Adult Swim Orders Anime Series ‘Lazarus’

Adult Swim, the primetime and late night programming block broadcast by Cartoon Network, has greenlit the new anime series Lazarus. From Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and currently in production by anime studio MAPPA, Lazarus is described as a “globe-trotting thriller set in the near future.”

The logline: The year is 2052 – an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity that prevails across the globe. The reason for this: mankind has been freed from sickness and pain. Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has developed a miracle cure-all drug with no apparent drawbacks called Hapuna. Hapuna soon becomes ubiquitous… and essential. However, soon after Hapuna is officially introduced, Dr. Skinner vanishes.

Three years later, the world has moved on. But Dr. Skinner has returned – this time, as a harbinger of doom. Skinner announces that Hapuna has a short half-life. Everyone who has taken it will die approximately three years later. Death is coming for this sinful world – and coming soon.

As a response to this threat, a special task force of five agents is gathered from across the world to save humanity from Skinner’s plan. This group is called “Lazarus.” Can they find Skinner and develop a vaccine before time runs out?

“Shinichirō Watanabe is simply one of the greatest living artists, and it’s a dream come true to be able to collaborate with him on a new original series,” said Jason DeMarco, SVP, Head of Anime and Action Series at Adult Swim in a statement. “Like all of his work, Lazarus is packed with big ideas, incredible characters and a ton of heart. We can’t wait for anime fans to see this world.”

Lazarus will be previewed at the Adult Swim Festival in San Diego this Saturday, July 22 at 5:15 p.m., as part of the Comic-Con event Toonami on the Green. There is no official premiere date on Adult Swim at press time.

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