What Is It?
The 2022 Netflix Polish–Japanese cyberpunk web anime TV show Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Here is how Wikipedia describes this anime TV show:
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Japanese: サイバーパンク エッジランナーズ, Hepburn: Saibāpanku Ejjirannāzu) is a 2022 Polish–Japanese cyberpunk web anime series based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red.[1] The series was animated by Studio Trigger under the supervision of CD Projekt and premiered on Netflix in September 2022.[2]
The anime is also a prequel and takes place about a year before the events of Cyberpunk 2077.
Upon its release, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners received highly positive reviews, with praise directed at its characters, animation, and worldbuilding.[3]
Premise
In a dystopia overrun by corruption, crime, and cybernetic implants, an impulsive but talented street kid named David, after losing everything he has in a drive-by shooting, makes the choice to survive on the wrong side of the law as an edgerunner; a high-tech, black-market mercenary also known as a “cyberpunk”.
Production And Release
The series was announced during a “Night City Wire” livestream for the game on June 25, 2020, as a collaboration between CD Projekt and Studio Trigger.[9][10]
Hiroyuki Imaishi directed the series with Masahiko Otsuka and Yoshiki Usa writing scripts, Yoh Yoshinari designing the characters and serving as animation director, Yuto Kaneko and Yusuke Yoshigaki serving as assistant character designers, Hiroyuki Kaneko serving as assistant director, Hiromi Wakabayashi serving as creative director, and Akira Yamaoka serving as the show’s composer.[11][12]
The anime’s opening theme is “This Fire” by Franz Ferdinand,[13] while its ending theme is “Let You Down” by Dawid Podsiadło.[14]
My Thoughts
I was not expecting to like this, but this is possibly the best anime that I have seen this year.
Who would have thought that Netflix would have two of my favorite animated TV shows of the year so far.
Among the junk on Netflix, there are still some good things, like this.
Unfortunately, this anime is not for kids, there is sex, nudity, and graphic violence; while some of those things were unnecessary, the sex & nudity, those moments were short, usually.
This show had great action animation, good music, a good setting / atmosphere / mood / environment, good voice acting, characters who had unique standout personalities even with little screen time, and some surprisingly emotional moments that almost made me tear up twice.
The opening credits song sounded like the band Franz Ferdinand to me, and I was correct:
I did not recognize who made the ending credits song, but it was good as well:
Here are some examples of the action / graphic violence:
It is a shame / crime that this was only 10 episodes, while there are disappointing animated TV shows on Netflix with more than 20 episodes, this anime deserves more episodes.
The story was short and fast-paced, too much so, they did not waste much time, but it still managed to leave some impact.
This anime was not afraid to end the way that it did, and I respect it for that.
This is definitely a 4.5 out of 5, it is an easy short watch, I definitely recommend it, but do not let kids watch it & know that there is some unnecessary content here & there.
I hope that Studio Trigger and CD Projekt will make more anime together, and Netflix & Crunchyroll & Adult Swim needs to let Studio Trigger replace the terrible Sola Digital Arts for who makes their animated content.
Netflix should remake Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045 with Studio Trigger and / or the original Production I.G and / or another good anime studio, and never let Sola Digital Arts destroy another franchise.
The end,
- John Jr
John Jr's Blog 