The brilliant creator of Cowboy Bebop and many more hits, Shinichiro Watanabe, has come back with Lazarus, yet another exciting anime that will definitely be a must-watch. However, the original intent of the story was the opposite of what it is right now, and given Watanabe's track record with such types of stories, it could have easily been yet another hit on his belt.

In a new interview between Mantan Web and Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator and director talked about his new series Lazarus, which he wrote the original script for and is being animated by Studio Mappa, the producers of Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man. Watanabe's original idea for the story was something more in the lane of Space Dandy, but this was shot down, and he was told to make a story that is more serious and dark, and this led to the birth of the currently airing Lazarus.

Lazarus Could Have Been Something Entirely Different

Watanabe was approached by Adult Swim producer Jason DeMarco for a new story. DeMarco was a huge fan of Cowboy Bebop, and the company offered to fund whatever anime Watanabe came up with fully, but with one condition. When asked if he could make a sci-fi action, Watanabe asked if he could make something like Space Dandy, to which DeMarco said they wanted something a bit more serious and dark. Fortunately, that is the extent to which Cartoon Network gave direction, and Watanabe was given full creative freedom to come up with whatever story.

'We'd like you to make a sci-fi action movie.' When I asked if something like 'Space Dandy' would be okay, he said, 'No, something more serious.'" "Basically, they trusted the director and didn't give me any detailed instructions about the content. When working with the US, there is often a lot of interference, but this time I was able to make the film quite freely."

- Shinichiro Watanabe

Already having the potential to be one of Studio MAPPA's best anime, Lazarus revolves around a task force of the same name that is sent out on a timely mission to find Dr. Skinner, who poisoned the world with a medicine called Hapuna that, on the surface, is a miracle drug that cures all diseases but kills the after 3 years. Space Dandy, on the other hand, follows Dandy, who is going all around the universe on the hunt for undiscovered alien species, together with Meow and QT.

Lazarus Still Has A Lot Of Potential

Watanabe's Latest Still Deserves An Extra Look

While Shinichiro Watanabe might have been thinking of making a series that leaned more into the adventure and comedic aspects like his previous hit, there was no interference in the making of Lazarus and this was wholly his work. Lazarus seriously has a lot going for it, be it the production, the story, or the amazing music, Lazarus is looking up to be something special.