Shinichiro Watanabe is a legend amongst anime fans and an auteur who pushes the boundaries of what the anime medium has to offer. Titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy are Adult Swim staples that have defined a generation. Now he’s back with an upcoming action series debuting on Cartoon Network midnight 05 April 2025 called Lazarus. A story about a world wracked in chaos due to a “cure-all” opioid becoming lethal and the reluctant rag-tag group of criminals tasked to find the neuroscientist responsible in the hopes of creating a vaccine. It is a race against time on a global stage.

Your backdoor anime hangout had the privilege and honor to interview Watanabe-san for his latest title: his inspiration for the title, musical collaborations, and involvement with the John Wick director, Chad Stahelski.

Many Thanks To:

Interpreter: Takayuki Karahashi of Green Room International

Interview Coordination:

• Jo Ann Faustino of Green Room International

• Raymond Shipman of Anime Los Angeles

Otaku Hourly Crew:

Interviewer: Jonathan Beltran

Video: Jonathan Charles Garcia

Audio: Matthew Aquino

Editor: Christian Wiseman

Research: Clifford Sutton

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