Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 (2017)

In 2022, a powerful weapon causes a global blackout that has massive implications all over the world.

Director:

Shin'ichirô Watanabe (as Shinichiro Watanabe)

Writer:

Shin'ichirô Watanabe (as Shinichiro Watanabe)

Stars:

Jovan Jackson, Luci Christian, Bryson Baugus

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jovan Jackson	...	Iggy (voice)
Luci Christian	...	Trixie (voice)
Bryson Baugus	...	Ren (voice) (as Bryson Bauguss)
Edward James Olmos	...	Gaff (voice)
Adam Gibbs	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Al-Francis Cuenca	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Andrea Rodriguez	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Annie Mai	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Chris Gibson	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Crista Castro	...	Additional Voices (voice)
David Matranga	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jay Hickman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Joel McCrary	...	Additional Voices (voice)
John Gremillion	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Joseph Chou	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Storyline

In 2022, a powerful weapon causes a global blackout that has massive implications all over the world.

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Plot Keywords:

2020s | future | dystopia | blade runner | replicant | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Crunchyroll

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Out 2022

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment, Cygames

Technical Specs

Runtime:

15 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are three short films made to fill the gap between "Blade Runner" (1982) and "Blade Runner 2049" (2017). "Black Out 2022" (2017) is the first in the row, followed by "2036: Nexus Dawn" (2017) and "2048: Nowhere to Run" (2017). "Black Out 2022" is made by anime director Watanabe, who is famous for his work on "Animatrix" and "Cowboy Bebop". "2036: Nexus Dawn" and "2048: Nowhere to Run" are made by Luke Scott, who is known for his short films connected to "Alien: Covenant" and "Prometheus".

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Connections

Spun-off from Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Almost Human
Written by Lauren Daigle, Michael Hodges, Kayla J. Morrison, Gerald Trottman and Ghian Wright
Performed by Lauren Daigle
Courtesy of Alcon Sleeping Giant(ASG) on behalf of ASG Records

User Reviews

You'll black this short out long before 2022

An anime prequel that is 1 of 3 prequels made for Blade Runner 2049. It details how the Black Out mentioned in BR 2049 occurred, gives a little context for the end of the Tyrell Corporation and events that occurred in BR 2049. The short is the equivalent of the replicant's life: shortlived, disposable, empty, subservient, and looking for meaning.

There's a prohibition on replicants and human death squads roam the cities, looking to slaughter them. Hardly anything really happens, but it's fairly stylish and an odd medley of CGI and handdrawn animation. Some alright fight sequences, and the female replicant moves similar to Pris in the original movie, with plenty of flips. There's also a brief scene featuring the detective who makes the origami art.

There are a few dialogue sequences and flashbacks, but they provide little interest and all the characters are wooden, and it's just a rehash of some of the existentialism of the replicants in the other movies.

The highlight would probably be the animation for the desert flashback sequence. Kind of rough and reminiscent of the Kill Bill animation, and the camera flows through the scene with the same erratic uncertainty as a wave rushing in and out. Some very interesting key animation here, and while there's some nice work featured in the fight sequences, they're fairly standard sequences you'd expect from an action anime.

It ends abruptly and everything that preceded the last scene feels pointless. Obviously you can't expect much character development or characterization in a 15-minute film, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.