Shinichirō Watanabe, the visionary director behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, is back with a new original anime series titled Lazarus. This highly anticipated sci-fi action thriller is produced by the acclaimed animation studio MAPPA, known for its work on Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Attack on Titan The Final Season. Lazarus is set to premiere in April 2025, and Adult Swim has recently streamed an extended preview showcasing a thrilling prison break sequence. This article delves into the details of Lazarus, exploring its plot, production team, visual style, music, and streaming information.
A Dystopian Future: The Premise of Lazarus
Lazarus is set in the year 2052, a seemingly utopian era of unprecedented peace and prosperity across the globe. This newfound stability is attributed to Hapuna, a miracle drug developed by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner. Hapuna is marketed as a cure-all with no apparent side effects, effectively freeing humanity from sickness and pain. The drug becomes ubiquitous and essential to society.
However, Dr. Skinner suddenly disappears, only to resurface three years later as a harbinger of doom. He reveals that Hapuna has a fatal flaw: everyone who has taken the drug will die within three years due to a retroactive effect. With only thirty days remaining until humanity’s extinction, a special task force of five agents, codenamed “Lazarus,” is assembled to locate Dr. Skinner and find a cure. These agents, gathered from various corners of the world, represent humanity’s last hope in a race against time.
The official synopsis poses critical questions: Can the Lazarus team save humanity? And what is Dr. Skinner’s true purpose? The series promises to explore these mysteries against a backdrop of high-stakes action and a looming global catastrophe.
The Stellar Production Team
Lazarus boasts a remarkable creative team, combining the talents of renowned anime veterans and Hollywood action experts:
- Director and Original Story: Shinichirō Watanabe, celebrated for his signature style, evocative use of music, and mature themes in anime such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Terror in Resonance.
- Animation Studio: MAPPA, a leading animation studio known for its high-quality animation and production values in series like Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Attack on Titan The Final Season.
- Action Supervisor: Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick film franchise, is designing the action sequences, promising a unique blend of anime aesthetics and Hollywood action choreography.
- Scriptwriters: A team of talented writers including Shinichirō Watanabe, Dai Satō (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), Takahiro Ozawa (Mazinger Z: Infinity), and Tsukasa Kondō (Sk8 the Infinity).
- Music Composers: A diverse group of musicians, including jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, known for his contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, and electronic music producers Bonobo and Floating Points, creating a dynamic and atmospheric score.
- Character Designer: Akemi Hayashi (Banana Fish).
- Art Director: Miho Sugiura (background credits on Steins;Gate, Psycho-Pass, Maquia and Black Clover).
Watanabe has emphasized the importance of realism in Lazarus, aiming for character designs that reflect the characters’ diverse origins. The production team has also strived for realistic animation, informing the voice actors’ performances.
Visual Style and Influences
The visual style of Lazarus is described as sleek and stylish, with a vibrant color palette and fluid action sequences. The trailers and preview clips showcase a blend of sci-fi and noir aesthetics, reminiscent of Watanabe’s previous works like Cowboy Bebop. Some observers have noted a “Mirror’s Edge” twist, suggesting a focus on parkour and acrobatic action.
Watanabe’s signature style is evident in the eccentric characters and meticulously built world. The backgrounds are realistic and detailed, with a comfortable and lived-in feel. The action sequences are well-choreographed and weighted, reflecting the influence of Bruce Lee’s fighting style, which Watanabe previously incorporated into Cowboy Bebop.
Chad Stahelski’s involvement as action supervisor is expected to bring a unique dimension to the series. Stahelski, inspired by Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, shot live-action sequences for the animators at MAPPA to use as reference, ensuring that the action scenes are both visually stunning and realistically grounded.
A Fusion of Musical Styles
Music has always been a central element in Shinichirō Watanabe’s anime, and Lazarus is no exception. The series features a diverse score that blends jazz, electronic music, and other genres.
Kamasi Washington, the composer of the opening theme “Vortex,” is creating a full-length soundtrack for the series. “Vortex” is described as a multi-suite jazz number that shifts between choral movements, saxophone solos, and electric guitar. Bonobo, a British musician, producer, and DJ, has contributed an original vocal track titled “Dark Will Fall,” a fusion of Western and gospel styles featuring soulful vocals by Jacob Lusk. Floating Points, a composer and producer, has created “Dexion,” a nine-minute electronic piece with layered textures and instrumentation.
Watanabe has given each of the three artists creative freedom to compose distinct soundtracks, contributing to the expansive and dynamic soundscape of the sci-fi setting. The full-length soundtracks by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points are set to be released on April 11.
The Cast of Lazarus
Lazarus features a talented cast of voice actors in both the Japanese and English dubs:
Japanese Cast:
- Mamoru Miyano as Axel (Death Note)
- Makoto Furukawa as Doug (Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
- Maaya Uchida as Christine (Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions)
- Yūma Uchida as Leland (Jujutsu Kaisen)
- Manaka Iwami as Eleina (Fruits Basket)
- Megumi Hayashibara as Hersch (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Akio Ōtsuka as Abel
- Kōichi Yamadera as Skinner
English Dub Cast:
- Jack Stansbury as Axel
- Jovan Jackson as Doug
- Luci Christian as Christine
- Bryson Baugus as Leland
- Annie Wild as Elaina
- Jade Kelly as Hersch
- Sean Patrick Judge as Abel
- David Matranga as Dr. Skinner
The voice actors have been asked to make their voices sound as raw and “real” as possible, contributing to the series’ realistic tone.
Streaming and Premiere Information
Lazarus is set to premiere on April 5 at midnight on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block. The episodes will be available for streaming on Max the following day. Episodes in Japanese with English subtitles will debut on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after their English-language premiere. In Japan, the series will premiere on TV Tokyo and its affiliates on April 6 at 11:45 p.m. and will also stream on various platforms. The series will consist of 13 episodes.
MAPPA: The Animation Powerhouse
MAPPA (Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association) is a Japanese animation studio founded in 2011 by Masao Maruyama, co-founder of Madhouse. MAPPA has quickly established itself as one of the leading animation studios in the industry, known for its high-quality productions and diverse range of projects.
Some of MAPPA’s notable works include:
- Terror in Resonance (2014)
- Yuri!!! on Ice (2016)
- Kakegurui (2017)
- Banana Fish (2018)
- Dororo (2019)
- The God of High School (2020)
- Jujutsu Kaisen (2020-2023)
- Attack on Titan: The Final Season (2020-2023)
- Chainsaw Man (2022)
- Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (2023)
MAPPA’s collaboration with Shinichirō Watanabe on Lazarus marks another milestone for the studio, further solidifying its reputation for producing innovative and visually stunning anime.
A Glimpse into the Action: The Prison Break Preview
Adult Swim recently released an extended preview of Lazarus, showcasing a prison break sequence that highlights the series’ action-packed nature. The clip features one of the members of the Lazarus team breaking out of prison, fighting off guards with acrobatic maneuvers and stylish combat techniques. The preview has garnered significant attention, with many praising the animation quality, action choreography, and music.
Conclusion
Lazarus is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated anime series of 2025. With its compelling premise, stellar production team, and unique blend of sci-fi, action, and music, Lazarus promises to be a must-watch for fans of Shinichirō Watanabe, MAPPA, and anime in general. As the premiere date approaches, anticipation continues to build, and viewers eagerly await the opportunity to immerse themselves in the dystopian world of Lazarus and witness the epic battle to save humanity.
