So I’ve been diving into the streaming service, Crunchyroll, which is a fan’s paradise of anime series and films. If you’ve only brushed up against the occasional series the sheer size of the streaming platform’s library can seem a little daunting.

Don’t be too put off, the site will make recommendations for you based on your viewing habits, once you get rolling, but where to start?

Well, I had a scroll through all the titles and added a slew of them to my watchlist, there are things I’ve heard of, things I’ve always wanted to see, things I want to re-watch for the blog, and a lot that I know next to nothing about.

But I do love Blade Runner, and when I came across a listing for two Blade Runner titles, Black Out 2022 and Black Lotus, those got added to the list right away, and I decided Black Out would be a nice introduction to the platform.

Written and directed by Shin’ichiro Watanabe, who delivered the amazing Cowboy Bebop series, which should be on every anime fans list (and I’m eager to revisit for the blog) this seemed like an easy way in.

The story is set between the two theatrical films, setting up some background information about what happened to the Tyrell Corporation and their Nexus series of replicants, and a violent revolt led by some Nexus-8s who have a dangerous plan… detonate an EMP device over Los Angeles and destroy all the records that exist about replicants, incept dates, and identities.

It’s a fast-paced tale running about fifteen minutes, and it very much looks like it belongs in the Blade Runner universe. There are plenty of recognizable images and locations from both films, and the look and feel of it brings that gritty neo-noir world to life.

We even get a check-in with Gaff (Edward James Olmos), but the story follows two replicants, Iggy (Jovan Jackson) and Trixie (Luci Christian) as they put their dangerous plan into action, one that will change the landscape of the world it exists in, and lays out a clear path for Blade Runner 2049.

This is a great dive into a familiar world, tweaked with that anime touch and honestly helped me dip my toe into the world of Crunchyroll’s streaming service. I can’t wait to dive a little deeper into the service and explore all manner of titles, there’s supernatural, adventure, comedy, and romantic, there seems to be a series for almost everything, and there’s going to be lots to watch!

Do you have any recommendations? And hey check out Crunchyroll here, and find something to watch tonight!