The spring 2018 issue of Shueisha's kotoba magazine will include an interview with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki as part of a " Blade Runner 2019-2049" feature when it ships on March 6. The feature includes discussion of the 1982 Blade Runner and the Blade Runner 2049 sequel that debuted last year. Philosophers, film directors, authors, and scientists contributed comments for the feature.

In the feature, Araki discussed Blade Runner's impact on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Araki made his debut as a manga creator in 1980, two years before the American film premiered. Blade Runner inspired Araki's work around that time, and he described various influences the film has had on his work. He also said in the interview, "I want to make manga that are like films."

Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga launched in 1987. He said that Blade Runner's Roy Batty, as portrayed by Rutger Hauer, influenced the character DIO in his manga. In particular, he mentioned how Batty's short blond hair and muscular build influenced DIO.

The magazine also conducted interviews with anime directors Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and Shinji Higuchi (live-action Shin Godzilla, Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo films) for the feature. Watanabe directed the "Blade Runner: Black Out 2022" short that debuted with the Blade Runner 2049 film in Japan last year.

Source: Comic Natalie