History Anime / BladeRunnerBlackLotus

* AlternateHistory: A billboard for Creator/{{Atari}} confirms that in the ''Franchise/BladeRunner'' timeline, UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 either never happened or didn't cripple Atari as a corporation.

A joint collaboration between Website/{{Crunchyroll}} and Creator/AdultSwim[=/=]Creator/{{Toonami}}, ''Blade Runner: Black Lotus'' takes place between the original ''Film/BladeRunner'' and ''Film/BladeRunner2049''. The series was directed by Shinji Aramaki (''Manga/{{Appleseed}}'', ''Anime/GhostInTheShellSAC2045'') and Kenji Kamiyama (''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'') and written by Kamiyama. Shinichiro Watanabe (''Anime/CowboyBebop'') served as the creative producer (he previously directed the ''Blade Runner'' short ''[[Film/BladeRunnerShorts Black Out 2022]]'').

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Niander Wallace Jr. manipulating events to [[spoiler: get his father killed is definitely one of the least monstrous things he does considering his father was abusive to him and a sadistic bastard who held "[[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame Doll Hunts]]".]]

* SavedByCanon: Due to this being set between the events of the first and second movie, Niander Wallace Jr. was going to walk out of this alive. [[spoiler:How he got [[EyeScream blinded]] is revealed, however.]]

* BarefootCaptive: Elle is barefoot when she’s being hunted by the wealthy alongside other replicants.

* LoopholeAbuse: Niander Wallace Jr. points out that [[spoiler:Elle can't knowingly hurt him because of her programming, which comes up twice in the final episode. And unlike her [[GrewBeyondTheirProgramming previous case]] that he instigated off of insane odds, she can't overcome this one. Her response? Lower his guard by sheathing her katana -- and then performing a swift draw and slash with her eyes closed, [[EyeScream blinding him with his eyes cut.]] The programming required her to consciously know whom she was targeting, so by doing a blind attack, she circumvents it easily.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Elle managed to kill all of those responsible for the Doll Hunt, but Niander Wallace Jr. just used her to usurp his father and take over the family corporation so he can [[AGodAmI play God]]. Joseph ends up critically wounded in his final battle with Marlowe, and performs a HeroicSacrifice to destroy Niander Wallace Jr.'s research, while Elle manages to [[EyeScream blind him]], but Davis meanwhile ended up wheelchair-bound after Water Lily ran her through with a sword while having no means to ever report her findings to the world, and ultimately Niander Wallace Jr. will [[Film/BladeRunner2049 continue his plans regardless of these setbacks]]. The only positive beat is that Elle ends up alive and kicking at the end, and gets to ride off into the sunset to find her own path in life now. [[RuleOfThree But]] a hovercycle flies in adjacent to hers in the middle of nowhere in the final shot with eerily precise timing, with it left ambiguous if it was hostile or not.]]

* AGodAmI: Niander Wallace Jr. makes it even more explicit here than in ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' that this is his driving motivation. He believes humanity is doomed and wants his creations to replace them, spread among the stars, and "spread his glory".

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Marlowe's WeaponOfChoice. It doubles as a {{BFG}}.

* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Niander Wallace Jr created Elle and set up her RoaringRampageOfRevenge primarily so that Niander Sr would be killed and he could take over the company]].

* ThisCannotBe: Hooper's reaction when [[spoiler:Elle overpowers him and slowly stabs him to death with the knife he gave her]]. This example is {{justified|Trope}}, given [[spoiler:as a non-violent replicant, what Elle was doing ''should'' be impossible, but [[GrewBeyondTheirProgramming no longer was]]]].
-->'''Hooper:''' Unbelievable… but you can't…

A joint collaboration between Website/{{Crunchyroll}} and Creator/AdultSwim[=/=]Creator/{{Toonami}}, ''Blade Runner: Black Lotus'' takes place between the original ''Film/BladeRunner'' and ''Film/BladeRunner2049''. The series was directed by Shinji Aramaki (''Manga/{{Appleseed}}'', ''Anime/GhostInTheShellSAC2045'') and Kenji Kamiyama (''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'') and written by Kamiyama. Shinichiro Watanabe (''Anime/CowboyBebop'') served as the creative producer (he previously directed the ''Blade Runner'' short ''[[Film/BladeRunnerShorts Black Out 2022]]''). It aired on Toonami from November 14, 2021 to February 6, 2022.

* {{Expy}}: Joseph turns out to be one for [[spoiler:Rick Deckard, as an alcoholic, retired Blade Runner with feelings for a replicant.]]

* EverybodyDiesEnding: [[spoiler:After finding out about how she was hunted for game and how she's a unique replicant, Elle decides to go and kill the four people who hunted her and the others.]]