Review of Lazarus

I'm a fan of Shinichiro Watanabe's works, and I was looking forward to seeing this anime. Soon as I had gotten myself into it from beginning to end, I found this to be a mixed bag. Is it Cowboy Bebop? No. Is it Carole and Tuesday? No. Is it Samurai Champloo? No. It does have some moments, yet it does have its own problems. In 2049 where it started off as a neuroscientist named Dr. Skinner discovers a miracle analgesic drug called "Hapma" that completely relieves the user of any pain, shortly before Dr. Skinner disappears off theface of the Earth. Three years have passed, and the doctor returns to make a public announcement via online video to announce that the drug has a three-year half, and soon everyone who took the drug will die. Now it's up to a band of free agents made up of misfits, known as "Lazarus", has been assembled to locate Skinner within thirty days before the first wave of Hapna users start to die off first.
The members of Lazarus consist of Axel, a Brazillian man who was originally meant to stay in jail for three years yet keeps escaping in the most stylish way possible. Doug, a Nigerian man who specializes in intelligence and coordination for the team. Chris, a skilled Russian sun specialist. Leland, a teenage Canadian boy whose skills are best with piloting drones. Eleina, a Chinese skilled hacking teenager who is also anti-social. They get their orders from Hersch, who is actually more than who she is as the story goes on.
As we're now on the story, it's serviceable as where our main leads are globetrotting to find Skinner, yet ends on a red herring. Yeah, I guess we can already talk about some of the problems of this anime, and it's certainly the story. Well, it's not a terrible plot as you're watching Lazarus going through different missions, which are a good variety of and not as much as the structure goes. It goes from getting briefing from Hersch, going to do a mission, and ending on a red herring. Thankfully, you go to different places, and it's always amazing that you get to see what the future is since twenty-four years away from our current year. The scenery is amazing as much as how each mission goes.
As we're speaking about the animation, the animation's parkour and the action are amazing. I mean, up to the next level. Chad Stahelski, the one who directed the John Wick movies, designed the action sequences. You often wonder how John Wick could work in animation, and this anime proves it. I also like the vibe of the anime itself, as the score done by saxophonist Kamasi Washington, some DJ, and musicians Bonobo and Floating Points did an amazing job with the music. Sure, the world might end, and everyone would die, but I have to admit, the vibe kept the anime going along with the action.
Remember when I've said that this anime does have its problems? We've already talked about the story being constructed on the same pattern until later on, where the story picks up on the second half of it. The other mixed problem that I have with the characters. We do learn about these characters, how they got locked up, and their backstory. However, whether you're watching this in Japanese or in English, the characters are dull most of the time. Elaine does sound boring, yet she does grow on me a little bit as the story progresses. An episode where we learn a little more about Elaine was interesting. Kinda like a cyberpunk version of Midsummer, if you ask me. I thought Leland was tolerable until he did get on my nerves most of the time. Hell, when we got to his residence as well as learned more about him, I just couldn't care less. It may sound like I'm being cynical, but I'm just being honest. It's how their writing goes.
If you ask me who I love, I love Axel, Chris, and Doug. Their writing is great, as well as learning more about them. I do find it weird that there wasn't much chemistry between Axel and Chris since they've been working more than how they would spend their free time with one another. But I digress. Hersch is okay. Knowing more about her had me mixed for a while since there's more to what she currently does when it comes to Lazarus. The side-characters are fine as they are when they have their screen time for one episode or two. Skinner is interesting as he is the one who created the drug and warned the world as to why he had done so, which was explained in the final episode. When we get to the part where we do finally find him, it is pretty lame, in my opinion, but thankfully, the anime ended on a good note. Now for the voice acting, I think it's fine. The dialogue does get a good laugh out of me, even when it's silly on its own. Mind you, they cast are as human as you and me. I did watch a bit of the Japanese, and to be honest, I just find it the same as I have seen in English. It's up to you if you want to check this anime in Japanese or in English. Or in any language if it's available.
Speaking of, I like how, in the final shot, there was a dedication of Keiko Nobumoto in memory. I'm just a sucker for when in movies and in TV shows that anyone they'd worked with who'd passed away gets an "In memory of..." moment. Especially if that's shown in bad movies. True, this isn't up there like Cowboy Bebop or Carole and Tuesday when it comes to being a masterpiece. This isn't up there on the same level as I'd found Samurai Champloo. However, I will say this is worth checking out if you're a fan of Shinichiro Watanabe's works as long as you don't mind the story being serviceable and the characters are fine on their own despite not the best writing. As a fan of his works, I find it serviceable as a whole.
I'm gonna give Lazarus five Axel with his arms wide free fallin' out of ten. 5/10.