Lazarus

Lazarus is a Japanese anime series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, known for his work on Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Space Dandy, animated by MAPPA, and co-produced by Adult Swim and MAPPA. Lazarus also features the contributions of John Wick series director Chad Stahelski, who designed several action sequences for the series, along with the musical talents of saxophonist Kamasi Washington; producer, DJ and musician Floating Points; and producer, DJ and musician Bonobo. The trio will provide a jazz and electronic score for the series.^[1]

Watanabe discussed the series at the Adult Swim Festival in San Diego on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 5:15 PM, as part of the Comic-Con event "Toonami on the Green". The series is currently in production and will air on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in 2025.^[1]

Plot[]

In the year 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?