Lazarus: New Sci-Fi Anime by Cowboy Bebop’s Creator Debuts Tonight

Lazarus unites top talent from anime and global entertainment. This original sci-fi series, directed by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichirō Watanabe, is not a rehash of his past work, according to critic Ryan Guar’s review of the first five episodes. Mappa Studio (Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen) and Sola Entertainment (Tower of God) handled animation, with John Wick director Chad Stahelski choreographing the action sequences.

With buzz building and an air of intrigue, Adult Swim secured the series for simultaneous U.S. and Japan broadcasts. For details on streaming new Lazarus episodes, see below.

Where to Stream Lazarus

Lazarus

02052 - A miracle drug turns deadly, threatening humanity’s survival. A rogue team called LAZARUS has 30 days to save the world.See it at Max

New Lazarus episodes will stream on Max (not Crunchyroll or Netflix) the day after airing on Adult Swim. Expect new episodes on Max every Sunday. Max subscriptions begin at $9.99, with bundling options for Disney+ and Hulu.

Per a Warner Bros. press release, subtitled episodes will air and stream on Max 30 days after dubbed versions.

How to Watch New Episodes Live

Lazarus airs concurrently in Japan and the U.S. In the U.S., catch new dubbed episodes live on Adult Swim’s Toonami block every Saturday night. Beyond cable, Adult Swim is available via live TV services like Hulu + Live TV, which includes a three-day free trial.

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Lazarus Episode Release Schedule

Lazarus Season 1 will feature 13 episodes, airing live on Adult Swim before hitting Max. Episodes air at midnight (technically Sunday) but are part of Saturday’s Toonami block, so plan to stay up late for new episodes.

Assuming no mid-season pause, here’s the expected release schedule for Lazarus Season 1:

Episode 1: "Goodbye Cruel World" - April 5 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 6, 2025Episode 2: "Life in the Fast Lane" - April 12 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 13Episode 3: "Long Way from Home" - April 19 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 20Episode 4 - April 26 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 27Episode 5 - May 3 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: May 4Episode 6 - May 10 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: May 11Episode 7 - May 17 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: May 18Episode 8 - May 24 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: May 25Episode 9 - May 31 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: June 1Episode 10 - June 7 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: June 8Episode 11 - June 14 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: June 15Episode 12 - June 21 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: June 22Episode 13 - June 28 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: June 29

What Is Lazarus About?

Uniquely for anime, Lazarus is an original story, not based on manga, so there’s no source material to spoil the plot. Here’s the official synopsis from the Lazarus website:

In 2052, global peace and prosperity reign, thanks to a miracle drug called Hapuna, developed by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner, with no apparent side effects.

Three years later, Dr. Skinner reemerges with grim news: Hapuna’s short half-life means everyone who took it will die within three years. A reckoning looms.

To counter this crisis, a five-agent task force named Lazarus is assembled worldwide to stop Skinner’s plan and find a vaccine before time runs out.

Lazarus Voice Cast and Characters

Created by Shinichirō Watanabe, Lazarus features a stellar voice cast in Japanese and English:

Mamoru Miyano (Japanese) and Jack Stansbury (English) as AxelMakoto Furukawa (Japanese) and Jovan Jackson (English) as DougMaaya Uchida (Japanese) and Luci Christian (English) as ChristineYuma Uchida (Japanese) and Bryson Baugus (English) as LelandManaka Iwami (Japanese) and Annie Wild (English) as EleinaMegumi Hayashibara (Japanese) and Jade Kelly (English) as HerschAkio Otsuka (Japanese) and Sean Patrick Judge (English) as AbelKoichi Yamadera (Japanese) and David Matranga (English) as Dr. Skinner