Blade Runner Anime Series in the Works for Adult Swim & Crunchyroll

Alcon Television Group is set to produce and distribute a Blade Runner 2049-inspired anime series with Adult Swim and Crunchyroll.

Adult Swim will have the worldwide rights (excluding Asia) to distribute the English-dubbed versions of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and will air the episodes on its anime programming block Toonami. Crunchyroll will handle worldwide streaming. The series, produced by animation studio Sola Digital Arts, will feature 13×30-minute episodes. Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) will direct all episodes of its debut season.

“I first saw Blade Runner in 1982, at age 11. It has remained one of the defining films of my life,” said Jason DeMarco, senior VP and creative director of Adult Swim on-air. “To be able to explore more of this universe, with the incredible talent we have on board, is a dream come true.”

“Blade Runner is a seminal work, and its influence permeates the genre,” added Sae Whan Song, head of business development for Crunchyroll. “Adult Swim shares our excitement to bring this new series to fans, and we’re looking forward to building on this franchise together.”