A phantom thief refers to a special kind of person who steals. They’re not petty thieves that just go in, grab some money and go on their merry way. These thieves are much classier than that. They send out calling cards alerting the police of what they intend to steal and dress in classy clothes. Likewise, they don’t target banks; their aim is much higher, often including ancient artifacts, precious jewels, priceless heirlooms, historical artworks and other expensive or even priceless items.
Phantom thieves have appeared in various types of Japanese media for decades, including manga, anime, video games and more. But how exactly did this type of character become so popular, and what makes them so appealing?
Famous Examples of the Phantom Thief in Anime and Manga
Possibly one of the most famous (and among the oldest) examples of a Phantom Thief would be Arsene Lupin, the titular character of a series of short stories and novels written by Maurice Leblanc. Lupin would go on to inspire several other works and characters and prove hugely popular among Japanese audiences. This eventually led to the phantom thief becoming a subgenre on its own, with many works featuring this type of character still being produced today.
A notable example is Lupin III, which stars Arsene’s titular grandson. This series grew so popular that it would go on to inspire several films, books and spin-offs that are still being produced more than a decade since the first season was released. Another notable example is Kaitou Kid (whose real name is, coincidentally, Kaito, a play on words as “kaitou” means “thief”) from the Detective Conan series. The character became so popular that he ended up getting his own manga and a 24-episode anime titled Magic Kaito, which sometimes featured retellings of cases from Detective Conan told from Kaito’s point of view.
Phantom Thief Jeanne is a rare shojo example that follows Maron, a protagonist who is also related to a popular French historical figure — only this time it isn’t Arsene, but Joan of Arc. The series also adds a magical girl twist to the typical phantom thief formula, making it a much more fantastical take than its peers. Other series — particularly those that focused on mysteries and detectives — would feature phantom thief type characters as well, either as one-shot characters or recurring rivals.
The Appeal of Phantom Thieves in Anime and Manga
Phantom thieves are flat out cool. They dress cool and act cool, making them the perfect escapist character. Kaito is intelligent, handsome, good at magic tricks and a master of disguise. Maron is good at school, a talented rhythmic gymnast, and well-liked by her peers. Lupin takes this a bit further, possessing nearly all the skills a quality thief requires, from marksmanship to driving to hacking and pickpocketing; it would be easier to list what Lupin isn’t good at. All these characters are highly talented, which ends up aiding them in their profession but also makes them appear larger than life.
Above all, these phantom thief characters are fun. They have fun with their heists, they find new ways to mess with their rivals, and they always do everything in style. That’s the kind of scenario many anime, manga and video game audiences are looking for — a fun heist led by charming thieves with impeccable wardrobe choices.
