Lazarusproudly lives up to the hype as the renowned director Shinichiro Watanabe’s latest production, garnering solid ratings from critics and geek culture enthusiasts alike. Once again,Shinichiro, the visionary behind the jazz-infusedCowboy Bebopand the etherealCarole & Tuesday, leaves his signature mark on the anime industry throughLazarus, an inspiring and philosophically driven tale.
Lazarusbrilliantly fuses an apocalyptic saga with an amazing on-brand soundtrack that masks the underlying tension in the story. However,what makes the anime truly stand out is how it dynamically merges the story’s incompatible main cast together using their traumatic pastto accomplish a goal intimately connected to their history.
The Adult Swim show is incomparable to anymodern-day apocalyptic media, with the story’s focus on biochemical danger. It’s no wonder theunderrated gem parades a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, competing with the likes ofFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndandDandadan.
What Seems Like A High-Stakes Hunt Turns Out To Have Deeper Roots
Lazarus Also Unveils A Conspiracy Connected To The Main Saga
Lazarusweaves a deceitfully simple narrative on first glance, only to reveal a much complex saga rooted in betrayal, conspiracy, and terrorism. Set in the year 2055, the thematic essence ofLazarusis to find Dr. Skinner, hailed as “the most brilliant mind since Einstein,” who developed a miracle painkiller, “Hapna,” that outclassed any pharmaceutical invention.
Three years after the drug’s launch, Hapna is revealed to be a doomsday weapon engineered by Dr. Skinner; the drug mutates into a lethal toxin that kills users. According to Dr. Skinner, it is his last call-to-action for humanity to focus on what truly matters instead of taking solace in trivialities.
Dr. Skinner’s catastrophic disclosure to humanity ends with him verifying the presence of the cure to hapna, which he holds, encouraging humanity to find him orthe world ends at the hands of his biochemical weapon in ten days.In response to this danger, an odd five-person group, named “Lazarus,” is assembled to hunt down Dr. Skinner.
Each member of Lazarus brings a unique talent to the group, making for its diversity and initial disjointedness. The anime opens with Axel Gilbert, a convict famed for prison breaks, and eventually introduces us to other members of the group who have already been recruited. The ragtag quintet, bonded by questionable pasts, relentlessly explores necessary clues connected to Dr. Skinner’s whereabouts.
As the story progresses, it becomes clearer that finding Dr. Skinner is not the only issue Lazarus has to deal with. The government played a role in the Hapna problem, and the conspiracy is closely tied to Dr Skinner’s decision.
Lazarus Is Much More Than The Story It Reveals
From Spectacular Action Sequences To A Jazz-Themed Soundtrack, Lazarus Delivers On Shinichiro’s Legacy
Lazarusoffers so much more than an interesting plot; the anime’s action sequences, mostly promoted by Axel, the acrobatic member of Lazarus, are satisfyingly executed. These sequences involvegun-throbbing action, spectacular hand-to-hand combat, and thrilling stunts that covertly hide the seriousness of the team’s missions, contributing to the story’s thrilling effect.
Incidentally, theLazarussoundtrack is strikingly adaptive, enhancing the tone of pivotal moments that deepen the audience’s connection to the story. Shinichiro Watanabe boldly infuses a jazz-infused soundtrack that alludes to his signature works, reminding fans of his distinctive stance on impactful storytelling.
Shinichiro Watanabe boldly infuses a jazz-infused soundtrack that alludes to his signature works, reminding fans of his distinctive stance on impactful storytelling.
Apart from the lovable action andunforgettable soundtrack, the anime forces viewers to introspectively ponder the messageLazaruspasses across as it closely mirrors real-world society, a message bordering on Humanity’s deviation from what is truly important.
Shinichiro Watanabe’s tale harnesses a biblical allusion, in the form of “Lazarus,” a persona known for being raised from the dead, to secretly pass an intriguing point. Unfortunately,Lazarusis not without its blind spots, as the anime fails to capture the tension needed in an apocalyptic story. There’s barely chaos, and few indicators that humanity is on the verge of extinction.
The anime also fails to fully utilize the potential of the Lazarus squad. But as expected, there’s only so much you can do witha short episodic anime. Regardless, the series expertly pushes a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with viewers long after the story ends. And that is the true goal of powerful storytelling.
