The official YouTube channel of MAPPA has released the first main trailer for Shinichiro Watanabe's upcoming Lazarus anime. Announced in July 2023, Lazarus was described as a globe-trotting sci-fi series about a task force in a race against time to search for the scientist who has doomed humankind. At that time, Adult Swim's Jason DeMarco didn't just confirm that Watanabe would be directing every episode, but John Wick director Chad Stahelski also joined the project to design the anime's action sequences.
The action-packed trailer features Lazarus, the special task force of 5 agents from across the globe that was formed to save all of humanity. In typical Adult Swim/Toonami trailer style, the anime leads front and center with its premise, and then hooks the viewers with jaw-dropping footage, one-liners, and fantastic music. Knowing Watanabe's demographic all too well, the track names were also included in the description. The rest of the trailer features an exciting spy adventure with the jazzy charm you'd expect from Watanabe's works.
Studio MAPPA produced the animation for Lazarus with Sola Entertainment. Other than Shinichiro Watanabe as both the creator and director of the anime, the staff of Lazarus also includes Akemi Hayashi as the character designer, Masato Matsunaga as an animation producer, and Chad Stahelski as an action supervisor. Bonobo, Kamasi Washington and Floating Points composed the music for the anime.
A new visual has also been released for Lazarus anime:
Lazarus Anime Cast
The Japanese voice cast of Lazarus anime includes:
Mamoru Miyano as Axel
Makoto Furukawa as Doug
Maaya Uchida as Christine
Yuma Uchida as Leland
Manaka Iwami as Eleina
Megumi Hayashibara as Hersch
Akio Otsuka as Abel
Koichi Yamadera as Dr. Skinner
What is Lazarus about?
Adult Swim shared a story description for 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?
Lazarus is scheduled to premiere on April 6, and will consist of 13 episodes that will be released on Adult Swim.
For more information about LAZARUS, visit the official website of the anime.
