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This morning to kick off San Diego Comic Con, Adult Swim has announced that they have greenlight Lazarus, a new Toonami original series directed by Shinichiro Watanabe.
According to the press release from Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), “Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA, “Lazarus” will feature high-octane action with sequences meticulously designed by Chad Stahelski, renowned stuntman and director of the “John Wick” film franchise, and brought to the screen by Watanabe. Additionally, as many familiar with Watanabe’s oeuvre will expect, “Lazarus” will also feature a captivating score by a collection of renowned jazz and electronic artists including jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington (West Coast Get Down); producer, DJ, and musician Floating Points (Floating Points Ensemble); and producer, DJ, and musician Bonobo.”
Shinichiro Watanabe is a familiar name for Toonami viewers as he has directed Toonami classics including Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy. He was also a creative director for Blade Runner: Black Lotus.
Studio MAPPA has been the animators behind Attack on Titan: The Final Season, alongside other hit anime shows including Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Zombie Land Saga. MAPPA has also worked with Watanabe in producing Kids on the Slope in 2012 and Terror in Resonance in 2014.
Lazarus’ synopsis is as follows:
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?
Speaking with WBD’s public relations, Watanabe commented on the announcement of Lazarus by saying: “As I embark on this creative journey, I can’t help but feel that this project will serve as a culmination of my career so far,” said Watanabe. “I hope you enjoy it.”
SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO on Twitter: “Been working on this for a couple years already, quite fun to be able to talk about it. I am working with one of my idols and folks, he is firing on all cylinders and directing like he’s got something to prove with this one. It’s special. / Twitter”
Been working on this for a couple years already, quite fun to be able to talk about it. I am working with one of my idols and folks, he is firing on all cylinders and directing like he’s got something to prove with this one. It’s special.
For those attending San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, Watanabe will be a special guest on the “Toonami on the Green” panel alongside Toonami co-curators Jason DeMarco and Gill Austin, as he will discuss more information regarding Lazarus and showcase the first trailer.
The panel will be located on the “Adult Swim on the Green” offsite event at the bayfront side of the Convention Center, and will take place this Saturday at 5:15 p.m. PDT. The event is free and open to the public (including for non-SDCC badgeholders). Adult Swim gave out free tickets for fans to reserve their spot at adultswimfestival.com, which were sold out not long after they were posted. Those who couldn’t get a ticket can potentially still get in through lining up on the standby line on the day of the event, but spots are limited and not guaranteed.
The full press release by Warner Bros Discovery can be seen below:
Adult Swim Greenlights Anime Legend Shinichirō Watanabe’s New Series “Lazarus”
Director Will Appear At Adult Swim Festival’s “Toonami On The Green” Event In San Diego This Saturday With A First-Look At Forthcoming Anime Series
Adult Swim is currently in production with acclaimed director Shinichirō Watanabe for a new Toonami original anime series “Lazarus.” Celebrated for his influential body of work that includes “Cowboy Bebop,” “Samurai Champloo” and “Kids on the Slope,” “Lazarus” marks Watanabe’s return to the sci-fi action genre with a globe-trotting thriller set in the near future.
Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA, “Lazarus” will feature high-octane action with sequences meticulously designed by Chad Stahelski, renowned stuntman and director of the “John Wick” film franchise, and brought to the screen by Watanabe. Additionally, as many familiar with Watanabe’s oeuvre will expect, “Lazarus” will also feature a captivating score by a collection of renowned jazz and electronic artists including jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington (West Coast Get Down); producer, DJ, and musician Floating Points (Floating Points Ensemble); and producer, DJ, and musician Bonobo.
“As I embark on this creative journey, I can’t help but feel that this project will serve as a culmination of my career so far,” said Watanabe. “I hope you enjoy it.”
“Shinichirō Watanabe is simply one of the greatest living artists, and it’s a dream come true to be able to collaborate with him on a new original series,” said Jason DeMarco, SVP, Head of Anime and Action Series at Adult Swim. “Like all of his work, ‘Lazarus’ is packed with big ideas, incredible characters, and a ton of heart. We can’t wait for anime fans to see this world.”
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?
Fans attending the Adult Swim Festival in San Diego this year will hear from Watanabe himself at the “Toonami on the Green” event on Saturday, July 22 at 5:15 p.m. PT. Free for those 18+ to attend, reservations are currently sold out, but fans are encouraged to join the standby line for the chance to get a first-look at “Lazarus” alongside other forthcoming Toonami original series. For more details, visit AdultSwimFestival.com.
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Adult Swim is the leader in adult animation and #1 destination for young adults for over fifteen years, offering critically acclaimed, award-winning original and acquired series such as “Rick and Morty,” “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,” “The Eric Andre Show,” “SMILING FRIENDS,” “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal” and the upcoming “My Adventures with Superman.” Fan favorite anime block, Toonami, airs on Saturday nights and has expanded beyond acquisitions, producing original series including “Housing Complex C,” “Uzumaki,” “Lazarus” and new seasons of “FLCL.” The annual Adult Swim Festival reaches a global audience, and features performances by top musicians and comedians. Adult Swim airs nightly from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT) on its linear channel and reaches fans via Max. Connect with Adult Swim on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok. Subscribe to Adult Swim on YouTube.
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