Shinichiro Watanabe’s Lazarus has already captured the attention of anime fans worldwide. The creator is renowned for his delivery of many major hits, which are still called classics and are critically acclaimed
Lazarus seems to have sky-high potential with its breathtaking animation, high-intensity fights (directed by John Wick’s Chad Stahelski), and a cyberpunk aesthetic with a thrilling plotline.
Lazarus seems all set to be a visual masterpiece. But while the action and direction will undoubtedly be top-tier, Lazarus’ real potential to become a legendary classic of all-time anime lies in its soundtrack.
The power of Watanabe’s timeless soundtracks
The music is one element that has remained a constant from times immemorial, a good tune will have feet tapping and heads nodding, and this point has been capitalized on a lot by Shinichiro Watanabe.
So much so that he made jazz, a powerful and timeless form of music, integrate with his space-style plot in Cowboy Bebop. The soundtrack and music are some of the elements Watanabe has always excelled at picking out, and this is something that could make Lazarus a true masterpiece.
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That is not to say that a great soundtrack can salvage a low-quality anime, but it can definitely soften the blow. In the same way, if a good anime has a great soundtrack, it is bound to become a legendary anime.
The fans of Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Cowboy Bebop cannot imagine the characters and the story without imagining the characters having the soundtracks playing in the background (Dandy, for one, will only be visualized dancing).
Anyone familiar with Watanabe’s past works knows that his anime doesn’t just have good music; they have some of the best soundtracks in anime history.
Why music could make Lazarus a true masterpiece
Cowboy Bebop’s jazz compositions by Yoko Kanno, and Samurai Champloo’s iconic hip-hop beats all proved how Watanabe doesn’t just use music as an augmenting part, but as a core and integral part of narration.
With Lazarus, he’s bringing in a fresh musical influence, and Floating Points’ involvement in the soundtrack suggests something groundbreaking. Floating Points has been known for his intricate electronic music, and it could pair perfectly with the cyberpunk apocalyptic setting that the anime has.
While top-tier animation and fight choreography are great, they aren’t uncommon; it is the tracks that play on and on in your mind that you keep wanting to go back to, leading to the name of the anime being cemented.
In Lazarus, the soundtrack could be the key that elevates it beyond just another stylish action anime. If the music is able to synchronize with aspects such as the fight scenes, the chases, and the time-based events, then the urgency and thrill will be pushed to another level, making Lazarus a delight to watch.
If Lazarus follows in the footsteps of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, it could be another success for Watanabe and an addition to the list of timeless anime.
Lazarus will also be available to watch on Netflix after its release on April 5, 2025.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
