NYCC 2024: Lazarus' Shinichirō Watanabe On Re-Teaming With Adult Swim & His Return To The Sci-Fi Genre (2025)

Iconic anime director Shinichirō Watanabe is back with a new look at the future in Lazarus. After making his debut with Macross Plus, Watanabe found his biggest breakout hit in the original Cowboy Bebop anime, serving as the creative lead and director of the beloved space western anime and its theatrical movie. He would go on to find success with the likes of Samurai Champloo, the anime adaptation of Kids on the Slope and Carole & Tuesday on Netflix, among others.

With Lazarus, Watanabe finds himself returning to the sci-fi genre and setting the story in 2052, in which a utopian-like society has been formed. During this period, a scientist designs a miracle drug, only to later reveal in 2055 that the drug has just a three-year half-life, leaving those who took the drug, which proves to be the majority of society, with little time to live. A task force is assembled and races against time to capture the scientist in the hopes of finding a vaccine before it's too late.

Death Note alum Mamoru Miyano is leading the Japanese ensemble voice cast for Lazarus alongside One-Punch Man's Makoto Furukawa, Chainsaw Man's Maaya Uchida, Boruto's Yuma Uchida, Fruits Basket's Manaka Iwami, Cowboy Bebop's Megumi Hayashibara, One Piece's Akio Otsuka and Cowboy Bebop's Koichi Yamadera. With John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski also onboard the show as its action director, Watanabe's sci-fi genre return looks to be an exhilarating mix of fast-paced set pieces and intricate storytelling.

In honor of the show's New York Comic Con 2024 panel, Screen Rant interviewed Shinichirō Watanabe to discuss Lazarus, how the opioid crisis in America proved to be a major influence on developing the story for the anime, why Adult Swim continues to be a great home for his projects, how some trademarks of Cowboy Bebop will continue in the show, and what he hopes audiences will take away from the show.

Lazarus' Concept Came From A Very Real Place For Watanabe

"...I would want people to feel a certain way and think about it..."

Screen Rant: In Lazarus, the concept of the miracle drug turning into a fatal trap is a key plot point. What inspired this narrative twist, and how does it reflect contemporary societal issues?

Shinichirō Watanabe: One thing I'd like to say first is that I have a back pain problem and I thought of a miracle drug that would solve my back pain. Actually, I was kidding. [Laughs] One of the inspirations from actual events in society is the opioid crisis. I was very disconcerted by the death of Prince, who I was a very big fan of, and had an interest in this problem, the opioid problem, as an issue.

What do you think the show says about humanity's reliance on quick fixes, like the drug Hapuna, and the consequences of such dependencies?

Shinichirō Watanabe: So, I wouldn't want to impose a certain message about it, but I would want people to feel a certain way and think about it after seeing the whole 13 episodes.

Lazarus Continues Many Trademarks From Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop Past

"...it will become apparent in later episodes."

Now, Adult Swim is known for its unique approach to anime. What elements of Lazarus do you believe align with the channel's ethos, and what excites you the most about bringing this series to that audience?

Shinichirō Watanabe: Well, I think there was a real affinity right from the get-go, because since Cowboy Bebop, my projects have been shown there. So, I don't think that it's a case of my work being something that fits Adult Swim. It's that they just like the type of anime that I create.

In the show, diverse characters are drawn from various parts of the world. Can you talk about ensuring the authentic representation and the depths of these characters, and what cultural influences you drew from?

Shinichirō Watanabe: Again, it's been true since Cowboy Bebop, if you go back and watch it. One of the reasons that I come back to this multicultural, diverse setting is one of the big influences of mine, which is Blade Runner. That movie was set in 2020 or 2021, and I always thought that when the time came in 2020, it would be that kind of world with diverse people in society. And now, 2020 has come and gone, we haven't gotten to that place yet, and I hope it will become that sooner.

Now, Cowboy Bebop is known for its iconic music. How does the soundtrack in Lazarus play a role into the storytelling, if at all? And can we expect particular musical influences in the show?

Shinichirō Watanabe: So, of course, it's going to have a very big influence, and it will become apparent in later episodes, so stay tuned.

About Lazarus

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?

Source: Screen Rant Plus

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Animation

From Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, comes Lazarus, a new animated action series for Adult Swim. Animated by Studio Mappa, the series will feature action sequences choreographed by John Wick's director, Chad Stahleski.

Seasons

1.0

Network

Adult Swim

Writers

Shinichirô Watanabe

Directors

Shinichirô Watanabe

Creator(s)

Shinichirô Watanabe