Lazarus, Baby Blue & A Girl Meets a Boy and a Robot

Introduction by Shinichiro Watanabe. Creator Shinichiro Watanabe hosts an evening of three special screenings as part of the Foreign Exchange. Beginning with the first episode of Adult Swim’s Lazarus, his latest anime series, it continues with two short films personally selected by Watanabe rarely seen in the U.S.

Lazarus – Episode 1 – Goodbye Cruel World

Marking Watanabe’s return to the sci-fi genre, Lazarus is a pulse-pounding thriller about a miracle drug, Hapna, that presumably frees anyone who takes it from all pain. However, it is revealed that Hapna has a fatal consequence: all who have taken the drug will die. With only 30 days to save humanity, a group of agents must find a vaccine before all is lost. Lazarus features action sequences designed by director Chad Stahelski (John Wick) and a captivating score by renowned jazz and electronic artists including jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington (West Coast Get Down); producer, DJ, and musician Floating Points (Floating Points Ensemble); and producer, DJ and musician Bonobo.

Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe, 2025, 24 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Mamoru Miyano, Makoto Furukawa, Maaya Uchida.

Baby Blue

Part of the Studio 4°C anthology project Genius Party that brought together creators including Shinichiro Watanabe, Masaaki Yuasa, Shoji Kawamori and Mahiro Maeda. Baby Blue follows two childhood friends who skip school for a chaotic adventure involving a street gang and stolen grenades. Amid the frenzy, they confront their unspoken feelings for each other.

Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe, 2007, 15 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Rinko Kikuchi, Yuya Yagira.

A Girl Meets a Boy and a Robot

Part of the anthology project Edge of Time, a Chinese production telling four animated tales by directors from Japan, China and U.S. A girl and a robot without memories wander the ruins of the world that once was, where the remnants of automated technology continue to function despite their human masters being gone.The two travel into the city, where they meet a brave youth living a feral existence, and together they try to discover their forgotten pasts.

Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe, 2022, 20 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Misaki Kuno, Koichi Yamadera, Yuma Uchida.

Introduction By:

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.

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.

Foreign Exchange All-Access Ticket
Join us all weekend with an All-Access Ticket. This ticket includes admission to all public talks and screenings. Limited availability.

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).