The wait is almost over for Lazarus, the latest anime from legendary creator Shinichiro Watanabe, best known for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Adult Swim has officially released the main trailer, giving fans a first look at the series’ high-energy action sequences and intriguing dystopian premise. The anime is set to premiere on April 5, 2025, at midnight on Adult Swim’s Toonami block.
Lazarus will be available for next-day streaming on Max, with its English dub leading the release. A subbed version will follow a month later. With MAPPA handling the animation and John Wick director Chad Stahelski overseeing the action sequences, the series is shaping up to be a groundbreaking fusion of Eastern and Western action styles.
An All-Star Team Brings Lazarus to Life
Fans got their first real taste of Lazarus through Adult Swim’s official YouTube channel, which dropped the highly anticipated English dub trailer. With stunning animation, intense fight sequences, and a suspenseful narrative, the trailer sets the stage for what could be one of the most thrilling anime releases of the year.
Joining Watanabe in crafting the story are screenplay writers Dai Sato, Takahiro Ozawa (Ume), and Tsukasa Kondo. Character designs are helmed by Akemi Hayashi, while MAPPA takes charge of the animation. Adding a unique twist to the action, John Wick director Chad Stahelski provided live-action fight choreography for animators to use as reference.
The Lazarus soundtrack boasts an impressive lineup, with jazz and electronic music artists Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points composing the score. Their involvement promises a rich, dynamic soundscape to accompany the series’ futuristic aesthetic and high-speed action.
Set in 2052, Lazarus introduces a world that has seemingly achieved utopia thanks to a miracle drug called Hapna, created by neuroscientist Dr. Skinner. But three years later, Skinner returns with a grim revelation—Hapna’s effects are temporary, and everyone who has taken it will die soon. A global task force known as Lazarus is formed to stop Skinner before humanity faces its doom.
Produced by Sola Entertainment, Lazarus marks another major collaboration with Adult Swim following the success of Ninja Kamui. With the creative minds behind Cowboy Bebop and John Wick joining forces, Lazarus is poised to deliver a never-before-seen anime experience filled with stunning action and cinematic storytelling.
