Key Takeaways
- Watanabe’s anime series (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, etc.) are part of the same universe.
- All stories occur in the same world but at different times/places.
- Fans can expect familiar faces and references in the upcoming anime Lazarus, set in the 2050s.
In a recent interview with ANN, director Shinichiro Watanabe, creator of series like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, talked about his upcoming anime, Lazarus, made alongside John Wick director Chad Stahelski. He talked about many things, including how he and Stahelski ended up working together (Watanabe is a John Wick fan), his music taste (he would like to collaborate with Billie Eilish), his career, and so on.
Anyway, despite focusing on his upcoming work, one thing that stands out is a revelation made right at the beginning of the interview: Watanabe revealed that all his anime take place in the same universe. This means that, for Watanabe himself, Cowboy Bebop, Carole & Tuesday, Samurai Champloo, Terror in Resonance, Space Dandy and Lazarus are all a small part of the history of a larger universe. A few fans pointed out that Watanabe’s series share the same currency, Woolong, and it’s not uncommon for the latest series to make references to older ones.
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What Does it All Actually Mean?
Not That Much If You Don’t Want It To
Well, while the same currency and small references may point to a shared universe, all it really means is that the creator imagines these stories as taking place in the same world, although in different times/places. As if they are all part of the history of the same reality.
It does not mean, though, that Watanabe has bigger plans to strongly connect these stories to each other. It may be something more like your life and the life of a random person living in Egypt back in 60 BC. Same universe, same world, different times, totally different stories and not necessarily related in any way (in this case, you don’t even share the same currency).
It could mean though that we might see references to his previous works in Lazarus. Considering we know it is the same universe, the story takes place around 20 years before Cowboy Bebop. It does not mean Watanabe wanted to do a prequel to Cowboy Bebop, but we might see familiar faces (maybe a younger Spike?).
It’s better not to expect the show to be a big Cowboy Bebop reference, but it is possible there will be some. But fans can also just ignore the shared universe if they want to, as the series work just fine as independent and unrelated stories.
The Upcoming Lazarus
A Long-Awaited Collaboration Between Watanabe and Stahelski
Lazarus was announced as an Adult Swim original show, slated for 2025, but the exact premiere date is yet to be announced. It takes place in the 2050s and follows a scientist, Dr. Skinner, trying to find a vaccine for a drug that was believed to be a “miracle drug”. The vaccine is named Lazarus (likely a reference to the biblical Lazarus, but who knows if the David Bowie album also served as inspiration).
Cowboy Bebop
and
Samurai Champloo
are available to stream on Cruchyroll and Hulu (there is also a 2021 Cowboy Bebop live-action series on Netflix). Lazarus will premiere on Adult Swim in 2025 and will likely also be added to Max.
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This iconic anime series is now available on Blu-ray and follows the adventures of the laid-back bounty hunter, Spike Spiegel, and his diverse crew as they navigate a futuristic, jazz-infused world. Fueled by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack, Cowboy Bebop blends action, mystery, and noir elements, offering a fun space-western anime.
