Shinichiro Watanabe, the genius behind Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Space Dandy, is set to direct yet another exciting science-fiction adventure called Lazarus. It mixes modern animation with a hint of nostalgic 90s anime art style, so much so that you wouldn’t believe it’s animated by MAPPA. For now, the trailer is all we have and it’s already looking promising with thrilling action scenes, some of them designed by Chad Stahelski, the creator of the John Wick franchise.
So far, the voice cast of Lazarus has been revealed and we get a taste of the animation. Viewers on X commented that the animation doesn’t look anything like the other MAPPA anime but that might be the charm of it. It also reminds some people of Watanabe’s previous work with MAPPA, Terror in Resonance, which was a smash hit in concept and all. So what does Lazarus have in store for us?
Lazarus: Does Shinirichiro Watanabe Ever Miss?
The premise of Lazarus already sounds original and nothing like we’ve seen in recent times. In an era of peace, a neuroscientist named Dr Skinner, voiced by Koichi Yamadera, discovers a new miracle drug in the year 2052. However, in 2055, the doctor returns as a mastermind of doom and reveals that the drug will kill anyone who has taken it in 3 years and end the “sinful world”. Now the titular team of 5 called Lazarus are out to hunt Skinner and force him to create a vaccine.
While the trailer shows nothing about Skinner, it does feature the main character, Alex Gilberto, a fugitive on the run in a thrilling action sequence. He fights and expertly parkours his way out of the hunt while being chased down by guards and Lazarus. It might be that the team are recruiting him if his skills are anything to account for.
Many viewers noted that the action seemed like a blend of the video game series, Mirror’s Edge, with the tone of Terror in Resonance. More glaringly, it doesn’t seem like a typical MAPPA production at all but is that necessarily a bad thing?
The animation might not be a typical MAPPA style but every anime has its own distinct one. It’s not like Yuri!! On Ice and Jujutsu Kaisen are identical to each other and yet they are both animated by MAPPA. Lazarus is headed by the legend, Shinichiro Watanabe, and that’s what they are going for. It is supposed to be reminiscent of his signature art style and it’s undeniably very smooth from the trailer itself.
What To Expect From Lazarus
Something to note is that the distributor of Lazarus is Adult Swim who in recent times has fumbled the bag severely with Uzumaki. However, knowing the reputation of Shinichiro Watanabe and Chad Stahelski, this project might not be messed with as much, given their reputation and the hype of this anime. It will be a huge disappointment if they face the same treatment.
Lazarus is set to have 13 episodes in total for its first season. It might be a mini-series like Terror in Resonance or go on for a while. Considering the plot with Dr Skinner’s menacing nature, it might be a rough ride but also shows potential for a rising anime villain that would instil fear in the viewers. Axel seems like a witty and cool character that will be fun to follow.
Lazarus will be available in 2025.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
