for survival rather than just a prize.

Foreshadowing: The ore's significance is revealed earlier when Jigen and Goemon are identified as the true owners of the Cherry Sapphire with knowledge of its composition.

• cherry sapphire
• plane
• missile
• vespanian ore
• escape
• climax

Lupin exploits the chaos during the police pursuit by disguising himself as Inspector Wataru Takagi, using his mastery of disguise to blend in with the police force. This allows him to get close to the Cherry Sapphire under the guise of official business and execute the theft in plain sight before escaping into the Tokyo night.

Foreshadowing: The disguise works because Zenigata has already enlisted Takagi's help, making Takagi's presence at the scene believable.

• lupin
• takagi disguise
• theft
• cherry sapphire
• police

Although Conan initially pursues Lupin as a suspect, they eventually team up because their interests align against the greater threat. Both want to stop Alan Smithee, who has taken Conan hostage and represents a dangerous criminal organization. Their combined efforts, Conan's detective skills and Lupin's heist expertise, prove necessary to survive the mid-air confrontation and thwart the villain.

Foreshadowing: Conan realizes early on that Lupin is coerced rather than acting voluntarily, planting the seeds for their eventual cooperation.

• conan
• lupin
• alliance
• smithee
• team up
• hostage

The post-credits scene shows Kaito Kid beating Lupin to treasure at a Kansai temple, serving as payback for Lupin previously dressing as the Kid during the heist. This playful exchange reinforces the ongoing rivalry between the two master thieves and sets up their classic cat-and-mouse dynamic for future encounters.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes Kaito Kid's involvement with his unusual methods, hinting at the rivalry that resurfaces at the end.

• kaito kid
• post credits
• rivalry
• treasure
• lupin

The initial diamond theft that Kaito Kid performs is revealed to be merely a test orchestrated by Alan Smithee to evaluate Lupin's abilities. The real target was always the Cherry Sapphire, a legendary gemstone that contains the valuable Vespanian ore needed for stealth technology. Lupin quickly discards the diamond once the true objective is revealed.

Foreshadowing: Lupin abandons the diamond almost immediately after obtaining it, signaling that it was never the primary goal.

• cherry sapphire
• diamond
• target
• test
• lupin
• alan smithee