10 Anime Like Lazarus You Must See

Created by Shinichirō Watanabe, ‘Lazarus’ is an original anime series set in a futuristic world. It opens in 2049, when neuroscientist Dr. Deniz Skinner (Koichi Yamadera) discovers a miracle drug called Hapna that relieves humans of any pain. Shortly afterward, he disappears from the face of the Earth only to resurface digitally three years later with a sinister message. In an online video, Deniz explains in 2052 that the drug has a three-year half-life and soon everyone who has taken it will die. However, he also has the formula for an antidote, and will only share it if someone can get to him first. As a result, thirty days prior to the apparent death of the first batch of Hapna users, a task force is formed. It comprises five agents (originally criminals) and is code-named Lazarus, tasked with the sole purpose of locating and apprehending Deniz against all odds.

The fast-paced action-adventure series may appear familiar to enthusiasts for its narrative and animation style. As such, the following list of anime similar to ‘Lazarus’ may help you figure out what the show reminds you of.

10. Ergo Proxy (2006)

Set in a dystopian future, ‘Ergo Proxy’ by Dai Sato reveals a place where humans and artificial intelligence co-exist. When the city of Romdeau sees a chain of murders, Inspector Re-L Mayer is called to investigate. She comes up with evidence of secret government experiments with technology that brings up questions on human rights and identity, free will, and the nature of machines and AI. What Dr. Deniz Skinner does for society’s freedom in ‘Lazarus’ is perpetrated by organizations in ‘Ergo Proxy.’

9. Black Lagoon (2006-2011)

Based on Rei Hiroe’s manga series of the same name, ‘Black Lagoon’ by Sunao Katabuchi follows Rokuro “Rock” Okajima, a 25-year-old salaried employee in Tokyo who is captured by a group of pirate mercenaries while on a business assignment. The crew is led by a US Navy veteran and comprises a Dutch sailor, a Chinese-American markswoman, and a Jewish-American mechanic and electronics expert. Calling themselves the Lagoon Company, they sail on the titular PT boat and operate out of Roanapur, a fictional Thai port city that serves as a haven for criminals.

When Rock’s company disavows him, he decides to stay with the group as a negotiator, bringing his diplomatic skills to the table and adapting them for criminal endeavors. The Lagoon Company takes on high-risk missions and frequently finds themselves in violent confrontations. The experiences mirror what Lazarus goes through in search of the mad scientist.

8. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002-2005)

From the mind of Masamune Shirow, ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’ takes place in 2030 in the futuristic New Port City. The narrative centers around a special-operations task force called Public Security Section 9. Comprising former military officers and police detectives, the team investigates cybercrime and terrorism cases. As is the case with ‘Lazarus,’ the team of protagonists works with the lives of many innocents hanging in the balance. However, ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’ has a more sombre tone and tech-heavy world-building, while ‘Lazarus’ takes a more laid-back approach.

7. Blame! (2017)

Hiroyuki Seshita directed the Netflix movie ‘Blame!’ based on the manga series of the same name by Tsutomu Nihei. Set in the distant future, the narrative tells of a time when humans have been declared “illegal residents” by the machines and are hunted to extinction. A group of human scavengers comes across a lone wanderer named Killy, who is in search of people with the “Net Terminal Gene” to stop mankind from being eradicated. Both ‘Blame!’ and ‘Lazarus’ deal with the future of humanity coming into jeopardy, and a ragtag team attempting to save the world.

6. Akudama Drive (2020)

Originally called ‘Akudama Doraibu,’ ‘Akudama Drive’ is set in a bright futuristic world of robots and holograms. A mysterious entity tricks a group of high-end criminals into embarking on a dangerous mission in exchange for a hefty reward. However, failure leads them to lose their lives. Much like ‘Lazarus,’ the criminally talented team of individuals comes together in the face of imminent death. Moreover, both hold in their hands the opportunity to set the future path of human civilization.

5. Psycho-Pass (2012-2019)

From the mind of Gen Urobuchi, ‘Psycho-Pass’ is set in a dystopian future where Japan uses the Sibyl System to monitor people’s mental states and prevent crimes from ever happening. When newly appointed Inspector in the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, Akane Tsunemori, learns the ropes of the system in place, she is confronted by the moral dilemma of allowing technology to box human behavior. As with the miracle drug in ‘Lazarus,’ the people living in the ‘Psycho-Pass’ world have their fate pre-determined by an external entity.

4. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ is created by Mike Pondsmith and Rafal Jaki based on the video game ‘Cyberpunk 2077.’ The events take place at a time in the future when it is common for humans to have modified prosthetics that help them better perform everyday tasks, or give in to their whims. However, crime rates go through the roof with the advancement in technology and the increased usage of recreational drugs. As in ‘Lazarus,’ the show focuses on a group of criminals who are brought together by the tough times. However, they have no intention of saving the world and only want to line their own pockets by whatever means necessary.

3. Pluto (2023)

Pluto, adapted from the manga by Naoki Urasawa and based on Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy arc ‘The Greatest Robot on Earth,’ was produced by Studio M2 under the supervision of Makoto Tezuka. In the story, Europol robot detective Gesicht is tasked with solving a series of robot and human deaths across the world. What makes it baffling is that preliminary investigations suggest a robot is responsible for the murders. Set in a futuristic world like ‘Lazarus,’ ‘Pluto’ also revolves around finding a hidden killer, though the perpetrator may not be a human being in this case.

2. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2000)

Also created by Shinichirō Watanabe, ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is an anime Space Western set in 2071 where a group of bounty hunters called “Cowboys” travel across the solar system on their spaceship “Bebop.” The oddly assorted group includes former hitman Spike Spiegel, ex-cop Jet Black, amnesiac con artist Faye Valentine, genius hacker Radical Edward, and genetically engineered dog Ein. The purpose of their travels is to chase down high-value targets, and the situations they get themselves into are similar to what the ‘Lazarus’ face in pursuit of the deranged scientist.

1. Terror in Resonance (2014)

Once again helmed by Shinichirō Watanabe, ‘Terror in Resonance’ follows two teenage boys who steal a prototype atomic bomb and threaten to set it off in Tokyo. Calling themselves “Sphinx,” they upload a video online and challenge people to solve a cryptic riddle, which they share is the only way to stop the detonation. The anime closely mirrors ‘Lazarus,’ from threatening human existence to a cryptic video setting a task to prevent the apocalypse from happening. However, ‘Terror in Resonance’ differs from the latter in that it is told from the viewpoint of the perpetrators.