Ever since it debuted, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) has been a cult classic. With so many ways to approach the film, it makes sense that it would amass a cult following that has only grown over time. Shortly before the films sequel released in 2017 though, the studio tried their hand at an animated prequel miniseries. Done in the Japanese anime style, these spinoff shorts actually proved to be quite successful. Since then, fans have often felt as though the series would be nicely suited for an anime series.
Thankfully, it has recently been announced that the world of Blade Runner will be making a return once again. Shortly after announcing the live-action Cowboy Bebop series, director Shinichiro Watanabe also confirmed that a full anime Blade Runner series is also in development. Though this is exciting news, it is almost surprising that it hasn’t happened sooner. To help prepare for the series, here is our list of 10 reasons Blade Runner should become an anime series.
10 The World is Perfect For it
The world of Blade Runner is an incredibly vast one that has scarcely been explored. Fans know a little bit about how technology came to such an advanced point, but little else is known about the world in general. Likewise, in both films thus far, very little of the future has actually been shown.
At the moment, both Blade Runner and Blade Runner: 2049 (2017) have taken place primarily in Los Angeles. While 2049 shows a bit more outside the city, an anime series could easily explore other aspects of the U.S. or even the entire world. Furthermore, seeing how other cultures respond to the advanced tech and replicants would be a very intriguing thing to witness.
9 There are Similar Anime Already Out There
Anime tends to have a bit of something for everyone. Just because someone doesn’t like one series, doesn’t mean that they won’t like the next. Because of this, other anime have already come out that are very similar to Blade Runner both tonally and in terms of concept. Looking specifically at Psycho-Pass for example, the series is set in a futuristic Japan where technology has advanced to where individuals can be arrested based on their mental state.
Though the series itself is more similar to Minority Report (2002) than Blade Runner in terms of actual story, there are still some great and similar characters between them. Furthermore, Psycho-Pass is very similar to Blade Runner tonally, juggling a nice balance between dark and gritty and science fiction adventure. Though that is just one example alone, there are still plenty of other anime series out there that fall similarly to Blade Runner.
8 The Aesthetic Would Work Great
Blade Runner has always been praised for its unique and intricate set design. Not only does it look futuristic, but the designs are also very believable. Likewise, a lot of these elements would feel right at home in an anime art style.
Depending on how the artists choose to do it, the visuals of the Blade Runner world could be some of the most visually interesting and beautiful designs. Furthermore, depending on the time frame the story would take place, artists and animators could put their own unique spin on the architecture, technology, etc.
7 It Has Already Gotten the Anime Treatment
Shortly before the release of Blade Runner: 2049, animated shorts began to air, covering small details and showing certain events that take place between the two live-action films. Going about 15 minutes each, these 3 shorts introduced audiences to new characters and also developed the world further, all while maintaining a cohesive plot in such a short amount of time.
Each short has little to do with the others, but they are all still connected in some ways. Likewise, the animation was incredibly gorgeous and all 3 shorts received high praise. Though they weren’t necessary for audiences to enjoy 2049, they still did a great job of showcasing what the world of Blade Runner can be, especially as an anime series.
6 There are Plenty of Great Characters to Explore
Both Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling have done great jobs with their respective characters. Not only were the two of them very compelling, but each played a similar role in a great, but different way from the other. While an anime series could easily explore further adventures of Rick Deckard or K, there are still plenty of other characters within the world who were very intriguing. Even Jared Leto’s Niander Wallace or Edward James Olmos’ Gaff would make great candidates for an anime series.
Furthermore, There are still any number of characters that audiences haven’t even been introduced to yet just because they can operate in the timeline between both films. With such a large gap between them, who knows how many characters an anime series would be able to explore?
5 It Can Get Very Weird
Many Americans who have never seen an anime series before often note how weird it is at first. With so much anime out there in the world, a lot of the more popular ones do have a tendency to highlight sexual themes, break the laws of physics, etc. Fortunately, Blade Runner is already close to the bounds of the weird, making it ideal for an anime series.
Though there was a lot of sexual content in 2049, an anime series wouldn’t even have to go there if it didn’t want to. Instead, it could emphasize the other weird technological advances and how humans have formed relationships with them. The great thing about Blade Runner is that it is already in a spot where creators could make it even weirder, or make it as serious as they want to. Regardless, it is still another reason Blade Runner is worthy of an anime spin-off.
4 It Can Take Place at Virtually Any Time Period
One thing that an anime series could easily explore would be in how the world even came to be in the first place. The original film implies certain things and the original book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, implies things as well. However, certain gaps could still be filled in, showing everything leading up to the opening sequence of the original film.
Furthermore, the series could easily explore events that take place after 2049, focusing on another replicant officer or literally anyone else. While they could also explore the time period in between, the shorts have already done that, though it would be nice to go a bit more in depth. Overall, the possibilities are endless, giving the creators all sorts of opportunities.
3 There are Already Many Strong Characters
As mentioned previously, Deckard and K could easily continue to be the focus of an anime adaptation. Deckard in particular would be great because the series could explore what happened to his character during the 30 years he was gone. While K’s story has pretty much been told already, there is still a lot they could cover, especially if they were to focus on his time as an officer.
While there are arguably better characters to focus on within the universe, the ones that have already been established still have a lot to tell. With Deckard especially, there are all sorts of stories across every era of Blade Runner that can be told.
2 It is Already Great Sci-Fi
While there are plenty of sub-genres of anime, science fiction tends to be an incredibly common element in many shows, at least to some degree. Because of that, it would make perfect sense for Blade Runner to see an adaptation. There is such a large number of ways that the anime creators could spin the sci-fi elements, either by adding their own or developing the lore behind some already established technologies.
Likewise, setting the story even further in the future would also be a great way for them to develop their own ideas. Overall, it is pretty clear that almost everything about Blade Runner makes it perfectly suited for an anime series.
1 It Already Has an Established Fan Base
Going beyond the mechanics of the Blade Runner world itself, the franchise already has a very strong fanbase. The original remains a cult classic, especially with 4 different cuts of the movie. Considering how fans continue to go to screenings and support the film, it is pretty clear that there is definitely an audience for a spinoff.
Even the sequel received great praise, despite a more underwhelming box office performance. If the studio could already assemble a great anime version of the Blade Runner universe, it would definitely make sense for them to push to continue with it.