Crunchyroll, in partnership with Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, and Alcon Television Group, announced that they will be producing a Blade Runner anime series! The series will be officially titled Blade Runner – Black Lotus and will take place in the year 2032, featuring many popular characters from the Blade Runner universe. The announcement stated that thirteen 30-minute episodes have been green-lit for the series, which was inspired by the Oscar-winning Blade Runner 2049 movie.
Blade Runner – Black Lotus has an all-star cast behind the scenes to help make this series happen. The studio in charge of the animation will be Sola Digital Arts, who were responsible for the Ultraman series. Shinji Aramaki from Appleseed and Kenji Kamiyama from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex have been attached to direct the first thirteen episodes. Shinichiro Watanabe from Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo is signed on as a creative producer. Alcon’s Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Laura Lancaster, Al-Francis Cuenca, and Sola Digital Art’s Joseph Chou will executive produce the project. Alcon exec Ben Roberts will serve as co-executive producer. Production IG’s Mitsuhisa Ishikawa is participating as production advisor.
“I first saw BLADE RUNNER in 1982, at age 11. It has remained one of the defining films of my life,” said Jason DeMarco, svp/creative director of Adult Swim on-air. “To be able to explore more of this universe, with the incredible talent we have on board, is a dream come true.”
“BLADE RUNNER is a seminal work, and its influence permeates the genre,” said Sae Whan Song, head of business development for Crunchyroll. “Adult Swim shares our excitement to bring this new series to fans, and we’re looking forward to building on this franchise together.”
At this time, a release date, full plot, and voice cast have not been announced as of yet but with the star power already attached behind the scenes, fans of the Blade Runner franchise should have plenty to be excited for!
