There is noBlade Runnercinematic universe; however, as one of the most significant works in sci-fi film history, its two movie entries share a specific neo-noir DNA that’s fairly easy to spot. That is not the case forBlade Runner: Black Lotus, a Crunchyroll and Adult Swimanimeproduction that, much like Deckard and K, has more than a few identity problems.
Black Lotusdoes indeed reference previousBlade Runnercharacters and events, meaning its problems lie not at the hearts of the show’s premise, but at the precision of its execution. That is because, although this new adventure in Philip K. Dick’s world should meet expectations, perhaps due to fans being spoiled by marvelous filmmaking seen in the past, it finds itself awkwardly standing in between the two films as an anime oddity.
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First Impressions Are Everything
BothBlade Runnermovies start off with cinematic shots that take audiences by the hand as they slowly walk in the dystopian landscape that dominates these worlds — but notBlack Lotus. The CGI anime instead introduces Elle, its unambiguously replicant protagonist who, despite suffering from amnesia, does not keep the viewer guessing as to her exact nature, unlike her predecessors.
This marksBlack Lotus’biggest commitment: the desire to pursue character development much more than it does its world-building, a decision that is probably better suited to the anime due to limitations that the CGI style brings upon it. WhileBlack Out 2022provedBlade Runnercould make the jump to animation, it did so with traditional anime aesthetics rather than the antiquated graphicsBlack Lotusadopts.
Regardless of the vast budget differences between hand-drawn 2D anime and this type of 3D modeling, the sad reality is that the CGI inBlack Lotusdoes notdoBlade Runnerjustice. In their respective efforts, both Ridley Scott and Denis Villeneuve managed to put together some of the best visual spectacles of their era, meaning if one is to make aBlade Runnerspinoff, it’s key to get the look right.
Black Lotushas received harsh criticism from some fans since the release of its first trailer, and after the show’s completion, it’s fair to say that both its rendition of a futuristic Los Angeles and the characters that inhabit it are underwhelming.Black Lotusis serviceable at best and,in the scope ofBlade Runnersci-fi legacy, it’s it has little to offer as the type of visual experience the franchise has consistently delivered.
One Does Not Simply Make It Anime
It’s clearBlack Lotusis trying way too hard to carve its way intoBlade Runner.Nevertheless, the series is also busy paying off its anime vision, resulting in what become conflicting priorities. One small but easy example of this to point out is Elle’s weapon of choice, the katana.
It hardly gets any more anime than fast-paced sword combat, yet Elle’s borrowed blade seems slightly out of place in a world where modern guns and rough fistfights were previously at the center of every action scene. Even if animation opens the doors for quicker combat and grants directors the ability to choreograph the action in different ways, Elle’s combat doesn’t seem to fit intoBlade Runner.It’s part of a wider problem:Black Lotusis just too clean-looking and precise for its own good.
The CGI Los Angeles that forms the backdrop of this series lacks the essence of what made its previous iterations so fascinating. It’s not aliving cyberpunk organism or game world; instead, it’s more of a generic video game city that occasionally sprinkles a geisha ad to remind viewers that this isthe sameBlade RunnerHarrison Ford stars in. It’s not enough for a show to throw in a few callbacks to the franchise’s origins for it to warrant its place next to the originals — because if it weren’t for these little details, casual viewers might not know it was meant to be the same setting.
Make no mistake, this is aBlade Runnerstory, but not in the same way thatBlack Outis. As the sole short film to present fans with new characters, the 2017 anime still revolves around turning point events for the Replicants (not that kind of Replicant), and while that too is the case forBlack Lotus, Niander Jr.’s takeover of the family business is drawn- out and shares the spotlight with Elle’s journey. Both plots are very character-focused, in a show where not even its protagonists get to pass on the antiquated CGI.
The biggest takeaway for any futureBlade Runnerspinoff is learning the lessonBlack Lotusmakes clear. The franchise’s signature debate over what it means to be human can’t simply be randomly sprinkled on top of bland scenarios.Blade Runner 2049is greatbecause it remains detached from the original while just like its true successor, whereasBlack Lotusis more of a distant relative thatcan’t even match the series' games.
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