Adult Swim Announce Shinichro Watanabe's New Series 'Lazarus'

 

Some anime are popular everywhere. Others are popular in Japan but less so in the west. Some are the other way around. Cowboy Bebop is a famous example of the latter. Perhaps that's why Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe is looking westward for his next project.

Adult Swim has greenlit Lazarus, a new Toonami Original Anime Series from creator Watanabe. The series marks his return to the sci-fi action genre.

The series will be produced by acclaimed anime studio MAPPA. The action sequences will be meticulously designed by Chad Stahelski, stuntman and director of John Wick, and brought to life by Watanabe. The score will be by a collection of acclaimed jazz and electronic artists including Kamasi Washington,  Floating Points and Bonobo.

"As I embark on this creative journey, I can't help but feel that this project will serve as a culmination of my career so far," Watanabe said. "I hope you enjoy it."

"Shinichirō Watanabe is simply one of the greatest living artists, and it’s a dream come true to be able to collaborate with him on a new original series," added Jason DeMarco, SVP, Head of Anime and Action Series at Adult Swim. "Like all of his work, ‘Lazarus’ is packed with big ideas, incredible characters and a ton of heart. We can’t wait for anime fans to see this world."

The series is set in 2052, when an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity has prevailed throughout the world. The reason is because Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has invented a miraculous cure-all drug with no apparent side effects. But shortly after the drug is introduced Skinner disappears.

Three years later he reemerges, this time as a prophet of doom. Skinner announces that the drug has a short half life and that anyone who takes it will die three years later.

As a response to this threat a 5-person task force is assembled from around the world. Their mission is to try to find Skinner and develop a vaccine before its too late. The task force's name is Lazarus.

Attendees to Adult Swim Festival in San Diego will be able to get a first look at the series at the Toonami On The Green Event, with Watanabe himself making an appearance. Reservations are currently sold out but interested fans are encouraged to join the standby list.