Forgive is if we’re bouncing off the walls with excitement, but adult swim has greenlit a new anime series by the legendary director Shinichiro Watanabe, titled “Lazarus.” It’ll be produced by MAPPA, who have animated popular anime such as “Dorohedoro,” “Yuri!!! on Ice,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” and “Chainsaw Man.”
It sounds like “Lazarus” is going to be action-packed. The fight sequences were designed by “John Wick” franchise director Chad Stahelski. The music will be provided by “renowned jazz and electronic artists” that are, as yet, unnamed. But we’ll be honest, just the mention of Jazz in conjunction with Watanabe has us vibrating with excitement. One of Watanabe’s most popular series is “Cowboy Bebop.” That combined the musical stylings of jazz and blues as a backdrop for a world set in science fiction.
The official synopsis reads:
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?”
Watanabe’s musical choices add a thematic edge to his works. Like the juxtaposition of Edo period Japan with rap and hip-hop in the series “Samurai Champloo.” Both “Bebop” and “Champloo” have some of THE best soundtracks around. The phenomenal soundtracks are only boosted by the deeply human stories Watanabe loves to tell. From the noir melancholy that drapes “Bebop“‘s tones, to the uplifting feeling of a breath of fame in “Carol and Tuesday“, and how one twist of fate can change a person in “Champloo.”
The first trailer for “Lazarus” was released during the adult swim panel during San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). While no exact release date has been revealed yet, the series debut is looking at sometime in 2024.
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