Blade Runner 2049 is almost upon us and the tie in material is coming thick and fast. We’ve already had a pair of prequel short movies focusing on Jared Leto and Dave Bautista’s characters.  Now we get word that an anime short called Blade Runner Black Out 2022 is on the way. And the talent behind it is stellar.

Shinchiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo fame is directing it and it looks really promising. Watanabe cites Blade Runner as a major influence on his work and the trailer below is brimming with clear affection for the original as well as that unmistakable Bebop/Champloo style.

Blade Runner Black Out 2022 will be shown on the Sony Pictures Japan youtube channel on 26 September. Blade Runner 2049 will be released on 6 October.

Thanks to Kotaku East for the story.