2052AD. Humanity
lives a new carefree existence thanks to the miracle drug, Hapna. But all of that comes crashing to a halt when
the creator of Hapna, Dr. Skinner, who has been missing for three years,
emerges and announces all who have taken Hapna will begin to die in 30 days. With billions of lives at stake, a special
task force, codenamed Lazarus, is created for the sole purpose of tracking
Skinner down and finding a cure for the Hapna drug. If this band of criminals cant complete their
mission in less than 30 days, it’s game over for all mankind.
Shinichiro Watanabe is an amazing Anime director. The worlds he creates and, maybe more
importantly, the music he infuses within them, have created some of Animes
greatest legends, specifically Cowboy Bebop.
I single out Bebop because it’s a popular and beloved title for several
reasons, many of which combine to make an Anime even non Anime fans can get
into and enjoy. It’s a success high I
feel Watanabe has been chasing and trying to replicate since from the Feudal
Hip Hop infused Samurai Champloo to the
beautifuly composed but longer than it needed to be Carole and Tuesday (I’ve
never seen Space Dandy so I cant weigh in on that one yet). Lazarus is Watanabe’s latest directorial
effort and it again feels like another attempt to be the next Bebop, complete
with a wild card martial artist, Jazz and a futuristic yet realistic
setting. And yet the first few episodes
leave a lot to be desired but it does confirm that Lazarus isnt just shaping up
to not be Cowboy Bebop, it’s shaping up to not be anywhere as good as Samurai
Champloo or Carole and Tuesday.
