As the visionary behind Lazarus - Watanabe's quest for fresh fight choreography insights led to an unexpected outcome.

While fans of Cowboy Bebop may easily recognize its influence on John Wick, a surprising revelation shows the inverse is also true: the John Wick franchise has significantly influenced Cowboy Bebop's director, Shinichiro Watanabe. This influence extends beyond inspiration, as the John Wick team has been tapped to choreograph action sequences for Watanabe's Lazarus series.

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In a recent interview with forces in bringing Lazarus to life.

I've always held his John Wick film series in high regard. I watch them all the time. It's not just how realistic his action looks, but how modern it feels. - Shinichiro Watanabe

Perhaps, believing the fight choreography that made Cowboy Bebop famous might feel outdated for modern audiences, Watanabe approached Stahelski for advice on making the fight and action scenes in Lazarus more like those in John Wick. Expecting only a few tips due to Stahelski's busy schedule, Watanabe was surprised when Stahelski offered to handle all the choreography for the series, including live-action fight sequences for animators to work from, completely free of charge.

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Stahelski, who has often cited Cowboy Bebop as an influence on his work, seemed humbled by Watanabe's request for collaboration. For Stahelski, perhaps the opportunity to work alongside the legendary director was reward enough. Stahelski's modern perspective is poised to elevate Lazarus's fight and action scenes. Meanwhile, with the action sequences in capable hands, Watanabe can focus on crafting a compelling narrative and character development. As such, their partnership with Lazarus exemplifies how even accomplished creators can benefit from cross-pollination. It's no wonder Lazarus is one of the most anticipated anime releases of the coming year.

Interestingly, when asked what makes a good action scene, Watanabe chose to share Stahelski's definition of a great fight scene. According to Stahelski, a prime example is the iconic church fight between Spike and Vicious in Cowboy Bebop Episode #5. Similar to some of the best John Wick fight sequences, it embodies a contrast between "violence and serenity," as a hallmark of "great action." It seems that in seeking advice, Cowboy Bebop's Watanabe didn’t have to look far — his own work already held the answer.

Source: Anime News Network