One of the most renowned directors in the anime industry, Shinichirō Watanabe, best known for his works in Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, released a new anime, Lazarus, in Spring 2025. Watanabe’s previous track record was more than enough to hype anime fans for this upcoming release. However, the series also drew attention thanks to the contribution of Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick series, who is contributing to the action design of the anime. The anime blends his expertise in choreographing high-impact action sequences with the gorgeous animation style of Studio MAPPA. Naturally, the anticipation was higher than ever, especially since it took two years to debut after the announcement.
Samurai Champloo live-action is in the works. Watanabe plans to take a more hands-on approach in hopes of avoiding the same lukewarm response that greeted Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop” adaptation in 2021, which he admits “didn’t go very well.” “I would much rather stay completely out of it and just say, ‘Do your thing,’” he says. “But this time, I am thinking that I’ll give my opinion. Not too much to get in the way, but I’m going to give (being involved) a try.”
The soundtrack featured jazz-influenced compositions by renowned musicians like Bonobo, Kamasi Washington, and Floating Points. It introduced a unique premise and world-building set in the near future. However, while the anime wasn’t a complete critical flop, it wasn’t as big of a hit as one might expect. In an interview shared by Collider, Cartoon Network president Michael Ouweleen shared Watanabe’s unwillingness to work on a sequel.
During the interview, Ouweleen confirmed that regarding Lazarus‘ sequel, Watanabe shared, “That’s all I got!”
While it was hinted that Watanabe initially planned for a second season, it’s been confirmed there won’t be one anymore. In July last year, Watanabe only considered the possibility of a second season, but didn’t officially confirm anything. However, while fans did have hope for around a year, it could be possible that the anime’s reception didn’t work in Watanabe’s or Adult Swim’s favor.
It also didn’t help that the anime, despite being written and directed by a legendary director like Watanabe under the banner of MAPPA, didn’t make it to any major streaming hubs like Crunchyroll and Netflix. This further limited the accessibility of the show, and those who did watch it couldn’t help but compare it to Watanabe’s other works.
The story is set in a not-so-distant future, where the world has entered an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity. A miracle drug called Hapuna, developed by Dr. Skinner, a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist, can cure all diseases as well as boost human health and longevity. Not only was the drug easily available, but it was also cheap enough so everyone could afford it, making Hapuna a cornerstone of this utopian era. However, after introducing the drug, Dr. Skinner vanishes into thin air, only to return after three years and reveal that anyone who has consumed the medicine will only live for three and a half years.
Since it’s been three years already, the people will start getting killed in six months. As chaos erupts all over the world, an elite task force called Lazarus is formed after freeing convicted criminals, assigned to find Dr. Skinner and the antidote that could save everyone. The story primarily focuses on Axel Gilberto, a fugitive with a knack for breaking out of prison and evading the police, who is deemed the perfect candidate to join Team Lazarus.
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