Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 (2017)

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.