Adult Swim and Crunchyroll have joined forces with Alcon Television Group, a division of Alcon Entertainment, to produce and distribute a new anime series called BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS that is set to feature top creators from Japan.





Inspired by the critically acclaimed Oscar-winning film BLADE RUNNER 2049, BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS will feature thirteen 30-minute episodes produced by animation studio Sola Digital Arts (Ultraman).





Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex) will direct all episodes of the premiere season. Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) is a creative producer.





While BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS’ plot is being kept under wraps for now, producers have confirmed the story will take place in the year 2032 and will include some familiar characters from the BLADE RUNNER universe.





Two Blade Runners: the original (at left) and the recent follow-up (at right)

BLADE RUNNER began life in 1968 as a visionary science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick titled “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” The novel was adapted into the classic BLADE RUNNER film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford in 1982. The franchise was revived in 2017 with the long awaited follow-up BLADE RUNNER 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve. As part of 2049’s promotion, an anime short film, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, BLADE RUNNER BLACK OUT 2022, was also released. It is also currently available for viewing on Crunchyroll.





Key art for BLADE RUNNER BLACK OUT 2022 (2017)





While a release date for the new BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS has not yet been announced, Adult Swim will air the English dubbed episodes on its Toonami programming block. Meanwhile, Crunchyroll will handle worldwide streaming.





BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS is one of several upcoming exciting collaborations between Adult Swim and Crunchyroll, including the recently debuted Mob Psycho 100 on Toonami.

Stay tuned to Crunchyroll News for more updates on BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS as they arrive!