Shinichirō Watanabe’s New Anime ‘Lazarus’ Premieres April 5 on Adult Swim

Adult Swim today confirms that Lazarus, the highly anticipated new series from anime legend Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop), will premiere Saturday, April 5 at midnight during the network’s Toonami block. The series is produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by MAPPA.

Marking Watanabe’s return to the sci-fi genre, Lazarus is described as a pulse-pounding thriller about a miracle drug, Hapna, that presumably frees anyone who takes it from all pain. However, it is later revealed that Hapna has a fatal consequence: all who have taken the drug will perish. With only 30 days to save humanity, a group of secret agents must find a vaccine before all is lost.

“We’re talking Watanabe here — this show is an amazing mix of great characters, super fun high-stakes, brilliant directing, and of course, some pretty great music,” said Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen. “We are all so lucky to be able to watch this genius do his thing.”

Synopsis: The year is 2052.

The world seemed to be on the verge of unprecedented peace and stability, and the painkiller drug “Hapna” developed by a lauded neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has had a lot to do with it. Pervasive throughout the world with no known side effects, Hapna is said to have freed humanity from pain.

But then, Skinner suddenly disappeared off the face of the Earth.

Three years later, he re-emerges as a prophet who brings countless deaths and the end of civilization. Hapna is designed with a fatal, retroactive effect, which manifests three years after ingestion, even by those who have only taken it once. Just thirty days remain until humanity is doomed to extinction. The only way to save the world is to get the cure that only Skinner knows. For that we must first find him.

“Lazarus” is a team of five agents gathered from various corners of the world to do just that. Can they save humanity? And what is Skinner’s true purpose?

Lazarus features action sequences designed by director Chad Stahelski (John Wick) and a score by renowned 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.

The series will air on Adult Swim in English, with new episodes available the next day on Max. English-language encore airings will debut every Thursday at midnight beginning April 10. Episodes in Japanese with English subtitles will debut in the U.S. on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after their English-language premiere.

English-Language Voice Cast:

• Dr. Skinner – David Matranga
• Hersch – Jade Kelly
• Axel – Jack Stansbury
• Chris – Luci Christian
• Leland – Bryson Baugus
• Doug – Jovan Jackson
• Elaina – Annie Wild
• Abel – Sean Patrick Judge