Lazarus, Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe‘s newest sci-fi anime series on Adult Swim, is the talk of the town in anime circles. A lot of the online chatter has focused on the compare-contrast territory between Watanabe’s two shows. But regarding Lazarus itself, some fans have noticed differences between the Japanese and U.S. releases, leaving them wondering if they are missing out on a potentially superior version of the series.
An X/Twitter post by user SaeIssho points out scenes from Lazarus protagonist Axel Gilberto’s parkour prison escape in the anime’s premiere episode seem to have added frames and improved compositing polish in the Japanese version. The tweet, which has garnered over 91,000 views, has ignited curiosity among fans about whether the remaining 12 episodes will feature similar subtle differences and if it might be worth waiting for the Japanese language version of the show set to release on Adult Swim and Max in May.
It seems Lazarus has two different versions, with the Japanese one being the most complete. For instance some scenes in the Japanese version are about twice as long in terms of key frames, and there are noticeable differences in compositing choices across various parts of the EP. pic.twitter.com/jLR264Zojq
— Sae (@SaeIssho) April 7, 2025
Given all the recent turmoil over stuff like the Nintendo Switch 2 having a cheaper, Japanese-only version; general anxiety over vibe-based tariffs, and China reinforcing the proverbial inward barbwire gate over the U.S. with limited releases of films like A Minecaft Movie; anime fans’ nagging sense of FOMO over Watanabe’s return to sci-fi isn’t completely left-field.
However, a source familiar with the matter has clarified the apparent difference between the shows—and it seems anime fans have nothing to worry about.
Speaking with io9, a source close to the show’s production says minor tweaks were made to the U.S. and Japanese broadcast versions of Lazarus to pass the Harding test—an automatic test for flashing and patterns that could trigger photosensitivity and epilepsy. Think the infamous Pokémon Porygon episode, where a lightning bolt flash reportedly triggered over 700 alleged instances of nausea, dizziness, headaches, and photosensitivity-triggered seizures in audiences across Japan back in 1997.
According to the source, minor tweaks were implemented in both versions of Lazarus to adhere to the Harding test. They include dropping a few animation frames and slightly darkening numerous shots. The source stressed that neither animation nor redone composites were added to either show version, and Watanabe approved all updates. Mystery solved. Though, knowing the anime community, fans will probably still rewatch the Japanese language version of Lazarus for the chance to hear Cowboy Bebop alumni voice actors like Koichi Yamadera (Spike Spiegel) and Megumi Hayashibara (Faye Valentine) as Dr. Skinner and Herch, respectively.
In our review of Lazarus’ first five episodes, we said the anime has the juice, writing “Lazarus firmly establishes itself as a series capable of delivering a compelling anime without compromising on animation quality, musical score, or thematic depth in its early goings.” Hopefully, the show will continue its winning momentum to its final episode.
New episodes of Lazarus premiere every Saturday night on Adult Swim, with next-day streaming on Max.
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