A new Blade Runner anime series has just been announced by Adult Swim! This has been one hell of a week for anime fans. First, the entirety of EVA (Neon Genesis Evangelion) was announced that it will be added to Netflix in the spring, then the long-rumored Cowboy Bebop live-action adaptation was finally greenlit (also by Netflix).
Now we get news that a new Blade Runner anime series title Blade Runner — Black Lotus will be on its way as well. Let’s look at what we know about this new series - including one legendary anime name already attached.
A Blade Runner Anime Series
First off, we can offer a pretty insightful glimpse into what this new Blade Runner anime series will look like because, well, it’s already been done. Blade Runner Black Out 2022 was released as a prologue to Blade Runner 2049 and was directed by anime legend Shinichirō Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo fame.
Shinichirō Watanabe’s Blade Runner
This new series - Blade Runner — Black Lotus - is also set to be directed by Watanabe and Shinji Aramaki and will span 13 episodes at first. It will also reunite Watanabe with composer Flying Lotus (with an obvious nod in the title) who did the soundtrack for Blade Runner Black Out 2022.
The Future of Blade Runner
For fans of the franchise (is it fair to call it a franchise now?) this is good news for the possible prospects of another Blade Runner feature - or perhaps a feature spinoff of this anime series. Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve has reportedly said on many occasions that a third sequel is indeed possible. Hopefully this new series will keep the iron hot for more Blade Runners in the future.
