Movie Substrate · Film

Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 (2017)

★ 7.1 · 443 ratings on TMDB
Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 poster★ 7.1

This animated short revolves around the events causing an electrical systems failure on the west coast of the US. According to Blade Runner 2049’s official timeline, this failure leads to cities shutting down, financial and trade markets being thrown into chaos, and food supplies dwindling. There’s no proof as to what caused the blackouts, but Replicants — the bio-engineered robots featured in the original Blade Runner, are blamed.

DirectorShinichiro Watanabe
CastBryson Baugus, David Anthony Matranga, Edward James Olmos, Ichiko Aoba, Jay Hickman, Joel McCrary
GenresAction, Animation, Science Fiction
The emergence reading

In Blade Runner: Black Out 2022, consciousness is carried by machines — a plane of “replicant rebellion”. The story fights on E8/E11 of the E0–E14 reality ladder, compressing oppression, corporate, freedom, rebellion, identity.

↷ machinesUSoppressioncorporatefreedomrebellionidentity
⇄ Parameter shift — the dial this world turnsrigor: loose
E6mortalityreplicants have no built‑in lifespan limit (effectively immortal) (biology · local)
Also inConsciousness hiding in machinesFilms about identityFilms that alter a rule of realityFilms that move consciousness off the human
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Same rung, same subject

Films fighting at the same level of reality, about the same things.

Abigail (2019)E8/E11 · identity, oppressionThe Matrix (1999)E8 · freedom, identityCars 3 (2017)E8 · corporate, identityAstro Boy (2009)E8 · freedom, identityFlight of the Navigator (1986)E8 · freedom, identityOn the Road (2012)E8 · freedom, identity

Same subject, different rung

The same preoccupations examined at another scale — one mind versus a nation.

A Bug's Life (1998)E6/E9 · rare rung · oppression, rebellionBraveheart (1995)E9/E12 · rare rung · freedom, identityWho Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)E9/E10 · corporate, identityWicked (2024)E9/E10 · identity, oppression

Also bends a rule of reality

Other films that change a standing rule of their world — ranked first by those bending it at the same rung.

Ghost in the Shell (2017)alters at E6 · same rung · looseBlade Runner 2049 (2017)alters at E6 · same rung · rigorousMoon (2009)alters at E6 · same rung · looseThe Darkest Minds (2018)alters at E6 · same rung · looseThe Lost Boys (1987)alters at E6 · same rung · looseÆon Flux (2005)alters at E6 · same rung · loose

Also hides consciousness here

Other films that move a human interior onto the same kind of thing.

Tron (1982)consciousness in machines · digital gridAlien Resurrection (1997)consciousness in machines · cloned‑android starshipTRON: Legacy (2010)consciousness in machines · digital gridShort Circuit (1986)consciousness in machines · sentient robot worldTRON: Ares (2025)consciousness in machines · digital gridTransformers One (2024)consciousness in machines · machine planet

Same subject, different mask

The same preoccupations carried by a different kind of thing — grief told through the dead, an animal, a machine.

Planet Hulk (2010)consciousness in aliens · identity, oppressionChicken Run (2000)consciousness in animals · freedom, oppressionLady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001)consciousness in animals · freedom, identityVenom (2018)consciousness in aliens · corporate, identityAladdin (2019)consciousness in monsters · freedom, identityThe Shape of Water (2017)consciousness in monsters · identity, oppression

Same people

Shared director or cast.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)dir. Shinichiro WatanabeThe Animatrix (2003)dir. Shinichiro WatanabeStarship Troopers: Invasion (2012)David Anthony MatrangaBlade Runner (1982)Edward James OlmosThe Green Hornet (2011)Edward James Olmos2 Guns (2013)Edward James Olmos