Since its announcement, fans were abuzz with the prospect of a new project directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, and whileLazaruscarried many of the same key traits set forth by its predecessors, that same excitement fizzled out quite fast with each new episode release. Given the high expectations for the anime, it was bound to hit an insurmountable wall.
Today,Lazarusremains at a fair standing, enough to entertain audiences with its dynamic fluid animation while bringing back the same music soundtrack that madeCowboy Bebopso infamous. Yet it still couldn’t quite recreate the same success that was found in that space opera, nor inSamurai Champloo. Its reviews land it squarely in an above-average performance.
With the anime’s conclusion, Watanabe steps forward to defendLazarus’ production following its Blu-Ray & DVD release. Citing that, in spite of its tepid reception now, he’s proud of the creative team’s work and vision that went into every scene withinLazarus.
Shinichiro Watanabe Speaks Out On Lazarus’ Production After Controversial Reception
In adirectorial interview after the broadcast ofLazarus, Watanabe defended the final version of the anime despite the lukewarm reception it had initially received. Behind the scenes, he continues to believe that the efforts put in by the animation, production, and sound design fulfilled the job to its requirements and beyond, wrapping up a memorable anime series.
“Personally, I feel I did my best under the given conditions and created a great work. The difficult part is finding how to use [the budget] effectively. It’s also said that the bigger the budget, the more problems there are. I think we managed to overcome the issue and somehow finish the anime.”
Lazaruswas American-funded, therefore leading to a much larger budget than most anime productions, meaning Watanabe had to figure out where exactly to pool his resources in production. Together with an impressive lineup of voice actors, Watanabe also worked with an action team that handled the stunts and coordination behindKeanu Reeves’ movie,John Wick.
87Eleven’s action design would perform stunts and action shots, then send the footage to the studio and Watanabe for review. The animation team would then work together to use these shots as a reference for the performances inLazarus, leading to more fluid and realistic action scenes.
After Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, Watanabe Has High Hopes for Lazarus’ Original Story That’ll Stand the Test of Time
When asked about the creation of another original anime, Watanabe shared his appreciation for the unique experience of going in blind to a new series. “The real joy of original anime is that it’s ‘unpredictable’,” he said. “I want viewers to feel more of the thrill and fun of sharing the fate of your fellow passengers, like on an airplane.”
Without knowing where you are going to land or how that journey will unravel, original anime likeLazarusare a dime among dozens of anime that create adaptations based on previous works. Watanabe describes it as an equally challenging and rewarding experience that more producers should attempt rather than recreating manga.
As a message to viewers,Watanabe reminisces on the successSamurai ChamplooandCowboy Bebopsee to this day, but when they debuted, neither was well-received. “I believe I have created evergreen works that will last forever, and I thinkLazarusis a work that people will be proud to say they watched in real time in the future.”
However, the director goes on to jokingly state that viewers should watch the anime now rather than wait 20 years after it’s aired. AlthoughLazarusdidn’t manage to be a hit among everyone, it carries all of the characteristics that instantly label it a Watanabe classic, and like his other works, it will forever be a staple in his collection.
