THE REPLICANT UPGRADE OF BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS By TREVOR HOGG
Images courtesy of Alcon Entertainment, Adult Swim and Crunchyroll. TOP: Introduced into the weaponry found in the Blade Runner universe is the katana wielded by Elle. OPPOSITE TOP: A character that also appears in Blade Runner 2049 is Niander Wallace Jr. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Elle attempts to uncover her past and why she is being hunted.
As part of the marketing surrounding the release of Blade Runner 2049, a trio of shorts were produced to explain the significant events that occurred between the sequel and the original Blade Runner, which was set in 2019. Alcon Entertainment partnered with Sola Digital Arts for the anime installment Blade Runner: Black Out 2022. The two studios have reunited and are working with Warner Bros. TV, Adult Swim and Crunchyroll to produce Blade Runner: Black Lotus, which revolves around a katanawielding amnesiac attempting to uncover her past and the reason why she is being hunted. “Alcon picked Sola Digital Arts to work with, as they had had a great experience with them previously on the Black Out 2022 anime short, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe,” states Jason DeMarco, Senior Vice President of Anime & Action Series/ Longform for Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, who was the development executive overseeing the project. “Watanabe suggested that if Sola were onboard for the series, he would like to be involved. And I don’t say ‘no’ to Watanabe!” “Alcon took their time building the story over many months and several writers,” explains DeMarco. “The intention was always to create an animated TV series. Everyone involved in the creation of the show are huge fans of both of the films. Honoring those [involved] meant putting our blood, sweat and tears into making sure the world of Los Angeles in 2032 felt like Blade Runner. In terms of creating something distinct, we thought the opportunity to center on a female character and bring some of the existing
62 • VFXVOICE.COM SPRING 2022
PG 62-67 BLACK LOTUS.indd 62
2/28/22 1:38 PM
