Polygon.com / 06.05.25
John Wick's director breaks down how he got to design action on Lazarus, the funnest job' he's ever done
When two artists who admire each others work unexpectedly get to collaborate, its a wonderful thing. Thats exactly what happened when anime legend Shinichir Watanabe and his team reached out to John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski and his team. Watanabe was hoping someone at Stahelskis boutique Hollywood action studio 87eleven would be able to give some pointers for the action design of his upcoming anime Lazarus. Stahelskis response? Fuck that, Ill do it, he recalled to Polygon in a video interview. This surprised Watanabe, who brought up that the show didnt exactly have the budget to bring in a top-level Hollywood team for the action. But Stahelski told him not to worry about the cost, because of his longtime love of Watanabes work. Stahelskis only condition: He wanted to be deeply immersed in the process. Watanabes Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo are two of the most influential of the many building blocks that make up Stahelskis style, and this was an opportunity to work cl...
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