After months of relative silence,Lazarus, the latest anime fromCowboy Bebopdirector Shinichiro Watanabe, finally has a release window.Lazaruswas first announced in 2023 as a MAPPA production in collaboration with Adult Swim and Toonami, and while production was completed in 2024, it was announced that it wouldn’t air until 2025, with nothing beyond that window available following said announcement.
Lazarus, owing to Shinichiro Watanabe’s legacy, is easily one of themost hotly-anticipated anime of 2025, and there’s finally a confirmed release window. After months of silence,Lazarus’ officialXaccount has announced thatLazaruswill premiere in April 2025 as part of the spring 2025 anime season, although since it was the JapaneseXaccount, it’s unconfirmed if it will premiere on Toonami at the same time. Nevertheless, having a confirmed release window is still great, and ifLazarusis anywhere close in quality toCowboy Bebopor any of Watanabe’s other projects, then it’s sure to be amazing.
Everything We Know About Lazarus’ Story
Lazarustakes place in a near-future society where the world of medicine has been revolutionized by Hapuna, the miracle drug created by the enigmatic Dr. Skinner. One day, however,Dr. Skinner announced that Hapuna kills anyone who’s taken after three years, and with almost three years having gone by since it was first administered, it’s up to the special task force Lazarus to track down Dr. Skinner and force him to make a vaccinebefore humanity is destroyed. Not much else is known about the story, but withLazaruspremiering in April, more information will hopefully be coming out soon.
Why Lazarus Will Be One Of The Biggest Anime Of 2025
Why Lazarus Will Be Shinichiro Watanabe’s Next Big Hit
Even with so little currently known aboutLazarus’ story, there’s plenty to be excited about.Lazarusbeing made by Shinichiro Watanabe is exciting all on its own, but going off the trailers,Lazaruswill have all the same incredible action and animation that madeCowboy Bebopand other Shinichiro Watanabe anime so iconic and will possibly take things to even higher heights.John Wickdirector Chad Stahelski is even designing the action sequences, so there should be no doubt thatLazaruswill be great in terms of visual spectacle.
Even better than that, of course, isLazarus’ music. Music is always a vital part of Shinichiro Watanabe’s work, with it always being used to masterfully set the mood inCowboy Bebopand other productions, and sinceLazarus’ soundtrack is made as a collaboration between Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points, it’s set to have the best soundtrack of one of his productions, to date. Overall, there’s no reason not to be excited aboutLazarus, and with it officially premiering in April 2025, there fortunately won’t be a long wait to see it.
Lazarus
Cast
In 2052, humanity celebrates unprecedented peace, thanks to Hapuna—a miracle drug eradicating pain and illness. Three years later, its creator, Dr. Skinner, resurfaces with a grim revelation: Hapuna is a delayed toxin, and death looms for all who took it. With just 30 days to avert catastrophe, a global task force called Lazarus assembles to locate Skinner and develop a cure.
