Los Angeles, October 2032 and Elle arrives town, hoping that someone can help her unlock some tech that will reveal who she is.

This 13-part animated series from Adult Swim and Crunchyroll based in the Blade Runner universe widely uses a lot of imagery associated with the property to help distinguish it from any one of a number of other cyberpunk stories. This means that we get flying police spinner cars, giant billboards, fluorescent umbrellas, ships advertising immigration to off-world colonies and more. Even the Ennis House tile designs of Deckard’s apartment can be spotted, as if to reassure suspicious viewers that this indeed is the real deal.

It’s also significant that Elle calls on the help of Doctor Badger (Barkhad Abdi), a character that he originated in Blade Runner 2049. He agrees to try to crack the code that’s stopping Elle’d gizmo from revealing all, and in return she leaves the local gangsters with a message to stay away.

I won’t say much more, and I certainly don’t want to spoil any of the surprises and Easter Eggs. The animation is better than early first looks suggested – additional renders has given it an extra layer of quality – the score feels suitably electronic, and even if the story is a little Ghost in the Machine by way of Alita, Battle Angel, there’s plenty to encourage a return for more.

Verdict: It’s early days yet, but this show feels authentically Blade Runner, happy to wear its links and associations on its sleeve. 7/10

Nick Joy