The Lazarus anime has fans buzzing with excitement, not only because it’s directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, the mind behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, but also because of the big names behind the project.
The Lazarus voice cast is packed with legendary talent, including the return of Cowboy Bebop’s iconic stars.
During New York Comic Con on October 20, 2024, it was announced during the Lazarus panel that Megumi Hayashibara (Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop), Akio Otsuka (Whitney Hagas Matsumoto in Cowboy Bebop), and Koichi Yamadera (Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop) would be taking on key roles in Lazarus.
With Watanabe at the helm and Cowboy Bebop veterans among the Lazarus main voice cast, this series is shaping up to be a must-watch event.
What is the Lazarus anime about?
Set in the year 2052, Lazarus takes place in a utopian world free of sickness and pain, thanks to a miracle drug called Hapuna, developed by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner.
However, just three years after the drug’s introduction, Skinner mysteriously disappears, only to resurface with devastating news: Hapuna has a short half-life, and everyone who has taken it will die soon.
A global task force known as “Lazarus” is assembled to save humanity from this impending doom. Their mission? To stop Skinner and find a cure before it’s too late.
Adding to the hype, Lazarus also brings in Hollywood action director Chad Stahelski (John Wick), who has already worked on several episodes in the first season.
Lazarus anime release date
Produced by Studio MAPPA, Lazarus will have 13 episodes and premiere in 2025 on Adult Swim’s Toonami.
Lazarus voice cast and seiyuu
| LAZARUS CHARACTER | LAZARUS VOICE ACTOR | OTHER FAMOUS ROLES |
| Axel Gilberto | Mamoru Miyano | Light Yagami (Death Note) Doma (Demon Slayer) Kei Kaname (Oblivion Battery) |
| Doug | Makoto Furukawa | Saitama (One Punch Man) Miyuki Shirogane (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) Jin-Chul Woo (Solo Leveling) |
| Christine | Maaya Uchida | Yuuki Yoshino (Food Wars) Seika Ijichi (Bocchi the Rock!) Angel Devil (Chainsaw Man) |
| Leland | Yuuma Uchida | Haruka Sakura (Wind Breaker) Rakuro Hizutome (Shangri-La Frontier) Megumi Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen) |
| Eleina | Manaka Iwami | Akane Kurokawa (Oshi no Ko) Tooru Honda (Fruits Basket) Mirai Shishio (Dr. Stone) |
| Hersch | Megumi Hayashibara | Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2) Pine-Pine (Space Dandy) |
| Abel | Akio Otsuka | All For One (My Hero Academia) Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid) Shunsui Kyoraku (Bleach) |
| Doctor Skinner | Koichi Yamadera | Koichi Zenigata (Lupin III) Beerus (Dragon Ball) Silva Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter) |
You can watch the New York Comic Con first look trailer below.
READ MORE: How many episodes are in The Beginning After the End? Episode count revealed
