Studio MAPPA has become a brand to watch out for when it comes to anime with shows like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man, and they’ve now teamed up with Samurai Champloo director Shin’ichirô Watanabe for a new series called Lazarus. The series just dropped a new trailer, and it gives us an idea of just what kind of visuals to expect.
Check this out:
Adult Swim also provides a synopsis:
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?
Besides the involvement of Watanabe, the trailer also confirms that Chad Stahelski—famous stunt coordinator and John Wick director—is attached to the show as an action director.
No doubt, Watanabe has always been a director to watch out for when it comes to anime, and he’s worked on several other notable titles including Cowboy Bebop, The Animatrix, Space Dandy, and Carole & Tuesday.
Though Lazarus does promise to have some solid action scenes and spectacle, the story in the synopsis also promises some very interesting science fiction, and it could have some interesting commentary for this post-pandemic social climate.
No release date has been announced for Lazarus, but fans think a 2024 release date could be possible.
