Lazarus[a] is an Japanese upcoming original animation television series produced by MAPPA and Sola Entertainment that is set to premiere in the United States on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in 2025.
| Lazarus | |
 Key visual | |
| LAZARUS | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Shinichirō Watanabe |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Shinichirō Watanabe |
| Produced by | Masato Matsunaga |
| Written by |
|
| Music by | |
| Studio |
|
| Licensed by | Warner Bros. Television |
| English network |
|
| Original run | 2025 – scheduled |
| Episodes | 13[1] |
Plot
editIn the utopian year 2052, Dr. Skinner discovered a miracle drug. In 2055, Skinner announces that the drug has a three-year half-life and soon everyone who took it will die.
A task force of five agents is assembled to locate Skinner and create a vaccine.[2][3] Its name is "Lazarus".[4]
Characters
edit- Axel
- Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Doug
- Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Christine
- Voiced by: Maaya Uchida[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Leland
- Voiced by: Yuma Uchida[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Eleina
- Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Hersch
- Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Abel
- Voiced by: Akio Otsuka[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- Dr. Skinner
- Voiced by: Koichi Yamadera[5] (Japanese); TBA (English)
- A neuroscientist-turned-mad scientist who has deceived humanity with his seemingly cure-all wonder drug, Hapuna, which is later revealed to be a deadly poison that kill those who take it in 42 months.
Production and release
editThe series was announced by Adult Swim in July 2023, and will be directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, most notable for directing the Cowboy Bebop anime television series.[2] Chad Stahelski, who is notable for directing the John Wick film franchise, is designing the action sequences.[6] For music composition, the series will feature a score by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, and producers, DJs, and musicians Bonobo and Floating Points.[6] Animation for the series will be done by MAPPA while Sola Entertainment handles general production.[2][7]
A teaser trailer for the series was shown at Adult Swim's "Toonami on the Green" panel at San Diego Comic-Con two days later on July 22.[8] During the presentation, the production staff stated that the project is planned to be completed by 2024, but did not promise that the series would release in that year.[9] In July 2024, it was announced that the series will air in 2025.[10]
In an interview conducted on October 30, 2024, Watanabe said that the opioid crisis was one of the inspirations he had for creating the anime.[11] He mentioned that the production team worked closely with Stahelski by providing to the former fight scene choreographies for the team to consult.[11] Watanabe spoke about the need for the team to recruit animators outside of Japan due to the lack of experienced animators he can recruit from domestically.[11] In a November 25, 2024 interview, Watanabe mentioned that he held the John Wick movies in high regard how the fight scenes were done.[12]
On December 13, 2024, a new visual was promoted with announcements that Kamasi Washington will do the OP theme, "Vortex", and The Boo Radleys will do the ED theme, "Lazarus".[13]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ DeMarco, Jason [@Clarknova1] (July 20, 2023). "13" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c "Adult Swim Greenlights Anime Legend Shinichirō Watanabe's New Series "Lazarus"". Warner Bros. Discovery (Press release). July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (July 20, 2023). "Adult Swim, Cowboy Bebop's Shinichiro Watanabe, MAPPA Produce New Original Anime Lazarus (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ "『カウボーイビバップ』渡辺信一郎氏の新作アニメ『ラザロ』発表。Adult Swimと共同で制作され、MAPPAや『ジョン・ウィック』監督、Bonobo、Floating Pointsなど超豪華な布陣で制作" (in Japanese). DenFaminicoGamer. July 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 19, 2024). "Shinichiro Watanabe, MAPPA's Lazarus Anime Reveals Visual, Main Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Christian Holoub (July 20, 2023). "Adult Swim announces new anime series from Cowboy Bebop creator and John Wick director". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Murphy, J. Kim (July 20, 2023). "Adult Swim Orders 'Lazarus,' New Animated Series From 'Cowboy Bebop' Director Shinichirō Watanabe". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ Nick Valdez (July 22, 2023). "Cowboy Bebop Director Debuts Trailer for New Adult Swim Anime, Lazarus". Comic Book.
- ^ Loo, Egan (July 22, 2023). "Shinichiro Watanabe, MAPPA's Lazarus Anime Teased in Trailer". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (July 26, 2024). "Uzumaki Anime's Trailer Reveals September 28 Premiere on Toonami". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24279398/shinichiro-watanabe-lazarus-interview-opioid-crisis-climate-change-sci-fi
- ^ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2024-11-25/shinichiro-watanabe-on-how-the-john-wick-director-joined-the-lazarus-anime-team/.217915
- ^ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-12-13/shinichiro-watanabe-mappa-lazarus-anime-reveals-theme-songs-visual/.218992
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Lazarus (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia