(L) Lazarus [as][unknown]

[Stark700]

From Variety's article today:

Adult Swim Orders ‘Lazarus,’ New Animated Series From ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Director Shinichirō Watanabe

Adult Swim has greenlit “Lazarus,” a new Toonami series from renowned anime director Shinichirō Watanabe, known for his work helming episodes of “Cowboy Bebop,” “Samurai Champloo” and “Kids on the Slope.”

Produced by anime studio MAPPA, “Lazarus” also recruits the contributions of “John Wick” series director Chad Stahelski, who designed several action sequences for the series, along with the musical talents of saxophonist Kamasi Washington; producer, DJ and musician Floating Points; and producer, DJ and musician Bonobo. The trio will provide a jazz and electronic score for the project.

“Lazarus,” which is already in production, takes place in 2052. The series follows a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist that develops a drug called Hapuna — a cure-all that has the unexpected side-effect of causing death three years later. A special force of agents is assembled to take on the malevolent Skinner.

Source:

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/adu...op-1235674791/

[Last Sinner]

Hmmm....

He might still have it. As long as it's more Bebop/Champloo/Slope and less Dandy/C&T.

[Guardian Enzo]

Don't diss the Dandy, ROFL. Lumping that in with C&T is a crime against decency.

[frubam]

In my headcanon, he wanted(not needed) redemption after the LA-CB series. Man had to put himself back into the studio .

[MeoTwister5]

At the very least, whatever happens, the soundtrack will be awesome

[Nachtwandler]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Don't diss the Dandy, ROFL. Lumping that in with C&T is a crime against decency.

Dandy was a great almanach-type show. And Watanabe himself directed one of the best episodes.

[LG-MAX 2.o]

With the amount of censorship the japanese industry is currently dealing with, it's a good idea for them to use other channels to try to create work without this problem.

[Last Sinner]

Dandy was a bland, pretentious wank. And no one is changing my mind.

[Kanon]

As far as I'm concerned, Watanabe has only made two good anime: Bebop and Champloo. He's one of the most overrated director in the industry.

And yes, Dandy was terrible. Couldn't even make it past the first season. And let's not forget Zankyou no Terror

The synopsis makes it sound like this show will be another stinker buuuuut Chad Stahelski and the musicians might save it. If nothing else, it will have great action and music.

[Nachtwandler]

Originally Posted by Kanon

As far as I'm concerned, Watanabe has only made two good anime: Bebop and Champloo. He's one of the most overrated director in the industry.

And yes, Dandy was terrible. Couldn't even make it past the first season. And let's not forget Zankyou no Terror

The synopsis makes it sound like this show will be another stinker buuuuut Chad Stahelski and the musicians might save it. If nothing else, it will have great action and music.

Macross Plus? I personally have concerns with it but it is also copnsidered all time classics.

[Amarantine]

Originally Posted by Kanon

As far as I'm concerned, Watanabe has only made two good anime: Bebop and Champloo. He's one of the most overrated director in the industry.

Most directors would be happy to direct one timeless classic in their career. Watanabe made two. That's not too shabby, whatever the quality of his subsequent output might be (and I would add Sakamichi no Apollon to the list of his good anime, even if it wasn't great because he wasn't given enough episodes to do full justice to the material).

But yes, I think most of us are just clinging to what little hope we have left that he might one day be able to recapture the magic of Bebop and Champloo, even though (IMO) the evidence suggests he has long since lost his touch. And Lazarus doesn't really sound like his great comeback to me either, but we'll see, I guess. Hopefully it won't be as bad as Zankyou no Terror (not a high bar, I know).

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Amarantine

Most directors would be happy to direct one timeless classic in their career. Watanabe made two. That's not too shabby, whatever the quality of his subsequent output might be (and I would add Sakamichi no Apollon to the list of his good anime, even if it wasn't great because he wasn't given enough episodes to do full justice to the material).

Oh, absolutely. But given his recent track record (and by recent I mean the last decade), I don't get why people jump in joy every time they see his name listed on a project. If anything, it's a red flag to me.

I don't count Kids on the Slope because it was an adaptation. Even then, I have a lot of issues with it.

[pinoscotto]

I don't think the problem with his recent works was the direction, do we have any ideas who is gonna write this series?

[MeoTwister5]

I would argue that Zankyou no Terror was great in the first half and tanked in the last half. People also probably aren't familiar with that little thing he did for Blade Runner which was also good.

[Stark700]

Trailer

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Stark700

Trailer

Music is definitely Watanabe. Animation looks beautiful. But I'm oddly reminded of Super Crooks .

[Amarantine]

Music and visual direction look nice, which is not a surprise since Watanabe almost always delivers in those areas. As pinoscotto suggested above, what we really need to know now is who is writing this because that is probably what is going to determine whether this will be another dud or an actual return to form for Watanabe.

[Yu Ominae]

Music's by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington with Floating Points and Bonobo.

Digging the trailer music.