The series aired on Yomiuri TV, Nippon Television and other NNS stations between March 3, 1984 and November 6, 1985.

The feature film Legend of the Gold of Babylon (1985) was released in theaters during the original broadcast run of this television series, and was the first film in the Lupin III franchise to feature the pink jacket with the second one being the 2023 original net animation Lupin III vs. Cat's Eye.

His aim was to be in between the gritty style of Masaaki Osumi and the family friendly tone of Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki from Lupin the 3rd Part I.

[2] Towards the later half of the series, the production team revised the initial character designs to allow for a more cartoonish and expressive appearance, with the aim, in Aoki's words, of achieving a "simple yet satisfying result.

Lupin and Jigen steal the newly-finished Soviet nuclear submarine Ivanov so that they can salvage a massive hoard of gold coins in the Caribbean.

Fujiko tags along with hopes of selling it to either the Chinese and CIA for a hefty price, while Pops smuggles himself aboard.