MAPPA’s Lazarus Anime Opens with Kamasi Washington’s Jazz Surge!

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Summary

  • Opening of sci-fi anime Lazarus features jazz music by Kamasi Washington, creating a visually stunning experience.
  • Lazarus may have similarities to Cowboy Bebop, but its unique opening showcases the main cast in space.
  • Strong emphasis on music in Lazarus, with talented cast and crew contributing to the series’ unique style and direction.

Looking forward to the spring of 2025, one of the most eagerly awaited anime releases will be Shinichirō Watanabe’s innovative science fiction series titled Lazarus. This exciting addition is scheduled for release in April, fitting perfectly into the Spring 2025 anime lineup. In the past few months, we’ve been treated to a steady stream of information about the show, with the latest news being the unveiling of its opening sequence. The song accompanying this sequence was previously announced to be “Vortex,” a piece performed by Libera and UK Music Award, as well as Grammy Award-winning American jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington.

The initial Lazarus video was swiftly published on Adult Swim’s YouTube platform, sparking numerous comparisons among viewers to the renowned anime series by Watanabe, specifically, Cowboy Bebop.

About Lazarus’s Opening

Watanabe’s Love For Jazz Is On Display Once More

In simple terms, the intro sequence of “Lazarus” showcases a masterpiece of visual art, and Kamasi Washington’s music perfectly complements this vibrant, pop-art-inspired display that occasionally evokes memories of the “Cowboy Bebop” opening. However, these comparisons only scratch the surface. The entire Lazarus intro portrays its key characters drifting in space, with a striking, gritty font scattered throughout as various words flash behind them.

Initially, their shapes become visible, preceded by distinctly hued light that gradually forms the features on their faces. As the music reaches its peak, the initial dreamy ambiance of the introductory scene gains momentum and energy as the silhouettes leap, somersault, and dance around, all while the title card for the series emerges. In just four months of the year, Lazarus could be vying for the best opening sequence of the year with this captivating display.

The show places a significant focus on music, featuring artists like Bonobo, Floating Points, and Kamasi Washington in its soundtrack. Notably, Miho Sugiura, an accomplished art director, is involved in either the art direction or background of productions such as “Steins;Gate,” “Psycho-Pass,” the film “Maquia,” and “Black Clover.” The cast of “Lazarus” includes:

  • Mamoru Miyano as Axel
  • Makoto Furukawa as Doug
  • Maaya Uchida as Christine
  • Yūma Uchida as Leland
  • Manaka Iwami as Eleina
  • Megumi Hayashibara as Hersch
  • Akio Ōtsuka as Abel
  • Kōichi Yamadera as Skinner

This animated show is helmed by Shinichirō Watanabe as its director. Chad Stahelski, known for his work in John Wick’s stunts and direction, takes charge of the action scenes. The writing duties are shared among Dai Satō, Shinichirō Watanabe, Takahiro Ozawa, and Tsukasa Kondō. The animation production is handled by Masato Matsunaga, with Kana Tanabe responsible for color design; Takuma Sakamoto serves as the cinematographer; Mitsuhiro Sato oversees compositing; and Lauren Stephens looks after the sound effects.

Lazarus is set to debut on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block at 12am EDT on April 5, which means it will actually be shown on April 6.

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2025-03-28 21:04