Lazarus
The new anime seriesLazarus , one of the most anticipated titles of the year , finally premiere on Toonami . It ’s a prestigious yield for several ground . Director Shinichiro Watanabe ’s former work , Cowboy Bebop , is view an all - time anime classic , so anything he creates now naturally guide attention . bear on its profile even high , Lazarusalso feature article campaign stage dancing byJohn Wickdirector Chad Stahelski and a hip musical score by Kamasi Washington , Bonobo , and be adrift point .
So far , reviews in Japan forLazarushave been positive , with noteworthy figures like game fashion designer Hideo Kojima in person advocate it . However , in the West , the launch ofWatanabe ’s belated production is struggling to emerge from the shadow of his early work , Cowboy Bebop .
comparing between the two are widespread across societal media and in online articles . Watanabe himself has even done some damage control in English - language interviews , tellingGizmodo , “ It ’s the same director making both series , there are going to be some similarity , so I ’d like multitude to cut me some slack on that aspect . ” But is it fair to constantly label a creator ’s new work against a past classic ?
Watanabe’s Rise And The Enduring Legacy Of Bebop
From Champloo To Mars: A Career of Bold Experiments
Shinichiro Watanabe first rise to extrusion as the co - film director of the hitMacross PlusOVA series ( 1994–1995 ) . However , it was 1998’sCowboy Bebopthat made him a hotshot . specify in the year 2071 , the serial publication follows a grouping of bounty hunters aboard the spaceship Bebop , blending sci - fi with noir and westerly influences . Its bold fusion of malarkey , blue angel , and rock-and-roll music assist create a one - of - a - kind atmosphere that captivated audience . relinquish in the office - Evangelionera , when gum anime creativity was reach new heights , Cowboy Bebopquickly earned its place as a literary genre - specify classic .
A New Threat, A Ticking Clock: The Premise Of Lazarus
A Familiar Voice Behind The Scenes
Watanabe ’s latest serial , Lazarus , take place in a reality seemingly heal by a miracle drug predict Hapuna — until its creator , Dr. Skinner , resurfaces after a secret fade to unwrap it ’s actually a delayed death prison term . Humanity has just 30 days before the drug kills everyone , prompting the formation of a five - member elite task force make love as Lazarus to track him down . Prior to the series ' dismissal , Watanabe trace it as “ a new variety of challenge for me , different from anything I ’ve done before . ” And yet , comparisons toCowboy Bebophave feel inevitable .
Watanabe was willing to admit thatLazarusshares some similarities withCowboy Bebop — but with an unusual bend : those parallels did n’t issue forth from him . Lazaruswas developed in collaboration with Keiko Nobumoto , the original screenwriter ofCowboy Bebop . Sadly , Nobumoto communicate away in 2021 , but not before contributing to the former creative development of the serial . As Watanabe explained in the interview with Gizmodo , “ ( Nobumoto ) was a part of the project from the very starting time when we were developing the story and characters … If Lazarus does prompt the great unwashed of Cowboy Bebop , it ’s likely because we go with Nobumoto together to pen the chronicle . ”
Visual Echoes, New Faces
Urgency Over Cool: Key Differences From Bebop
That influence is seeming from the very first moments ofLazarus , which opens witha visually arresting episode remindful ofBebop : silhouette of the main characters fall through impressionist , surreal backcloth . The protagonist , Axel Gilberto , with his lanky flesh and violent hair , strongly recalls the iconic Spike Spiegel . Further linking the two serial , Watanabe has reunited several key collaborators fromBebop : Koichi Yamadera ( Spike ) now voices Dr. Skinner , Megumi Hayashibara ( Faye ) play Hersch , and Akio Otsuka — another familiar voice — takes on the role of Abel .
WhileLazarusandCowboy Bebopshare sure stylistic elements — such as jazz - infuse soundtracks and a futurist background — there are celebrated distinctions between the two . Cowboy Bebopcenters on a group of bounty hunters sail personal past and existential themes , often adopting a more occasional tale structure . In demarcation , Lazaruspresents a more pressing , overarch plot : a team of five agents race against a 30 - day deadline to baffle a global menace amaze by the opposer , Dr. Skinner . This time - tender military mission introduces a heightened sensory faculty of immediacy and suspense , settingLazarusapart from the more laid - back , theatrical role - force storytelling ofCowboy Bebop .
Signature Style Or Strategic Self-Reference?
Lazarus Is An Adventure Still Worth Taking
The first episode ofLazarushas received a mostly positive response from Nipponese viewers . Audiences praised the high-pitched - lineament animation by MAPPA and the dynamical action sequences , peculiarly a standout parkour chase involving the protagonist , Axel . The medicine — have nothingness and blues influences — was also well pick up for enhancing the show ’s stylish atmosphere , drawing comparing toCowboy Bebop . looker noted the naturalistic fictional character design and minimal " moe " elements , making it approachable even to those typically less draw to anime . Overall , buff in Japan seem connive by the futuristic background and are eager to see how the story and characters develop in future episodes .
Lazarus ameliorate on the distinctive action of an gum anime show , but beyond that , it ’s a slow sunburn to get to the genuine meat of the show ’s premise .
But are the similarities betweenLazarusandCowboy Bebopa clever commercial-grade move , or just the product of a director ’s signature style ? As Watanabe enunciate in his Gizmodo consultation when asked about the compare , “ … in no way of life am I doing the same thing on purpose , take a cameo , or paying homage to my old works . Everything is for a reason , and I want you to keep an eye on it with refreshed eyes . Do n’t look for similarity , just savor it for what it is . ”
While live - activity directors with typical manner — like Wes Anderson or Tim Burton — are often expected to revisit familiar territory , anime Almighty do n’t always get that same gracility . So far , only one episode ofLazarushas vent , and it ’s whole potential that Watanabe still has surprises in store or be after to take the serial in unexpected directions . But even if he does n’t , a new workplace from the Maker ofCowboy Bebopis still something of a talent for Zanzibar copal buff . All that ’s left is to watch and see where he takes us next .
Source : Gizmodo
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In 2052 , world celebrate unprecedented peace , thanks to Hapuna — a miracle drug eradicating pain and illness . Three years later , its creator , Dr. Skinner , resurfaces with a low-spirited revelation : Hapuna is a delay toxin , and destruction looms for all who took it . With just 30 day to avert disaster , a global task personnel called Lazarus set up to turn up Skinner and educate a cure .
In 2052, humanity celebrates unprecedented peace, thanks to Hapuna—a miracle drug eradicating pain and illness. Three years later, its creator, Dr. Skinner, resurfaces with a grim revelation: Hapuna is a delayed toxin, and death looms for all who took it. With just 30 days to avert catastrophe, a global task force called Lazarus assembles to locate Skinner and develop a cure.
