SHINICHIRO WATANABE

Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the most influential figures in global anime—and for good reason. He’s the original creator and director of iconic titles like Cowboy Bebop (1998), the space western that became a cult classic and was adapted into a live-action series by Netflix in 2021.

The adventures of Spike and his crew marked the beginning of Watanabe’s remarkable career, which would later bring us Samurai Champloo (2004), Kids on the Slope (2012), Terror in Resonance (2014), Space Dandy (2014), and Carole & Tuesday (2019)—series in which the Japanese director blends drama, science fiction, and comedy, always with music at the heart of the story. His collaborations with artists like Yoko Kanno and the late Nujabes are central to his unique audiovisual storytelling.

In 2025, Watanabe returns with Lazarus, a sci-fi series set in the year 2052, produced by MAPPA for Adult Swim and streaming on HBO Max. With action scenes choreographed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick) and a stunning soundtrack featuring Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points, Lazarus brings together all of Watanabe’s creative passions.

And the best part: we’ll get to experience it firsthand at MANGA BARCELONA, where Shinichiro Watanabe will appear for the very first time to present Lazarus and reflect on his extraordinary career.