Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Genre: Cyberpunk (Obviously), Sci-fI, Drama, Action
Studio: Trigger
«You don’t make a name as a cyberpunk by how you live.
You’re remembered by how you die.»
Hello my friends. Welcome to another anime review.
First and foremost,… Merry Christmas
Yeah. The moment I was really waiting for. It has been a very memorable year, and we are almost starting 2023, which for me, it is one of the best moments of the upcoming week, but despite this, I got a very healthy, wonderful month, celebrating Christmas with my family and friends.
I apologise beforehand, because I still own you guys all my pending reviews of Chainsaw Man, and they will come. I promise, but I decided to take a little break of them in order to make some other reviews that I must bring you, and if I don’t, I will flatline. Having said that…
I bring to you… One of the best anime of 2022, in my personal opinion.
But before I start with this series. I must ask my friends the typical question:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
Now… let’s jump to the future with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. I better do it fast, otherwise, I will be in trouble.
PREMISE
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a prequel of the famous video game Cyberpunk 2077, produced by CD Project Red and directed by Mike Pondsmith. For those who do not know about Mike Pondsmith, in the past, he created a lot of RPG games which personally I didn’t play, but I have a lot of interest in, including Meklon (1984), Cyberpunk (1988), Castle Frankenstein (1994) among others and, from what I heard it is an amazing fan of Dungeons & Dragons.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners takes place in 2076, Night City, located in the Free State of California, and, in the best fashion of Blade Runner and Blade Runner: 2049, it is full of poverty, overpopulation, crime, corruption and a very depressing atmosphere. David Martinez is a young Salvadoran American man going to the Arasaka Academy, with his tuition fees paid by his mother, the paramedic Gloria, but his life is far from perfect, well… It is freaking Cyberpunk: Edgerunners my friend. Because he is constantly bullied at school and harassed because of his background, no wonder he hates going to school, but he keeps going for his mother; however tragedy soon arrives, because a horrible accident provoked by a drive-by shooting severely injures Gloria, and because their health cover does not pay for her treatment, effectively she passes away, and then, David loses everything, his house, his place in the school, his future. When I say everything, I mean… Everything!
And the quickness in which David’s life took a turn for the worse really impressed me, because it really hits you on how putrid, corrupt, and relentless the setting of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners actually truly is, but I will get there in a minute. The point is that David discovers that Gloria stole a military-grade Sandevistan implant from one of the corpses she attended, because Gloria also sold some scraps to help pay David’s fees before her death. When she discovers that, David demands this implant to be added to him despite the severe risk of his body. But he doesn’t care and uses his new strength to take revenge on the student who bullied him and leave Arasaka Academy for good.
Shortly after these events, he meets with a really beautiful netrunner, called Lucy, and from there, both try to survive in the merciless, dangerous world of the cyberpunks to survive Night City, along with Maine and his gang.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is animated by Studio Trigger, which, at this point, I don’t think needs any presentation, but I will give a handful of their previous work…
… Many which I already have a review of their own, and I am leaving the links here in case you are interested.
Going back, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is on Netflix, and it has 10 episodes, all of them released on September 13, 2022. Also, the series was directed by Hiroyuki Imashi, a very well-known name in Studio Trigger, and who also directed Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. The composer is Akira Yamaoka, who, for me, is best known for composing the soundtrack of Silent Hill 4.
But what really got me of is score is the opening song… This Fire, from Franz Ferdinand. Sheebus!! Man!!! They couldn’t choose a more appropriate song.
And yes… I am still watching all of these fantastic episodes. I am halfway through.
STORY
Oh my! Where to start?
Deja-Vu my friends! Because I am feeling to same way as I did when I was writing my reviews of Outlaw Star and Trigun.
I think I will start saying that I am a huge fan of everything that has to do with the Cyberpunk genre, because it not only has a very imaginative, futuristic setting in which the city can show a very weird beauty and a really depressing revelation about our society, but also because it deals with so many universal themes that always make us reflex in our existence as humans, regardless if it is present or if it is in a couple of decades.
Reason of why movies like Blade Runner, its sequel Blade Runner: 2049, Brazil, Akira and Ghost in the Shell are always some of my favourites. (Although I am still trying to understand the masterpiece of Mamoru Oshii at all.)
And Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is no exception.
The way David loses everything on episode one is full of nuances that made me think, for example, about the horrible inequality of Night City, not only financially, but also socially, because unless you have a very rich dad, or very powerful connections, you are a nobody, and that is perfectly reflected with Gloria, since she was a decent mother, but because she was practically non-existent in the system, she was discarded in a way only the most corrupt, automatized and inhuman societies will do. No matter how hard she worked, not even sheer effort is valued.
Because, in a world like this… If you don’t have real power… Who gives a sh*t about you?
David possibly understood that, better than Gloria, but does not make his backstory less tragic. Combine that with all the crap he has to go through in the next episodes, and you have a very relatable protagonist despite having the life of a criminal.
In other words, despite having only ten episodes, the narrative of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is pretty solid and well-worked, giving us the story of some outcasts that, despite being violent and almost sociopathic, you really root for them.
It is a ruthless world, but David, Maine, Dorio, Rebecca, Lucy and gang have the best motivations. Not a very altruistic one, but one that hooks you. And personally, this is something that many series, both from West and East, can learn. You can have episodes of half an-hour, or almost an hour, like Squid Game, Breaking Bad or The Mandalorian, but if you take advantage of every second to the fullest, you can get something amazing.
In other words – it is better a couple of well-written seconds than hours of pure filler.
Another amazing point is the animation. My gosh!!! Just look at this!!
I still don’t know how Studio Trigger does that, but Night City comes to life with these frames. It is amazing!!! They do not want to water every bit of the setting, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners show us the identity of Night City to the fullest, and not just because it has different colours, buildings, and scenarios, also because sometimes the scenario plays well with the feelings of the characters.
Such as in episode two, where David and Lucy see the Moon. Their hearts are in the Moon… literally. And so are we as audience. You better enjoy that part while can because…
Also, the action sequences are insane. It is like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners took an inspiration from Amazon’s Invincible and The Boys. Every time David “stops” the time to move really fast, it is a treat to the eye. And due to the nature of the setting and ruthlessness of Night City, it is normal to have this much gore, nudity, and blood.
And trust me, after all the abuse of kid-friendliness and bullcrap from Disney, Marvel, and DC before The Suicide Squad, as well as the obnoxious self-censor and PC, something like this is always welcome, because the action is so intense, it sticks with you, it helps you to remember our protagonists.
Finally, and semi-spoilers. Since this world is tragic, most of our characters have tragic ends. Remember what the quote from the beginning.
Finally, every song of the soundtrack is perfect. As if they are composed just for those simple moments. But every time I listen “Let You Down” by Dawid Podsiadlo, I feel a little gap in my heart, and a deep gratitude about being alive.
Grande eres… Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
CHARACTERS
And just like the setting of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is incredible, so are its characters. I think I already gave my positive feedback to David, who starts being a nobody, being forced to live a life he does not want to a cyberpunk that has acquired freedom, family, and a taste of life, both as an individual and as the partner of Lucy, because it is also through her that David grows, and permits himself to feel his humanity despite his implant.
But Lucy does not feel flat. Absolutely not! I must be honest, I started disliking her for many of her actions, especially through the first episodes, but then I grew up to sympathise with her a lot, especially after knowing her past.
In fact, Let You Down is the perfect personification of what Lucy has been. No wonder the song is present as background on Lucy’s most touching moments.
Furthermore…Bravo to Aoi Yuuki, this is indeed one of her best performances in her career, along with Tanya von Degurechaff and Tatsumaki.
And don’t forget the moment that symbolises the love between Lucy and David.
The other characters do not leave behind, At first, I was scared of Maine, but when I know him better, the same with Dorio.
And… here comes a very unpopular opinion. I mean… Rebecca.
I am aware that for many, Rebecca is the most popular character of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. And me… I am not saying she is not good. She is actually extremely hilarious when she needs to be, and many of her moments are definitely gold, finally, her design is pretty original, and that is a lot to say because many of the character design of this anime really stands out. She is amazing.
But for me, David, Lucy, and Maine stand out better than Rebecca, because I have become more familiar and more connected to their backstory, development, and humanity that it is impossible for me to take them out of my mind. And while Rebecca is amazing character, for me, nothing of what she does will overcome my feelings toward our protagonist. That’s all.
I will repeat myself in case I was clear. I love Rebecca, but if I have to pick my favourite character of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, I will go for either David or Lucy, and perhaps Maine. That’s all.
Anyway. The characters are amazing, and I love them as much as the anime itself.
CONCLUSION
It is no wonder why this anime has been so successful as of December 27, 2022. Without a doubt, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is one of the best anime of the year, and indeed one of my personal favourites, along with gems like Spy x Family & Chainsaw Man.
Also… Is this the best work of Studio Trigger? Well… One of the best. Personally, I think it is as good as Kill la Kill and… (incoming unpopular opinion) Darling in the FRANXX. Every single I was listening to people saying how good Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is, and now that I watched it myself, I understand its popularity is well-deserved.
Just like Argentina’s victory in Qatar (Admit it, French fans)
Finally, I am very happy that the sales of Cyberpunk 2077 improved thanks to this anime. And yes. After watching the ending, I understand that perhaps, perhaps… A second season might not come, at least in the short term.
But, unlike its characters, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners will be remember by how it lived.
And now… Back to holiday feelings. With a very great surprise I am preparing for the next days. Let me give you a hint.
See you next time because my fire is out of control.
Jainituos Presents 