You may not have heard, but Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, has a new series: Lazarus. This sci-fi anime follows the adventures of a group of superagents fighting to find a cure for a deadly drug that has devastated those who have consumed it. With an intriguing plot and a bold approach, Lazarus promises to capture the attention of both genre fans and those who appreciate a well-crafted narrative. Three, two, one, let’s jam The music, a central element in Watanabe’s works, plays a role again […]
You may not have heard, but Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, has a new series: Lazarus. This science fiction anime follows the adventures of a group of superagents who fight to find a cure for a deadly drug that has devastated those who have consumed it. With an intriguing plot and a bold approach, Lazarus promises to capture the attention of both genre fans and those who appreciate a well-crafted narrative.
Three, two, one, let’s jam
Music, a central element in Watanabe’s works, once again plays a crucial role in Lazarus. From the beginning, each episode is named after a song or album representative of the second half of the 20th century. Titles like Goodbye Cruel World by Elvis Costello, Life in the Fast Lane by Eagles, and Long Way from Home by Whitesnake not only nod to the musical culture of the time but are also selected for their narrative connections to the events of the corresponding episodes.
For example, the chapter titled Unforgettable Fire suggests an important incident in the plot that could be related to the episode’s motto. This gives us evidence that the titles were not chosen at random; Watanabe might be using these references to add an additional level of depth and intrigue to the story, making each new episode even more anticipated.
As the series progresses, fans remain eager to discover what else Watanabe has in store, considering that the episode titles may contain hidden clues that foreshadow future plot developments. Undoubtedly, Lazarus is yet another showcase of Watanabe’s talent and his ability to blend music and storytelling into a unique experience for the audience.
In the world of anime, there are always reasons to be excited. There are always new releases. Series that return. Great movies on the horizon. That’s why it’s so thrilling. And we’re not going to lie: 2025 is not going to be any different. That’s why we’ve chosen the ten series you should have on your radar in 2025 if you don’t want to be out of the loop. Just a note: we are skipping second seasons because the lineup is so strong that just with new releases we already fill the ten spots. So, we won’t drag on any longer and will go straight to the list. SAKAMOTO DAYS […]
In the world of anime, there are always reasons to be excited. There are always new releases. Series making a comeback. Great movies on the horizon. That’s why it’s so thrilling. And we’re not going to lie: 2025 is not going to be any different. That’s why we have chosen the ten series you should have on your radar in 2025 if you don’t want to be left out of the loop. Just a note: we are excluding second seasons because the lineup is so strong that just with new releases, we already fill the ten spots. So, without further ado, let’s go straight to the list.
Sakamoto Days is one of the most popular comedies in Shonen Jump. With good reason. This hilarious story about a retired professional assassin with a family who just wants to be left alone, but of course, they don’t leave him alone, will have an anime adaptation coming to us from Netflix, and if anything is evident, it’s that it has the potential to become one of those animes that seem to come out of nowhere and end up being watched even by your grandmother.
Fate/strange Fake
The Fate franchise stopped being niche a long time ago. That doesn’t mean that many of its adaptations aren’t, at the very least, disappointing. But that’s unlikely to happen with Fate/strange Fake. Why? Because the original novels are by Ryogo Narita, author of Durarara!! and Baccano!. Because the anime is being made by A-1 Pictures. So at the very least, it will be interesting and have incredible twists. And from there, the sky’s the limit.
WITCH WATCH
Another title from Weekly Sh?nen Jump that is performing exceptionally well. But this time it’s neither a comedy nor a battle shonen. Or not exactly. It’s a romantic comedy about a teenage witch who must learn to work, and perhaps something more, with her childhood friend, who looks like an ogre. There are fights. There is comedy. But the emphasis on day-to-day life, romance, and character development is what’s important. And it can work exceptionally well in anime.
Kowloon Generic Romance
Jun Mayuzuki has become a cult mangaka with only three mangas to her name. Especially thanks to After the Rain, an exceptional coming-of-age story about a high school girl who falls in love with the manager of the family restaurant where she works. The anime of After the Rain is a must-watch, and you should see it if you haven’t already, because now they are adapting her next manga, Kowloong Generic Romance, which promises the same sensitivity, depth in character development, and exceptional character design and use of colors. A potential must-see.
Ninja and the Assassin’s Life Together
Shaft is the most unique anime studio in Japan and hasn’t released anything since 2022. Now it returns in 2025 with two projects, the one we will see in full is Ninja to Koroshiya no Futarigurashi. Assuming the return of Yukihiro Miyamoto to direction, director of masterpieces like Arakawa Under the Bridge, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, or Fate/Extra Last Encore, this is the adaptation of a comedic manga about an assassin and a ninja who share an apartment. Will this be the strangest anime of 2025? Surely. Will it be the best? Maybe.
The Summer Hikaru Died
The Summer Hikaru Died is one of the most interesting mangas published in recent years. This mix of coming-of-age and LGBTQ+ tinged horror inspired by Tokyo Ghoul is causing a sensation, and its anime, with just a trailer, already promises to be an absolutely amazing adaptation. Appropriately, it will also be released in the summer. So missing it is not even an option.
SANDA
Do you still believe in Santa Claus? Don’t answer yet. Paru Itagaki, the creator of Beastars, the anime that has been a hit for years on Netflix, has something to tell you about that with SANDA. A hilarious series, full of action and with all the depth we could expect from the creator of Beastars, asking the question we all wonder, what would happen if Santa Claus were real and had superpowers in a dystopian future? Well, this fall you’ll know the answer.
Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation
Disney has taken the anime world by storm and it seems they don’t want to let go. This will be demonstrated with Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation, an anime adaptation of a gacha game that has been hugely popular among young Japanese women for years. Now, it aims to replicate this success worldwide. Set in a school for Disney villains, it offers exactly what you might imagine: Harry Potter with handsome boys who are just bad enough to make you think they wouldn’t be with us. What more could we ask for?
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Technically a comeback, but what a comeback. After fifteen years in the fridge, Gainax’s last great series returns, with its original creators, now in a Trigger in a state of grace. And what does this New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt promise us? The same as the old Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. Experimental animation, endless pranks, and loads of fun. Exactly what we want from this series.
Lazarus
We have saved the best for last. No other series, anime or not, has the credentials of Lazarus. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, with action scenes directed by Chad Stahelski, director of John Wick, soundtrack by Kasami Washington, and script by Dai Sato, this is a who’s who of contemporary culture. If there is an anime that has everything to succeed, it is this science fiction story about a miraculous drug of which we still know almost nothing, except that it is made by some of the greatest creatives in the world. And we don’t need to know more.
The definitive anime, Lazarus, by Shinichiro Watanabe, receives its first trailer and it is everything that it promised us with its premise and much more.
Not long ago, we heard about the definitive anime. One that would bring together Shinichiro Watanabe, one of the most acclaimed and popular anime directors, along with big names in both music and cinema like Kamasi Washington, DJ Floating Points, Bonobo, and Chad Stahelski. But despite having the news and some details, we were missing the most important thing. No images. No small taste of what we could expect from this anime. Until now.
Lazarus, as this anime is called, has premiered its first trailer during ComicCon, courtesy of AdultSwim. Although no further details have been revealed beyond the trailer, as we already knew, the animation studio responsible for it is MAPPA, best known for producing animes like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Attack on Titan.
The trailer shows exactly what we would expect from a Shinichiro Watanabe production. With a distinct early 2000s vibe, evident cyberpunk elements, an exquisite taste for music, and thrilling action scenes where the camera never stops closely following the protagonists, everything screams Watanabe in every second of footage. The slow-motion shots, detailed close-ups, and panning shots in seemingly empty settings all ooze with personality, a very distinctive personality that not only instills faith in this anime but also reminds us of what an author can achieve when given the time and space to do what they do best.
Despite not having a specific or even approximate release date, what we do know is that Lazarus will consist of thirteen episodes. While our expectation is to watch it as soon as possible (we’ve already seen the trailer more times than is healthy), we may have to wait until at least 2024 to see the outcome of this new series by Watanabe. However, if we take the creator’s own words into account, who has stated that he believes it could be the pinnacle of his career, we are sure that the wait will be worth it.
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Shinichiro Watanabe, director of Cowboy Bebop, has announced his new anime and has a whole team of art superstars behind him
During the ComicCon these days, announcements related to the world of television, cinema, comics, and of course, anime are to be expected. That’s exactly what happened during the Adult Swim Festival, where it was revealed that a new anime by Shinichiro Watanabe has been greenlit. If the name doesn’t ring a bell on its own, a list of some of his anime works will surely help: Kids on the Slope, Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop.
Titled “Lazarus,” and produced by the MAPPA studio, this anime would have Cowboy Bebop’s director in charge of an absolute dream team of creative talents. Chad Stahelski, the director of John Wick, would handle the action sequences of the series, and the soundtrack for the project would be created by saxophonist Kasami Washington, DJ Floating Points, and producer Bonobo. The musical mix would blend jazz and electronic elements, in line with Watanabe’s previous works.
From what little we know about the work, apart from the individuals involved, is its synopsis. The series would take place in 2052, following a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist who has developed a drug called Hapuna capable of curing any disease. There’s a catch, though – it kills the person who takes it three years later. Simultaneously, a team of special forces agents is assembled to take down the malevolent Skinner. How these two plots will relate, who Skinner is, or where the story will lead is yet to be seen. However, it appears that the series will have more in common with the excellent but underrated Zankyo no Terror than with Watanabe’s more well-known works like Samurai Champloo or Cowboy Bebop. And certainly, it’s expected to be better than its recent live-action adaptation by Netflix.
According to Adult Swim’s anime and action series manager, “Lazarus is full of great ideas, incredible characters, and a lot of heart.” And according to Watanabe himself, “I can’t help but feel that this project will serve as a culmination of my career up to this point.” Such statements only elevate the hype, even if there are no trailers or images yet – just the knowledge that Watanabe is focused and backed by such a dream team makes failure seem impossible.
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