While I may be in my twilight years as an anime journalist who has a hard time keeping up with the names of new animation studios, let alone anime titles that are sixteen syllables long, I still occasionally come across some news that turns me into a giddy little baby otaku all over again.
Recently, it was announced that famed director Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and many others) would team up with studios Sola Entertainment and MAPPA, and Adult Swim to create a new original anime, Lazarus. Excited yet? How about I tell you we have a brand-new trailer presented at the “Toonami on the Green” event this past weekend?
For those of you wondering how involved Watanabe will be, it was further confirmed that the beloved director will direct each episode. If you’re not a fan of Watanabe (which is fair, no judgment here), there will be other reasons to watch Lazarus. A jazzy soundtrack from musicians including saxophonist Kamasi Washington, producer-DJ-musician Floating Points (Floating Points Ensemble), and producer-DJ-musician Bonobo. On top of that, there are also action sequences designed by Chad Stahelski, whom some of you might recognize as the director of the John Wick film franchise.
Unfortunately, we have no details regarding how long this series will run or when it will air. The staff said at the event that they hoped to have it done by 2024 but weren’t willing to commit to that timeline.
The story synopsis from Adult Swim 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?
We all knew that the global pandemic would eventually inspire future fictional productions. But I’m not sure I expected them to start this soon. Regardless, the names involved have me hooked, and the plot synopsis has me intrigued, so this is one that I’ll be keeping an eye on in the coming months.
If you want to bring home a piece of Watanabe’s catalog of works, might I recommend you get your very own Spike Spiegel to watch over your home?
Source: Anime News Network, Warner Bros Discovery
