We are currently living in an era where the amount of anime released in a single season surpasses what was previously available in an entire year. With 2025 packed with numerous shows vying for the top spot, one series that stands out is Lazarus. The premiere episode of this highly anticipated sci-fi series, created by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe and airing on Adult Swim, leaves a lasting impression and has the potential to become a classic.

Set in the year 2052, Lazarus takes place in a world on the cusp of unprecedented peace and stability, thanks to a painkiller called Hapna. Developed by neuroscientist Dr. Skinner, Hapna is a cure-all drug that has been widely distributed, freeing the world from pain – a theme that is currently trending in animation. However, three years after Skinner’s disappearance, he reemerges with a grim revelation: the drug was designed with a fatal side effect that will kill anyone who has taken it, unless a cure is found within 30 days. To prevent humanity’s extinction, a special task force called Lazarus is formed to track down Skinner and find a cure, essentially playing a global game of Where’s Waldo.

Lazarus boasts an impressive lineup of creatives, including animation by Mappa, the studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man; action choreography by John Wick director Chad Stahelski; and music by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington and electronic producers Floating Points and Bonobo. The premiere episode lives up to the hype surrounding Watanabe’s return to the genre.

To say that Lazarus is more than the sum of its parts would be an understatement. The excellence of the creative team shines throughout the five episodes reviewed, particularly in the premiere episode.

The action, music, and animation in Lazarus come together flawlessly in the first episode, as the lead character, Axel Gilberto (Jack Stansbyury), executes a grand prison escape. The episode-long chase sequence showcases the team’s expertise, with Axel performing impressive stunts, including leg scissor takedowns and vaulting through stairway railings. The electronic and jazzy soundtrack perfectly complements the rhythm of the escape, making it hard to believe that Lazarus is a series rather than a feature film.

The sound production, handled by Formosa Group, the company behind Dune and Game of Thrones, brings a grounded, Hollywood-level sound quality to the series. The sound effects, from punches to gun rounds, are a feast for the ears, while minor details like creative typographical eye-catchers and a referential Cowboy Bebop opening add to the show’s unique charm.

By the end of its first episode, Lazarus establishes itself as a series capable of delivering compelling anime without compromising on animation quality, musical score, or thematic depth. Hopefully, Watanabe’s new series will maintain its momentum throughout its entirety. As it stands, Lazarus has all the tools to be something truly exceptional.

Lazarus is set to run for 13 episodes, premiering on Adult Swim on April 5, with next-day streaming on Max. Japanese episodes with English subtitles will debut on Adult Swim and Max in May.

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