MAPPA’s upcoming original anime, Lazarus, has become one of the most anticipated spring 2025 anime. The biggest reason behind its popularity might be the involvement of Shinichiro Watanabe, who is directing and co-writing the series. Known for directing Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, and other cult classics, Watanabe is a force to be reckoned with.
The cast and staff behind Lazarus are all big names in the industry. Needless to say, fans are excited about the upcoming anime. However, it might be best to approach the series with caution.
One issue that might affect the production of MAPPA’s Lazarus
Lazarus has a star-studded cast and staff list. As mentioned before, Shinichiro Watanabe is the biggest hype factor for the anime. Additionally, Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick franchise, is directing the action sequences of Lazarus. Additionally, Kamasi Washinton, Bonobo, and Floating Points, international awards-winning artists, are all set to create the musical score of the series.
In fact, the anime also features Miyano Mamoru, the voice actor of Light Yagami, Dazai Osamu, Tamaki Suoh, and innumerable famous anime characters. A majority of the artists involved with the anime have stellar performance records. All but one…Lazarus‘s animation production is being handled by MAPPA and Sola Entertainment.
Sola Entertainment might be a new name to many. Just to refresh your memory, the company animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim (2024 film) and produced Rick and Morty: The Anime (2024 anime series). Unfortunately, both projects faced major failure in terms of popularity and reviews.
Will Shinichiro Watanabe’s perfect streak face a halt with Lazarus?
Shinichiro Watanabe directed anime like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, Terror in Resonance, Carole and Tuesday, and several other widely acknowledged anime series/films. Thus, Watanabe’s involvement in Lazarus has been seen as an important factor in the series’ impending success.
On the other hand, MAPPA is also invoking the nostalgic factor associated with Cowboy Bebop to ensure a high audience turnout for Lazarus. However, the involvement of Sola Entertainment has caused fans to approach the series with caution, especially since both the Rick and Morty anime and The Lord of the Rings anime film were animated disasters.
Subpar animation, mediocre storytelling, and a lack of details littered the productions. MAPPA might be the leading animator, but fans are unsure of Sola Entertainment’s input in the series. Let’s hope that under the watchful eyes of Watanabe, Lazarus will be a success despite all odds.
The Lazarus anime will debut on April 5th, 2025.
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