So, tell me… do androids dream of electric sheep?
Crunchyroll and Adult Swim announced that they are joining forces with Alcon Television Group to produce an anime series based on Blade Runner 2049. The series, titled Blade Runner – Black Lotus will be a 13-episode series from Ultraman studio Sola Digital Arts.
Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed, Megazone 23 III) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East) will direct the project, with Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe serving as a creative producer.
Alcon’s Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Laura Lancaster, Al-Francis Cuenca, and Sola Digital Art’s Joseph Chou are attached as executive producers. Alcon’s Ben Roberts is listed as a co-executive producer, while Production IG’s Mitsuhisa Ishikawa is serves as production advisor.
Adult Swim holds the global rights to the English dub for Blade Runner – Black Lotus outside of Asia. Crunchyroll will stream the series worldwide.
As of press time, details have not been announced for the title, but confirmed that hte title “will take place in 2032 and will include some familiar characters from the BLADE RUNNER universe.”
Adult Swim Senior Vice President and Jason DeMarco commented on the news:
I first saw BLADE RUNNER in 1982, at age 11. It has remained one of the defining films of my life […] To be able to explore more of this universe, with the incredible talent we have on board, is a dream come true.
Crunchyroll head of business development Sae When Song also issued commentary on the project, stating:
BLADE RUNNER is a seminal work, and its influence permeates the genre […] Adult Swim shares our excitement to bring this new series to fans, and we’re looking forward to building on this franchise together.
In 2017, Crunchyroll and VRV hosted the world premiere of Blade Runner Black Out 2022. Shinichiro Watanabe is pulled double duty on the title as screenwriter and director at Cygames Pictures. Shukou Murase (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Argento Soma) provided character designs, while Flying Lotus scored the soundtrack.
Source: Crunchyroll (Press Release)
