The legendary director, Shinichiro Watanabe, returns to direct an original MAPPA anime production entitled Lazarus! Following the recently held Adult Swim Festival’s "Toonami on the Green", here’s everything you need to know about the Lazarus anime, its release date, trailer, and more!
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What to Expect From the Lazarus Anime
Lazarus is MAPPA’s latest anime project. It is an original anime, adding to the vast catalog of action and sci-fi genres.
That said, expect Lazarus to have mature and serious themes, containing elements such as technological, scientific, and/or medicinal advancements, politics, violence, and so on.
Adult Swim describes the story of Lazarus as follows:
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?
Based on this narrative, Lazarus will revolve around Dr. Skinner and his miraculous drug called "Hapuna".
Unbeknownst to the populace, Hapuna has the worst side effect, which will claim the lives of all its takers after three years.
It is up to a group called Lazarus to stop Dr. Skinner and his devious plans and find a vaccine for the drug before everything goes down the drain!
Interestingly, all 13 episodes of the Lazarus anime will be directed by Shinichiro Watanabe.
He was the series director behind iconic and nostalgic anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Terror in Resonance, Space Dandy, and Kids on the Slope!
Based on the trailer released during Adult Swim Festival’s "Toonami on the Green", we can say that Lazarus has those Cowboy Bebop vibes, in addition to the music that screams Watanabe Shinichiro is the anime’s director!
Lazarus Anime Release Date
So far, the release date of Lazarus has not yet been announced, but it was reported that the anime’s production staff is aiming to complete the anime by the end of 2024.
More so, the production staff of Lazarus is also not committing to the date given the factors that come with the production process.
For the time being, expect to read more news and information prior to the release of Lazarus!
Lazarus Anime Studio
MAPPA is the anime studio behind Lazarus. I think we all know by now how good an anime studio MAPPA is.
Whenever the studio announces a new anime, everyone almost gets hyped for it, which is a natural and obvious reaction after everything they have worked on throughout the years!
In light of this, MAPPA has worked on notable anime titles such as Kids on the Slope, Chainsaw Man, Attack on Titan Season 4, Ushio and Tora, Dororo, Kakegurui, Banana Fish, and the list goes on!
Lazarus Anime Staff
As of writing, the following staff has been announced for Lazarus:
- Director: Shinichiro Watanabe (Series Director of Cowboy Bebop)
- Action Director: Chad Stahelski (Series Director of John Wick)
- Music (Jazz and Electronic Score): Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, Bonobo
- Anime Production: MAPPA
- Production: Sola Entertainment
- Broadcaster: Adult Swim, Cartoon Network (Adult Swim/Toonami), Toonami
Lazarus Anime Voice Actors
Unfortunately, no voice actors have been announced so far for Lazarus. If and when the voice cast is confirmed, this article will be updated!
Where to Watch the Lazarus Anime
The Lazarus anime will be broadcast on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block in the United States and wherever the service is available.
No other streaming platforms have been announced to pick up the anime and add it to their catalog as of writing.
Lazarus Anime Trailer
Spring into action and save the world from Dr. Skinner’s miraculous drug in Lazarus!
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