Cowboy Bebop Creator’s New Anime Lazarus: A Serious Sci-Fi Take on the Opioid Crisis

In this video, I dive into Lazarus, the latest anime from Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe, which premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami block on April 6, 2025. Originally pitched as a lighthearted sci-fi series like Space Dandy, Watanabe shifted to a more serious story at Adult Swim’s request. Set in 2052, Lazarus depicts a future Earth shaken by Hapna, a miracle painkiller that eventually causes sudden death. The narrative follows Axel Gilberto, a Brazilian prisoner tasked with tracking down Hapna’s creator, Dr. Skinner. Drawing from North America’s opioid crisis, this original anime blends Watanabe’s signature music-driven style with action choreography by John Wick’s Chad Stahelski. Drop a comment and let me know how big Lazarus is in the anime world! Also, I recently grabbed Gabriel and the Guardians, my first manga purchase, and I’ll post a full review after some time has passed and a reread

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