The highly anticipated anime series “Lazarus”, a collaboration between legendary director Shinichirō Watanabe (of “Cowboy Bebop” and “Samurai Champloo” fame) and acclaimed animation studio MAPPA (“Attack on Titan: The Final Season,” “Chainsaw Man,” “Jujutsu Kaisen”), is set to make its Japanese television debut in April. The announcement was made on the anime’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, revealing that “Lazarus” will air on TV Tokyo and its affiliated networks.
While the Japanese premiere date is now set, the debut date for the series on Toonami in the United States is yet to be announced.
A Stellar Collaboration
“Lazarus” is an original anime series, meaning it is not based on pre-existing manga or light novel. This allows Watanabe and his team to craft a unique and compelling narrative from the ground up. The project is produced by Sola Entertainment, with MAPPA handling the animation.
Key Creative Personnel
The creative team boasts an impressive array of talent:
- Director & Original Story: Shinichirō Watanabe
- Animation Studio: MAPPA
- Planning Production: Sola Entertainment
- Action Supervisor: Chad Stahelski (of “John Wick” fame)
- Character Designer: Akemi Hayashi
- Concept Designer: Stanislas Brunet
- Art Director: Miho Sugiura
- Color Designer: Kana Tanabe
- Cinematographer: Takuma Sakamoto
- Compositing Director: Mitsuhiro Sato
- Sound Effects Supervisor: Lauren Stephens (Formosa Group)
- Animation Producer: Masato Matsunaga
- Scriptwriters: Shinichirō Watanabe, Dai Sato, Takahiro Ozawa (Ume), and Tsukasa Kondo
Musical Score
The anime will feature a diverse and captivating musical score by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, alongside producers, DJs, and musicians Floating Points and Bonobo. Washington is also performing the anime’s opening theme song “Vortex,” and The Boo Radleys is performing the ending theme song “Lazarus.”
The Cast
The voice cast for “Lazarus” includes:
- Mamoru Miyano as Axel
- Makoto Furukawa as Doug
- Maaya Uchida as Christine
- Yūma Uchida as Leland
- Manaka Iwami as Eleina
- Megumi Hayashibara as Hersch
- Akio Ōtsuka as Abel
- Kōichi Yamadera as Skinner
Storyline
Adult Swim describes the story of “Lazarus”:
“The year is 2052 – an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity prevails across the globe. The reason for this: mankind has been freed from sickness and pain. Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has developed a miracle cure-all drug with no apparent drawbacks called Hapuna. Hapuna soon becomes ubiquitous… and essential.
However, soon after Hapuna is officially introduced, Dr. Skinner vanishes. Three years later, the world has moved on. But Dr. Skinner has returned – this time, as a harbinger of doom. Skinner announces that Hapuna has a short half-life. Everyone who has taken it will die approximately three years later. Death is coming for this sinful world – and coming soon.
As a response to this threat, a special task force of 5 agents is gathered from across the world to save humanity from Skinner’s plan. This group is called “Lazarus.” Can they find Skinner and develop a vaccine before time runs out?”
In 2052, a miracle drug, Hapna, developed by Dr. Skinner, has eradicated sickness and pain, ushering in an era of global peace and prosperity. However, Skinner suddenly disappears, only to reappear three years later with a devastating revelation: Hapna has a fatal flaw, causing death three years after consumption.
With humanity facing imminent extinction, a team of five agents known as Lazarus is assembled to find Skinner and develop a vaccine before time runs out. The series promises a thrilling race against time as Lazarus confronts Skinner’s sinister plot and uncovers his true motives.
What to Expect
“Lazarus” is expected to deliver a unique blend of action, suspense, and philosophical themes, characteristic of Watanabe’s previous works. The involvement of Chad Stahelski as action supervisor suggests that the series will feature dynamic and well-choreographed fight sequences. The series will consist of 13 episodes and, unlike Watanabe’s previous works, will feature serialized rather than episodic storytelling.
The musical score, with contributions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobo, will likely add depth and atmosphere to the series, creating a captivating sonic landscape.
The combination of Watanabe’s visionary direction, MAPPA’s animation prowess, and a stellar cast and crew makes “Lazarus” one of the most anticipated anime releases of the year. Both anime enthusiasts and newcomers alike should keep an eye out for its premiere in Japan this April.
