TMS to offer Lupin via streaming video

Spotted on Anime News Service, TMS has announced plans to open up a service called "Lupin III Theater" on 2005 October 31 that will allow one to stream Lupin videos to their computer. According to the news post, movies from the original 1973 ([ed] Shouldn't that be 1971?) work to the present will be available. A monthly fee of 525¥ will be charged, and movies can be viewed for up to seven days via Windows Media Player. TMS expects 10,000 subscribers initially.

The official Japanese site has a message regarding the upcoming service; hopefully, the service will mean that the web site will once again contain useful Lupin information.

The official Japanese press release is available as a PDF. From a quick glance and translation, it appears that the actual service works like this. Every month, you can buy 500 "points" via your credit card; each movie you want to buy will cost 100 points meaning you can grab five titles each month. It appears you can buy additional points, but it is unclear if you have to use those points within a month or lose them. Also, only the first and second TV series appears to be available in the initial roll-out.