New anime project Lazarus reveals musical and visual dimensions

At the launch of the original anime series Lazarus, which will be available from April 6, 2024, the official opening clip has been released. Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) and produced by Studio MAPPA, the work combines an extraordinary fusion of animation and experimental music.

The series follows the global spread of the painkiller Hapna, initially celebrated as a "miracle substance with no side effects." However, three years after its introduction, a dark connection is revealed: its use inevitably leads to death. The plot begins at this turning point, following the desperate search for countermeasures in a world caught between technological progress and moral decay.

The opening combines a multi-part jazz composition by Kamasi Washington (Vortex) with visual abstractions that bear Watanabe’s signature. The soundtrack is further enhanced by three singles:

- Dark Will Fall by Bonobo feat. Jacob Lusk: A mix of Western ambiance and gospel emotions,

- Dexion by Floating Points: A nine-minute, synthetically driven sound experiment.

The full albums of all involved artists will be released on April 11, deepening the atmospheric complexity of the series.