Lazarus episode 1 release date and time, where to watch, and more

Lazarus episode 1 will come out on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 11.45 pm JST. This is the most recent production of highly-acclaimed director Shinichiro Watanabe, known for cult anime classics such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, who is now collaborating with Studio MAPPA and John Wick director Chad Stahelski, with the latter in charge of the action sequences.

The story takes place in the year 2052, in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, with a man named Dr. Skinner revealing that the cure he created that could heal any disease has a side effect that will kill people in three years. Lazarus episode 1 is going to explain a lot more details of the cure, Hapuna and the formation of the titular task force which is going to have the mission of finding Skinner, with the protagonist Axel getting involved in this situation.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Lazarus series. Any opinion expressed belongs to the author.

Lazarus episode 1 release date and time for all regions

A sample of the first episode (Image via MAPPA).

As was mentioned earlier, and based on the release date that has been published across the production's social media platforms and website, Lazarus episode 1 is set to debut next week on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 11.45 pm JST across different regions, with release times for other parts of the world listed in the table below:

Time Zone	Release Time	Release Day	Release Date
Pacific Time	7:45 am	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Central Time	9:45 am	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Eastern Time	10:45 am	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Greenwich Mean Time	2:45 pm	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Central European Time	4:45 pm	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Indian Standard Time	8:15 pm	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Philippine Time	10:45 pm	Sunday	April 6, 2025
Australia Central Time	12:15 am	Monday	April 7, 2025

Where to watch Lazarus episode 1?

Axel, the protagonist, as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA).

For those anime fans who are living in Japan and want to see the new Shinichiro Watanabe anime, they can watch it on the platform known as TXN (TV Tokyo).

On the other hand, when it comes to those international anime fans who want to see this Studio MAPPA production, they can stream the English-subbed version of Lazarus episode 1, and can tune in to Adult Swim on Toonami.

The premise of the series

Axel as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA).

As was previously stated, the story takes place in the year 2052 and there was a man named Dr. Skinner who seemed to have created a cure that heals any possible disease. The name of this cure is Hapuna and turned Skinner into a hero for society, but he then returns to the spotlight several years later and reveals that it has a massive side effect, causing people to live only three more years.

It is revealed in the story that Dr. Skinner has gone mad and decides to hide away after this revelation, with the authorities coming up with a team named Lazarus to face this situation. This includes people capable enough to work as a task force, possibly including the protagonist of the series, who happens to be a former convict named Axel.

Axel has escaped from prison several times and becomes a part of the team for this series. However, as they get closer to Skinner, more details of the latter's plans are going to be revealed.

What to expect from Lazarus episode 1?

Expand Tweet

Lazarus episode 1 is titled Goodbye Cruel World. The premiere will begin with a focus on a world in despair as the drug Hapuna, which everyone thinks is their savior, turns out to be a deadly poison. So, to capture the drug's creator, Dr Skinner, Hirsch visits the prison to save Axel.

After a brief conversation, Axel escapes prison to capture Dr Skinner. To subdue Axel, four people are sent after him. These 5 then engage in parkours as Axel tries his best to make an escape and continue his plan to capture the evil scientist.

Related articles:

About the author

Kevin is an expert anime writer at Sportskeeda who endeavors to keep readers apprised with the latest news and trends in the genre via his content. The groundbreaking Dragon Ball series captured a young Kevin's imagination, introducing him to the entrancing world of Japanese animation. Since then, he has been a staunch follower of the works of many artists, including Berserk's creator, Kentaro Miura, who he admires greatly for his unparalleled work quality.

With a BA in Public Accounting, Kevin’s dip into the world of content began 7 years ago when he took up writing. Since then, he has written for numerous websites, including Nerdgenic, Stretty News, MusikHolics, and BookNerdection.

He maintains very high ethical standards in his content by placing a strong emphasis on transparency, and obtaining comprehensive information off the web to fully capture nuances.

Kevin has has had the privilege of interviewing several musicians, including metal band Stryper’s Michael Sweet, Bobby Blitz of Overkill, and Saxon’s Biff Byford.

When not immersed in the anime world, Kevin writes comic book scripts and books for his own projects. He also enjoys reading and watching football.

Know More

Edited by Sezal Srivastava