Making of Lazarus

A behind-the-scenes conversation with Shinichiro Watanabe on the making of his new Adult Swim anime Lazarus, exploring its action, world-building and groundbreaking score. This in-depth creator-to-creator dialogue will feature Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Lazarus (MAPPA) fame onstage with LeSean Thomas, together exploring the creative DNA of Lazarus—from its kinetic action choreography and intricate world-building to its score by Kamasi Washington and Bonobo. With Thomas’s own experience creating and directing his original anime Yasuke (MAPPA), the two will explore how Lazarus came to life. They’ll examine Watanabe’s process and the challenges of crafting an auteur-driven series in Japan. Hear how tone, pacing and production design all influenced Lazarus’s world, discover how collaborating with musical luminaries Kamasi Washington, Floating Points and Bonobo contributed to the shape of Lazarus, and delve into directorial vision, freedom and trust. This is a rare chance for students, professionals and anime and animation fans to hear a candid conversation from creators about what goes into making a blockbuster anime.

Featuring:

Shinichiro Watanabe – Creator, Lazarus & Cowboy Bebop
Shinichiro Watanabe is an anime director, screenwriter and music producer. He made his directorial debut as co-director of Macross Plus and has since directed numerous series titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, Space Dandy, Terror in Resonance and Carole & Tuesday  as well as shorts for The Animatrix – Kid’s Story, A Detective Story and Blade Runner – Black Out 2022. His latest series is Adult Swim’s Lazarus.

LeSean Thomas — Creator, Yasuke & Cannon Busters; Founder, Curator & Host, Foreign Exchange
Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is among the distinguished few Black Americans making their mark in the TV anime industry and is currently the only Black American to successfully create, produce and direct original TV anime series in Japan. His journey began with notable projects such as The Boondocks, Black Dynamite: The Animated Series and The Legend of Korra. These foundational experiences paved the way for his move to Japan, where he created and directed works such as Crunchyroll’s Children of Ether and Netflix’s Cannon Busters. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically-acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. Building on his cross-cultural career, Thomas founded, curates and hosts Foreign Exchange, a platform for dialogue between U.S. and Japanese anime creators.

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas Foreign Exchange explores the cross-cultural dialogue between Japan and the U.S. through the popular arts. Join us for a weekend of talks and screenings with trailblazing anime visionaries Shinichiro Watanabe, Justin Leach and LeSean Thomas.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc. Foreign Exchange promotional support is provided by a grant from the New York City Tourism Foundation.

Japan Society’s Japanese Literature Series is generously supported by a grant from the Toshiba International Foundation, and All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., the official airline partner of the series.

Film programs are generously supported by Anime NYC, ORIX Corporation USA, and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by Jono Abrams and Elizabeth Linn, Ayumi Arafune, Darin Arita and Kanako Arita, Mike Audet, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Catanzaro, The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, Akiko Koide and Shohei Koide, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, Japan Society Film Council, and other Film supporters.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.

Support for cultural programs is provided by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund; Jean Fan Colson and Daniel Colson; and Faith L. Taylor.

Japan Society arts and culture programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).