Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Zigeuninja

~~~_Minor spoilers_ __I went into this show expecting good animation and entertaining fights and what I got was exactly that but also a decent story and characters I could actually sympathize with. __ --- I want to start off by saying that this show was clearly made for people who played Cyberpunk 2077. I'm sure you could still enjoy it without having played it, but they really don't bother introducing all the tech stuff, slang etc. at all, so just keep that in mind. Don't wanna write a whole plot-summary here but I'll just get it out of the way; Edgerunners is about a student named David who just lost his mother in a car crash, quit school and is trying to make money. Because it's Night City, the easiest way to do that is mercenary work and from here the story escalates into lots of fights, characters dying and David becoming increasingly more OP using the Sandevistan he picked up from a Cyberpsycho... That's about what you're getting into. The story in Edgerunners definitely shares some similarities with the game and here and there you'll even hear them talk about- or see some of the characters from the game, but there are enough differences so it doesn't feel like a remake or anything. img420(https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2022/08/30/cyberpunk-edgerunners-season1-episode2-00-18-30-21-1661882631726.jpg) The main reason I started watching this show was, as I said, the fights and animation which I had high expectations for because it's made by Trigger and they really didn't disappoint. There's some kind of fight or shootout in basically every episode, but they're always unique enough to not get boring and they definitely didn't shy away from showing blood or gore which I really like. I think most people can agree that if Cyberpunk 2077 got one thing right it's the characters and atmosphere of the city and Edgerunners does these two things just as well, if not better. The city looks great and they stayed so faithful to the game that no matter where they are, you'll most likely be able to recognize the place if you've played the game. The characters, even though the show is only 10 episodes long, really started to grow on me towards the end. Most action focused anime either fail completely to make me care about the characters, or it takes way too long and by the time I do, the show is almost over already, so this was a nice surprise, especially considering how I only started watching this for the action. img420(https://i0.wp.com/www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CyberpunkEdgerunners_3-e1659392122259.jpg) Lastly, the sound design in this show is absolutely phenomenal. Again, if you've played the game you will hear a lot of familiar sounds in this show and they also use some of the radio music from the game which really benefits the atmosphere and vibe. All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who even remotely enjoyed Cyberpunk 2077 or is interested in the genre, but also to anyone looking for a refreshing action anime that focuses heavily on the action. --- #9/10 - would recommend~~~

Shochraos

Cyberpunk and, to some extent, Steampunk have been two themes, who are criminally underused in our current Pop-culture. Especially Cyberpunk, depicting a dystopian future of the digitalization currently taking place, was bound to be a major success, if a company decided to create a new IP based around it. CD Project Red, a polish game studio which got famous by their last game, the highly praiseworthy game The Witcher 3, had high expectations to meet following that release. They decided to meet these by working in cooperation with Mike Pondsmith and base their new game around the universe depicted by his Cyberpunk board game. Finally, on the 10th December of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was released following one of the biggest, if not the biggest hype train in the history of gaming. However, it’s not going to be remembered as one of the greatest, but as the worst release in the history of gaming and while they’ve been trying their best to fix the game (and in my opinion, succeeding at that), it’s no exaggeration that the Cyberpunk IP has been tarnished. And that finally brings us to this review and why I think that while this anime is close to a masterpiece, it’s probably going to be disregarded because of the aforementioned situation. Nonetheless will I try my best to try to offset this, as this anime is probably one of the best gateway anime created so far and a great show all around. Alright, enough introduction, let’s dive right in! img500(https://i.imgur.com/JZojhDp.png) Disclaimer: This isn’t going to be an analysis of the show as I’ve never played the Cyberpunk board game nor seen enough anime to justify my opinions, but a review. Let me preface this review by listing the one trait this show is missing that might turn some people off: It’s shallow characters. Don’t get me wrong, in my opinion the protagonist David has some character development throughout the show and all of the main cast is very likeable and has distinct personality traits to tell them apart but unfortunately that’s where it ends. Based on good old Trigger-tradition are the characters usually one dimensional but really great and likeable in that. And in my opinion, that’s not even a tradeoff. Instead of trying to create believable, multi-faceted personalities and ultimately half-assing it because of the focus in the show, they stuck to what they can do best: Great cartoon characters. Don’t go in this anime expecting characters from Serial Experiments Lain or the likes and try to enjoy what is happening on your screen. And oh man did Trigger outdo themselves here. It’s like a shounen protagonist revealing their final trump-card in the final fight of the anime. This is the pinnacle of 2D-Animation, no doubt about it. This show has jawdropping visuals and I found myself pausing and rewatching almost every episode multiple times just to watch my favourite scenes over and over and over again. The visuals and animation leave almost every other anime, heck even other Trigger shows in the dust. And honestly, there’s so much to say about it, that you should just experience it yourself. Yes, they are THAT good, after watching this you’ll be looking differently at every other anime just based on their animation alone. And as I mentioned earlier, this anime should be the basis on what other anime’s animation should be judged upon. img500(https://i.imgur.com/jtKsoOE.jpg) img500(https://i.imgur.com/SCow2Lw.png) Going hand in hand with these breathtaking visuals is excellent sound design. If you watch this anime with good headphones or speakers, you are going to be blown away by the sheer force of the explosions in this one, it’s almost feels like a Michael Bay movie at that. Unfortunately, the OP is quite lackluster in my opinion but the ED makes more than up for it by being an absolute banger which has a permanent spot in my playlist starting now. youtube(https://youtu.be/BnnbP7pCIvQ) Last but not least do I wanna mention, that the pacing in this anime is crisp to the touch. It’s only ten episodes long and it uses this screentime magnificently. Something is ALWAYS happening and there’s next to no irrelevant scenes being shown here which makes it a jam packed binge session as it’s going to be quite hard to leave on an episode. And while the name Cyberpunk might be a curse nowadays, at the same time it could be an opportunity to show people, who are interested in Cyberpunk, but have never given anime a serious try before, the beauty of the latter as it’s directly connected to the Cyberpunk 2077 video game. So if you are reading this and haven’t seen this show yet. Drop everything and watch it right now. You won’t regret it. img500(https://i.imgur.com/xeTdtD2.png)

Cutiewolfie

~~~img(https://www.cyberpunk.net/build/images/edgerunners/[email protected])~~~ __~~~A start that is as rushed as the game itself, but happens to make a great comeback later on. ~~~ __ ~~~img(https://media2.giphy.com/media/qXD6KLA2p6gzJ2kmHk/giphy.gif?cid=790b761180807077ffec83f6ffa57db29836cde371917c49&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ #__Plot__ We start off with David who is bored from school as he feels he doesn't belong there, even though he is a top class student. He is a child of a single mother and one who is struggling to pay bills whilst trying to provide an education for him. After an unfortunante event, David is left with nothing and decides to change his whole enitre lifestyle, so he embarks on the journey of becoming an edgerunner and teams up with a crew who take on dangerous missions; in order to repay his debts as well as upgrade himself. I had nothing wrong with the plot, but the plot of Edgerunners isn't set in stone until episode 5 which leaves the beforehand events as more of an introduction, but one which is rushed and could have been done a lot better given more time. Some of the action scenes, especially the early ones were either rushed or lazy and it could've been done so much better. Thankfully, the later episodes make up for this. ~~~img(https://media4.giphy.com/media/gHuWRAaglZpu8ZOHAu/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611f16871598b63a5ca9c899c3a076f7c2a89963c03&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ #__Characters__ The characters of Edgerunners are good, but only some of them. If there was more time dedicated to each character then there would have been a more stronger connection to them leading into the later episodes. This is especially rushed during the early episodes specifically 1-4 where not enough time and development is given, so major scenes involving them characters feel empty and you don't resonate the same feelings as the main character in those scenes. __David__ ~~~img(https://media1.giphy.com/media/YYw2nwlDilDc0cmFn1/giphy.gif?cid=790b761111dadde190eb8daaff00c71fed563b5430fe9715&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ He's a cool protagonist, one who starts off with nothing and then begins to get everything; from the likes of friends, love, money, power and much more. But I felt that David's character could've been improved upon a lot more to give a more extensive insight into his relationship with the others. ~~~ img(https://media3.giphy.com/media/9R1PxwJ6Mh66CqHr8o/giphy.gif?cid=790b76115e8be73889df0c838d79159d26a7b2ebe32f76a7&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Also the whole afterimage was just overused in his character and it could've been done better, I've seen other anime which do the exact same power but better and in here it just takes away from the immersion. Later in the anime they do it properly, but its just overused so much that it does kida ruin the vibe a bit. __Lucy__ ~~~img(https://media1.giphy.com/media/fQCg9D9BvzHZF1KnlH/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611791e86c507d0f342ef7ba5b6eb0985135cdbd581&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Lucy was one of my favourite characters since she had a complete backstory, motive and desire throughout the anime. She gives off that typical delinquent female vibe at first, but then slowly begins to show her inner emotions as the episodes progress and as a whole she is the most well done character. ~~~img(https://media1.giphy.com/media/uqM1WzRctIaR9KhhPm/giphy.gif?cid=790b76115e365fd7f0fe6da91fe19af8e7f8c79dceeb043a&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Her character design is cool and her abilities are also interesting. What can I say I like Lucy a lot. __Maine__ ~~~img(https://media0.giphy.com/media/8WvIxxoxYDnlOlSfDm/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611d0e0bae19fec32c77256e5aa3546359e8b1ae06a&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Maine was another strong character who gave the mentor vibe to David and was very interesting to see how his character developed. He was strong physically and mentally, though I wish we got more of a backstory from him as that is what was missing from him a lot. Maine was like the controller of the team, always making sure him and his crew were alright every step of the way and that is what I liked a lot about him. ~~~img(https://media3.giphy.com/media/cJMtgdNbMtxmHXVSei/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611cf460c634dbcbd55659b1533e98dcf7c4de31c52&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ __Rebecca__ ~~~img(https://media1.giphy.com/media/Qtk7DbyFtuHhdZQKey/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611bf016b5c3dd911b8540236757d412b9a4bc76156&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Rebecca was by far the best character of the whole entire show, she was funny, cool and caring. She was basically the loli with guns and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. Every scene she is in, is a gem and I felt a strong connection through her. She showed how much she cared about her friends including David the most all the way up until the end. ~~~img(https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_900,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fnetflixlife.com%2Ffiles%2Fimage-exchange%2F2022%2F08%2Fie_91741.jpeg)~~~ __Other Characters__ ~~~img(https://media3.giphy.com/media/vc3HsQ51v3TyyAyOjG/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611a829b645b2dbe4a5f1ece99783c75efada2d3534&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ Honestly, the rest of the main cast were just throwaway characters. They weren't given enough time nor were they given any development to justify them being part of the main cast and major scenes involving them just feel out of place. Like one scene where you are supposed to be in shock, but you just be watching without any sort of emotion. Since these characters haven't been dived into much so why would you care what happens to them. #__Final Thoughts__ ~~~img(https://media4.giphy.com/media/6lQ9HaeRL1aSSFNwfz/giphy.gif)~~~ Edgerunners is good, but as said previously its beginning is rushed quite a bit and characters are not given the necessary time they need to develop and cement that connection to the viewer. Its later episodes make up for it and the action, character development and plot pick up quite a lot. ~~~img(https://media3.giphy.com/media/28XNSibg5rwrWq3HIq/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611da0ac5e6eab6458387cca52e0c12a6332f4d095f&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ But the initial first episodes is where this anime lacks. Also I'm totally fine with sex and nudity as long as it is done for effect and not just for show. But god damn I must say that first episode is stacked with it so much that I was kinda uncomfortable watching it. Later episodes spread it out __(Pun Intended)__ and it more used to show effect. ~~~img(https://media3.giphy.com/media/rwy9idufMEQqTmqoMc/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e477z0sww2p8czq161bjna8ahaclrkjyy73twi4kj8e&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ The Ending song for this anime and its visuals are just amazing. In addition, all the music in this anime is golden and perfect. ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03s-6NGm6uU&ab_channel=RealNath2)~~~ Overall I'd give this anime an 8 out of 10 and I do recommend watching it, just wish it could've been done much better. Even with the limited episodes you can make compelling plot, characters and development throughout, if done properly. So ye Cyberpunk Edgerunners is a good anime :) ~~~ #__Thanks for reading and take care!!!__~~~

UltraGay

This is technically my first review. Since 99% of the people me included skip to the conclusion or just look at the score, I try to keep my points short. I haven't played the game myself, so keep that in mind as well. I'm really allergic to anime that includes guns and cities in any context. BUT I came for the crazy anyway, and I wasn't even planing on watching this. I'm leaving out the details because I have no feeling for what's considered ~!__spoiler __!~and what isn't. This is what the ultimate version (2100 letters friendly) of the notes I took while watching CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS looks like :-). The bad stuff: - It's only 10 Episodes that can be seen as pro or con, but since I wanted to see more, it's a con. - After the first half of the story, it's kinda hard to follow. It's not like you forget the main goal of it, but the little things with the corporations in between weren't good for my smol brain to compile. - In contrast, there is one scene that feels unnecessarily long, but it's not that big of a deal. - As good as the music was, at some point i tried to pick up the lyrics but couldn't because they talked over it. You could say that TRIGGERed me a little. The good stuff: - This is the first time I heard polish music in any anime at all. I'm a sucker for good music, and that the OST bangs is a humongous cherry on top. I think I heard a female screamo in some Episode, but I'm too lazy to look it up, so I'm excited when/if they release all the soundtracks. - The animation is almost like FLCL level but FHD and without the comedy aspect. I like how they cut the sexy time scenes, so it isn't awkward. I also like that they are not afraid to use all colors in different scenarios. The backgrounds created a distinctive vibe that is kinda hard to describe, but it was fitting well with the atmosphere. The transitions between action, drama and romance are good. - All the characters are unique and or coolaf. The main characters have a rather interesting background as well. Rebecca and the big blond guy are the biggest G's you can have. - Small detail, but I liked that you had to look at the calls subtitles. It makes it feel more immersive and shifts the focus to somewhere else than the bottom of the screen. I'm not sure, but I think it feels better to watch it ~~ENGLISH DUBBED~~, since the Japanese dub doesn't align with the actual text. Nah im joking you can laugh now. Conclusion: - It has its faults in the pacing department, but for a 10 episode ONA it's pretty ok. If you like crazy stuff and good music you're gonna enjoy this one regardless of if you played the game or not. I didn't expect it to be that emotional at all, so the first episode caught me off guard. Overall, it's an enjoyable ride that feels like a longer movie that I wouldn't mind rewatching. img(https://i.imgur.com/lYiylSk.png) 👋

Godmeyer

~~~ CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS is an anime that was able to set up an incredibly overpowering atmosphere from just the first episode. For those that are unaware, this is an anime based within the world of a video game called Cyberpunk 2077 released in 2020. However, there is a tabletop role-playing game first published in 1988 titled Cyberpunk that this world was invented from. Needless to say, Cyberpunk's world is one with extensive history. ~~~~~~And yet, CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS clearly has it's roots planted firmly in the video game. The grimy streets of Night City and the sweltering dessert of a drought-stricken northern California are nearly identical to the point that hardcore fans of the game will recognize more than just a few locations. ~~~~~~img300(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/riBhjyjW7nihsTDmjizE2q4kVfo=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016192/Edgerunners_001.jpg) ~~~~~~Atmosphere. Set in the imaginary place of Night City decades into the future, mega-corporations wage wars above the drug and crime-filled streets. Cybernetic upgrades that trade your own flesh for metal can grant you unimaginable strength and even make you bullet proof. Within this cesspit of a city, cyber punks (A.K.A. edge runners) will do anything to earn money and have their names written down as legends. This dark dystopian world was something that the anime was able to convey brilliantly. From paywalls on your own washing machine to being denied healthcare and left to die if you're poor. You're constantly left deeply disturbed by the scenes that unfold around you. Many a time I found myself pausing and rewinding when I saw something I didn't believe would be real. Ultimately, the world and atmosphere is the strongest part of this show. ~~~~~~ img300(https://occ-0-444-300.1.nflxso.net/dnm/api/v6/9pS1daC2n6UGc3dUogvWIPMR_OU/AAAABbxx6a_yJUVIO_e9EbU3q6sDGFEc4Tz97Agvi3c3KAS9TQaXZmwDZ0Vumqh2Qaz6XafEdyN14Gd29dtB-GGoEJRigrFgisGtXbpRNog01g1SEP5Q9yHpdpZR.jpg?r=412) ~~~~~~The characters. Excluding the main character, the rest of the cast can each be labeled by simple archetypes. But, it doesn't mean they're unlikeable. I actually loved each and every one of them even though they weren't the most well-written or deep characters. And frankly, I think it boils down to the fact that these are the kind of people you would expect in this world. A large-muscled arrogant team leader. A foul-mouthed creep. A battle loli. The scummy backstabbing guy who you knew was a villain from the first second you saw him. The outlier is ultimately David, the main character. He grew up poor with his mother who worked tirelessly to get him into an expensive academy and out of the slums, that's his mom's dream, not David's. David never knew what he wanted and even though he's rebellious at every turn, he's never truly acting for himself. He doesn't have dreams, he just wants to make others come true. The story sees him transform incredibly to the point that he's nearly unrecognizable at the end. Even with a few flaws and generic people, I enjoyed every interaction between the cast. ~~~~~~img300(https://1401700980.rsc.cdn77.org/data/images/full/106206/netflix-anime-series-cyberpunk-edgerunners-reveals-official-teaser-trailer.jpg) ~~~~~~I'm not going to talk much about the story, as I want to avoid major spoilers, but it's a rather non-linear one. There's not an overarching goal and there's never only one enemy to fight. Instead, the story is more about the world itself and what happens when you take a look too far into it's depths. The main character lives life the way he wants, and we're just along for the ride. What this means is that you may not be the most satisfied person when you finish the series since there isn't a lot of closure. No demon king was slain, no world takeover or revolutionary uprising, the world just continues moving forward and the stories we witness are left to wither away in the dust. Nonetheless, I was on the edge of my seat as the story came to it's end and I enjoyed the way it ultimately unfolded. ~~~~~~img300(https://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cyberpunk-edgerunners-03.jpg?fit=720%2C404&p=1) ~~~~~~Lastly, I'm going to talk about the production. The art, animation, and sound design are all stellar. Every piece of this world has an incredibly unique feel and there's something at every corner that draws you in, not to mention each character's unique designs. I thought Trigger did a great job, especially with the lighting and moods of different environments. The animation itself was great. There are a plethora of action scenes and none of them unfold like the other when it comes to camera angles and imagery. The sound design was also pretty spot on. They stick to their guns and borrow as much as they can from the game, borrowing the exact sounds and giving any one who's played the game immediate nostalgia when you hear a phone call. The guns sound meaty and every voice actor (In Japanese, I did not watch it dubbed in English) had an incredible performance, and I felt they matched with their characters very well. My only gripe was that sometimes I felt that the score being played didn't match certain scenes, although I only felt this in the beginning and not later on. ~~~~~~img300(https://64.media.tumblr.com/d7ca7ec714a69eaacb6bf6a2a1f38ea8/5a2f4285f2739434-11/s540x810/4c73a6f7f106b6647e5e0457b43e36955301a137.gifv) ~~~Overall, I think this is an anime well worth a watch, even if you haven't played the game or know anything about the franchise. You may feel bombarded by the weird lingo and technology that isn't always explained, but I still think this is a great standalone show about a character's personal struggles and how he overcomes the harsh world around him. If you're looking for something unique to watch with a boundless world that you can binge in one day, do yourself a favor and pick this up.

polkura

# ~~~__Cyberpunk: Edgerunners__~~~ ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/fCKJPpE.jpg)~~~ *** # ~~~__Introduction__~~~ _Disclaimer: This is a spoiler free review._ Considering the hot water that Netflix is currently in, them releasing an anime of this caliber is the last thing that I expected. As of right now, Edgerunner is completely canon to the original game even though it is set in the same universe. However, this could change in the future, due to updates, DLCs, and such. But for now, I assure with full confidence that you do not need to play the game, or have played the game to enjoy this; I myself haven't played it either. With that being said, here are my thoughts on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and why it is a potential candidate for the anime of the year. ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/Ybpkq3A.jpg)~~~ *** # ~~~__The Plot & Characters__~~~ The plot follows a teenage boy named David Martinez as he transitions from a poor, elite student to an Edgerunner - an outlaw that lives on the edge. He meets more people like him and goes on tries to challenge the system set by society. So yeah, that's basically all I can say without getting into spoilers. The plot-setting and plot-setup in this anime is insane. There is some good world building as well, and even though it's set in a fictional world, it just felt real. This is mostly because of the display of emotions by the characters, and the state of the society which is divided into the rich and the poor. The best part about Edgerunners is how well executed it's first episode was. It does a great job at showing how developed the Cyberpunk world is and the mannerisms and behaviors of the people and how they adapted to it. For example: There's this guy on the street who has this automated-Fleshlight (or whatever zoomers call it these days), and he's just using it in the public (legit every time the MC walks through that road he's doing it). People also use software, freeware, and microchips to help with day to day tasks or to even do extraordinary things like give powerups or even slow down time. The characters were decent; not the most well-written, but they were beautifully designed, and did leave a strong impression, which is all I can ask for from a 10 episode anime. There is no plot armor as well which gets a huge plus. ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/BmVlPTd.png)~~~ *** # ~~~__The Brilliant Display Of Aesthetics__~~~ Cyberpunk: Edgerunner has the strongest use of aesthetics I've seen in a very long time. Even a person who has only watched the trailer will agree with this. The artistic touch is what makes it stand out as an anime. It has great animation and breathtaking visuals, as one would expect from Studio Trigger. And to no ones surprise, it is very fast paced, but not in a bad way. I was very impressed by how they packed such a story into a mere 10 episodes. In order to reduce that sense of 'rushed', Trigger used transitions in the form of glitch effects to fit the theme of Cyberpunk, when switching from scene to scene. They also used the Zack Snyder Effect (slowing down a scene), to heighten fight scenes, along with repetition and blurring of short fight sequences for added effect. The color usage and themes were set perfectly as well. Backgrounds beautifully drawn and detailed to the dot. Typography techniques were also used to heighten the modernity. ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/avQRdZf.png)~~~ Even though Edgerunners is an anime, it doesn't feel like one at times, and there are a lot of reasons for this. The main one being, the story takes place in US. Essentially, it has a lot of western elements, and those are balanced together with the Japanese ones to bring a very unique blend which just works. In addition to the visual pleasers, there's also a vast array of beautiful soundtracks and OSTs. There was even a Spanish soundtrack. The OP is decent, but it was way more visually pleasing and I love the ED. A lot of great cinematography as well. Sound effects were really good, and voice acting as well. Shoutout to my GOAT Kenjirou Tsuda who was a treat to hear, even though he plays only a minor role. The only complaint I have in this area is the camera movement. It felt a bit jittery, like FPS drops in games. Maybe they put it there on purpose, but I would very much prefer good camera work.
~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/beC2siY.jpg)~~~ *** # ~~~__Conclusion__~~~ Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is not a masterpiece, neither is it flawless. But, this is not the quality that I would normally expect from a Netflix anime. I was definitely proved wrong. The first episode is the strongest first episode I've seen this year. It will hook you all the way to the end of the 10 episodes. And boy oh boy, in that 10th episode, you are in for a treat; a bittersweet climactic ending. Highly recommend you guys watch it as well. Indubitably, a top candidate for anime of the year. ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/gIglxDh.png)~~~

Slobbywasabi

SPOILERS WITHIN THIS REVIEW, CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK Dreams don't always come true. A tragic story of a "special" boy who risks everything for the girl he loves. I never expected something this good when I saw this announcement. This watch gave me a lot of insight. What insight, you may ask. The insight to never doubt Trigger again. Trigger went above and beyond with the animation. This is probably their most ambitious project yet. The soundtrack, the visuals, the character designs. Muah, phenomenal. I was pleasantly surprised the whole time I watched the show. I thought the show would have a shitty plot. WRONG. I thought the show would have a happy go lucky ending. WRONG. I thought the show would be mid, like the game. WRONG. It was awesome how wrong I was proven, this show is up there with Arcane, when it comes to Netflix originals. Cyberpunk's fight scenes fucked. I loved the peculiar angles they used during fights. An example being how they picked a corner angle to show Maine bash three NCPD to pieces. Another being the slowed down scenes, which are then repeated with them in normal time. Trigger really outperformed any other anime so far this year when it comes to fight scenes. Incredible stuff. The subtle world building was intriguing. Cyber psychosis is such a cool dynamic to have. It allows the story to have an insane amount of suspense, not driven off of action but instead off of mental fortitude. The opening scene showing what individuals with cyber psychosis are capable of is an exhilarating way to start off an action show. The world this show was set in was just so interesting to me, that might just be because of my love of futuristic fiction though. I liked all the characters. They felt very real. The way they hid their pain and qualms from others was so realistic. Maine trying to tough out his psychosis, David trying to tough out his psychosis, Lucy trying to protect David all by herself. We are shown constant character flaws, which helps make the show feel more human, despite the characters slowly becoming less human and more machine like as the show progresses. I love a tragic ending. Tragic endings are so much harder to come by than happy ones, and I hate it. Tragic endings leave way more options for how stories can end. They also leave you feeling something, making you think about the show for months to years after you finish it. This specific tragic ending hurt. Seeing Lucy alone hurt so bad, especially since it was her only wish for David to keep living. Unfortunately, it was David's wish to protect her from the city, even if it cost him his life. Will this show get a sequel? Probably. Its been insanely popular and highly revered. Also, its ending leaves some loose ends that could be tied up with a sequel. The main one being what Lucy will do now. Will she try to avenge David? Or will she simply try to live out a quiet life? Obviously the latter doesn't give any motivation for a sequel so I hope its the former, and if they do green light a second season I hope they introduce more charismatic characters. A fantastic watch.

WallahSous

It started off bad and it got even worse. I haven't played the game, so let this be a considered as either a source of bias or a source of impartiality, however you see fit. I'm guessing that having played the game could help you enjoy it more, since you get to see characters you liked in the game being animated and interacting in a new scenario. __Pros:__ • Good amount of gore and violence • The voice chat-boxes appearing on the screen were a nice touch • Some select scenes had a good amount of intensity (usually raging moments) • Biochips being installed into slots to serve as powers, as opposed to innate powers or having a melting pot of "species" with different abilities, which suits a human cyberpunk universe better • Nice outro song __Cons:__ • Art-style is very Western cartoon-like; it looks similar to something like Justice League Dark: Apokolips • Animation could be very abrupt and desynced with the background at times, momentarily looking like some amateur youtube animation video • Color palette is not what I'd expect from a cyberpunk anime, it was missing those key notes of neon pink/purple; it looked flat most of the time • It follows an episodic format where the main character(s) take on side-quests/gigs and their relationship evolves (barely) with a pseudo-overarching romance/love story; only episodes 8-10 follow a larger mini-plot • Main character was extremely edgy, everything was "f*ck", "f*ck you", "f*ck off", "f*cking b*tch", "shut the f*ck up", "f*ck that", "I f*cking feel that sh*t", "I'm built diff", "b*tch ass", etc. etc. A lot of his dialogue was very Catcher in the Rye-esque, cringy society outcast. • A lot of little story plots are tossed at you without any mystery (i.e. episode 2 where the plot to lure in David is non-chalently and monotonically presented) • There's this weird thing where characters live shocking things and react inappropriately, often times overly-stoic and lacking any kind of genuine emotion (the worst one being in episode 1 where David's mother's dies and it's apparently 'ok whatever'), yet it fuels him towards the end of the show, adding a weird inconsistency to it as well • Barely half-way into the anime, the "gigs" become nothing more than an excuse to create gaps between character dialogue, rather than them being the focus point; in some episodes, you'll even see multiple gigs cut into 30 second long snippets only to leave room for, mainly, the romantic story that's taking place and the loss-of-self the main character is going through. Other examples are in episode 4 and episode 7. • The music is constantly spammed over everything and anything, it feels desynced and unfitting half of the time • There's too much effort on trying to force the main character into a "sob-story" (episode 7's dialogue with Lucy being a prime example with that "chasing someone else's dream" line) • The scenery when they're out of combat becomes very repetitive at some point and follows this [30 second combat scene] --> [dropped off by chauffer] --> [dialogue with David], rinse and repeat • The show could have exploited more of the "hacking" or "digital world", but they kept it very surface level, making the show look like some kind of Lupin the 3rd with a cyberpunk gimmick • It's mostly a romance story masquerading as something more than it is, and the main character is mostly devoid of any concrete purpose • The ending was very bad

GummyKatana

Like many of you I am feeling pretty emotionally raw since finishing Edgerunners and have spent a lot of time thinking about the dynamic between David and Lucy as well as their shifting motivations throughout the anime and just wanted to share some of my thoughts. To start with our boy David, we see a young man with no real attachment to anything except his mother. He has always lacked a sense of belongingness amongst his peers and it is made very clear he has only been able to go as long as he does at the Academy due to not wanting to disappoint his mother. He has no father figure that we know of and seemingly no close friends. He is adrift amongst the lower-middle class of the hyper-capitalist dystopia of night city without a motivation of his own. When his mother dies and the injustice of his socioeconomic situation is dumped into his lap, he adopts an almost suicidal disregard for his own safety and understandable rage towards the system and people who represent it (noting Katsuo here). Now despite this it is made apparent throughout the anime that David has a deep sense of empathy and actively seeks human connections. He wants there to be 'more' to his life than what Night City and its empty corporate dreams can provide. When he meets Lucy and through her the other Edgerunners, he finally finds a place where he feels he can belong. He forms these human connections, especially with Maine who is clearly positioned as a father figure for David, something he has never had. He falls for Lucy and in doing so falls for her dream. David's dream becomes to make Lucy happy. What he doesn't realize (and as I will describe further on) is that Lucy's dream had gradually changed from one of isolating herself on the mood to simply being with David after she falls for him in turn. When Maine dies, this represents the second death of a 'parent' for David and we can see by his harrowed but resolute stare at the end of the episode that he is determined not to lose anyone else he cares for. These people and his connections to them are what have finally given him meaning, with their loss being too painful for him to bear. When he finds that Lucy is threatened, he is willing to sacrifice himself without consideration. His dream is for her to be happy and David cannot live in a world without the ones he loves ever again. ---------- Parallel to this we watch Lucy's development. Initially she is aloof and detached, even from the other Edgerunner's. Lucy has deep developmental trauma, we see that her childhood was entirely devoid of warmth or caring and has left her with the dream to escape. Her dream of going to the moon is essentially the ultimate fantasy of isolation; she has no need or want for people. This is further reinforced by Kiwi and her teachings that no-one is to be trusted. This changes when she meets David. Even from the outset his attitude, empathy and gentle nature manage to chip away at the defenses she has built to protect herself from others. As she falls in love with David, she is stricken with the horrible realization that he could, and likely would in the world of Cyberpunk, die. This is why she maintains distance for a time, she does not like the idea of caring for someone because that means you can lose them. Once she embraces her feelings for David, this fear becomes her primary driver and her dream shifts from one of isolation to one of companionship with David. When Lucy learns of the Cyberskeleton and Arasaka's intentions for David, she makes all efforts to hide this from him. She is petrified of what David would do with the information. The idea of David becoming a chromed up cyberpsycho, experimented on by the same corporation that ruined her childhood absolutely horrifies her. She withholds this information from David due to the fear of what he would do with it, however it seems she was going to discuss this with him in detail and the need for him to 'lay off the chrome' if it were not for her very untimely kidnapping. ---------- And then there is the tragedy. David wants to make Lucy happy and see's his own wellbeing as secondary to this goal. Lucy has finally found a measure of happiness due to being with David. He cannot bear the thought of losing her, she cannot bear the thought of losing him. Both become somewhat misguided in their pursuit of this goal. Eventually David sacrifices himself so that Lucy can carry on and achieve her 'dream', not realizing that 'going to the moon' no longer means anything to her without him there. Two people both grasping desperately for something they had already found, only for the cruel machinations of Night City to rip it away entirely. Please add your own thoughts! This was ultimately more for me than anyone else because Edgerunners has left me FUCKED UP after watching it through numerous times now.

Pachirisu

__Primeiro de tudo, a resposta é sim: ALTAMENTE RECOMENDÁVEL.__ _Leve em conta que todo o conteúdo a seguir é a opinião de alguém que previamente possuía conhecimentos relativamente limitados sobre o universo do jogo Cyberpunk 2077 e acabou pesquisando bastante apenas após terminar de assistir toda a série de Edgerunners/Mercenários._ *Resumo: Visualmente, é um banquete para os olhos para quem não tem frescura com estilo oriental ou ocidental e traço misto. A computação gráfica e os efeitos especiais são extremamente bem cuidados e retocados para nada parecer de fora do desenho; não temos em momento nenhum a sensação que alguma máquina ou criatura parece ter sido copiada de outro mundo e colada lá de forma mal feita. Os designs são memoráveis, únicos ou pelo menos interessantes até para figurantes que só aparecem durante um frame. A trilha sonora e os sons de efeito se encaixam sem deixar nada a desejar em momento algum. Há uma pegada de seinen de combate na forma que as relações entre os personagens são desenvolvidas (no caso, com alguma superficialidade - justificada pela lógica do "não confie em ninguém em Night City") de forma a tentar ao mesmo tempo nos fazer gostarmos deles, mas não nos apegarmos o suficiente. A trama é muito boa porém tudo acontece muito rápido e temos dois saltos no tempo, sendo um mais curto e outro de alguns anos após a morte de um personagem importante. O evento que antecede este grande salto no tempo altera as relações, o papel de cada personagem mas não o elenco principal. Temos, obviamente, um final bem infeliz travestido de feliz para a personagem principal. *Conclusão: Para quem assiste a série sem conhecimentos daquele universo ou com poucos conhecimentos do mesmo, apenas analisando o anime que foi produzido como faria com qualquer outro, temos uma história densa, profunda, ambientada em um universo complexo e bem desenvolvido, com personagens interessantes porém não tão bem aproveitadas e exploradas, e com uma duração ridiculamente curta. Para tudo isso beirar a perfeição, bastava uns 4 ou 5 episódios ~~NA MORAL? ATÉ MESMO SÓ +2 JÁ RESOLVIA MUITA COISA~~ a mais, uma melhor exposição das dinâmicas de poder entre Fixers, Edgerunners e as duas empresas tecnológicas mais ricas, uma explicação melhor da atividade dos Netrunners quando estão lá meio offline da realidade e viajando literalmente dentro da internet, um trabalho melhor no tempo de tela das relações entre os personagens e a comunicação com seus passados (sempre que rola flashback, ou é menos impactante do que se espera, ou simplesmente fica longo e massante) e, enfim, a entrega de um produto completo. Quem sabe um produto onde o personagem que simplesmente acaba com tudo o que vemos sendo trabalhado por 9 episódios não é apenas mencionado brevemente no último como uma "lenda urbana viva" momentos antes de aparecer, tocar o terror e tudo ficar por isso mesmo. A sensação que dá é não só a de que foi uma série muito curta por causa do gostinho de "quero mais", mas porque realmente foi muito curta e por besteira perdeu uma chance enorme de ser icônica. No final das contas, tornou-se a série spin-off que é, para mim, a melhor propaganda curta e o melhor merchandising de um jogo/de uma história de ficção já feita no formato de animação oriental japonesa. Se o objetivo era vender o jogo... felizmente para eles e infelizmente para mim, conseguiram. ____________________________________________________________________ *Alguns outros pontos de relevante menção: 1 - A música na abertura é This Fire do grupo Franz Ferdinand; 2 - Alguns trabalhos prévios da equipe principal que trabalhou na produção de Edgerunners incluem: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, Little Witch Academia e Silent Hill. Well done, Studio Trigger e Netflix! e 3 - A melhor parte é um spin-off do spin-off: um vídeo-clipe dirigido e produzido por ninguém menos que ILYA KUVSHINOV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnnbP7pCIvQ&ab_channel=Cyberpunk2077 - É pedir demais outro spin-off para que possamos ver a história da Sasha contada com designs, estilo e animação arcabouçados pelo russo? Merecemos mais Maine, Dorio, Pillar, Falco e, claro, a cereja do bolo: __mais Rebecca__! ~~Mais Kiwi ninguém quer, né?~~

C00kieMaster

Cyberpunk Edgerunners follows the journey of a boy named David born into poverty in the slums of a technological advanced society. A future where technological advancements flourish but the disparity between the poor and rich remain consistent. From the very first episode we see David already have little to nothing and due to the cruel uncaring chaos of the world lost literally everything. He does however came upon a stroke of good luck stumbling upon some military grade cybernetic enhancements which he initially decided to sell but ultimately decided to screw all logic and installed them on himself just to settle a petty quarrel with a bully. The animation from studio trigger as as superb as expected. Being an 18+ rated shows they sure went hard on violence and is not shy to depict nudity when the situation fits. The cyberpunk gun fights and hacking action are truly artistic and dynamic. Action scenes are fluid and the sense of impact hits real hard. The music fits the mood really well and never felt overwhelming. Music and sound effects where used sparingly and subtlety. I love it when somber scenes do have background music or sound effects that never felt too obvious; letting the mood of the animation and what is presented visually speak for itself. But in emotionally climatic moments they know its the right time to drop their banger and they do it so sparingly it just hits so much harder. The direction is just such a masterclass. This series is a prime example of amazing directing. The pacing not only for the overall story but the moods and actions of each scenes are just perfect. Crucial character moments and arcs are given just the perfect amount of time to cook. Each episode has a point and purpose, moments between tension and melodrama are perfectly timed and transitioned. Important climatic moments are build up to perfection each and every single time. As established, David has reached rock bottom and there is no where to go but up for him. He decided to join a group of criminal misfits and decided to make a living on crime with them. David found more happiness and fulfilling relationships with these 'reprehensible' crowd than he ever did with the 'proper' members of society. As edgy as it sounds: David did not chose the thug life, the thug life chose him and embraced him. This series is literally an amazing journey to follow. We are introduced to an unmotivated boy living in mediocrity catching scraps living a 'proper life' to a capable and ruthless mercenary that does what he do because he finally found a purpose for living. The series have a clear beginning and an amazing end. I can confidently say it was definitely a happy ending. For those that disagree... listen back to this song: youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzbLODUb1sA) Think back at the entire journey and try not to be sad because it is over, but rather smile because it happened.

DreamEater

EpsilonTo

Just a disclaimer, I haven't played the original game, nor am I a fan of Trigger or the cyberpunk genre. Let's settle the main story really quick. David Martinez is a teenager who isn't rich but goes to rich kid school, with his single mother supporting him. Then she dies, he is left alone and quickly goes onto doing stupid shit which becomes progressively stupider and then he dies trying to save his friends? If you look on the story retroactively it is very very weird and many things don't make much sense. However, in the context of a great production and entertainment it was decent enough. This show sure is entertaining. It's like a cyberpunk Gurren-Lagan but instead of Simon we have Kamina as a protagonist. So that's where the first problem comes in, even though they try to hide it, but you can still see the Trigger style poking through every aspect of the anime. From character designs and interactions, to jokes and even backgrounds. At the start of the anime we have a couple of opening shots where we see violence/crazy accidents going on in the city, however there has been 1 instance of that and right after we have the incident with David and his mom. Which you could definitely call a setup for future events, but I would definitely say there hasn't been nearly enough context provided for the stuff that happened. And how David's mom even died in the hospital. That shit was so funny, like she legit was fine and then died and we never got an explanation for that. So that is a reoccurring theme in the show that there is a lot of stuff packed and very little unpacked, due to how short the show itself is. The setting isn't set very well for the events that we see happening. A lot of things and people we just gotta understand who they are and what they do along the way and I would say it's annoying. Everything that is extremely important is explained, but so many side things aren't even touched that it's hard to understand the world itself very well. My number 1 is obviously Cyberpsychosis. We see it so many times and we even get told the cause of it and are shown the mind of the person that has it but despite that, it feels like we still barely know anything about it. How and why people get it, is there a way to reverse it? Why would people risk getting it, when they could just downgrade right after having symptoms? Also how do symptoms correlate to having the disorder, will it come back eventually even if you downgrade? And why wouldn't you downgrade if it wouldn't come back? And that's literally 1 detail of the story. The corporations. There is so much stuff untold about it. Like we don't know almost anything about the world and that pisses me off. Ok let's get to another part of the story and that's the whole point of what we have seen. 1st of all, there hasn't been a definitive antagonist in the entire story. Even the final ones in the final arc seem like they are barely even relevant to the world that they live in. So there is very little purpose to this whole story. And that's also where the deaths come in. So many people died for absolutely nothing. The only legitimate goal or dream we hear is Lucy wanting to go on the moon which is still just a wish. It isn't connected to anything in the story. We see our boy David, our main protagonist get shit on and die for absolutely nothing. And that's very annoying to say the least. Now despite of everything I said and all the shitting I did quiet enjoy the show. While narratively and character wise it isn't great, it's still a decent show that's nice to watch with some tea or beer. The production is extremely well done so props to Trigger for that. Now here comes my speculation: because we didn't see the mc die (we saw implicit death) he is gonna be alive in the next part/season of the show where they will go deeper in the things I was upset about that weren't shown to us at all. So maybe it's copium but for now I am giving Cyberpunk an 84/100 and hoping that all my concerns will be addressed in S2. Epsilon out.

superp2222

Cyberpunk 2077 was an internet hot mess. Delays, bugs, and glitches turned the internet into a collective firestorm that tarnished the reputation of this game. Cyberpunk Edgerunners was a masterful concoction, brewed up by Studio Trigger that tugs the heartstrings of our nerves harder than the suppressants chrome junkies inject to prevent sanity. A wonderful story is told in Studio Trigger's signature style. For the sake of maintaining everyone's enjoyment, I will keep spoilers close to zero. Any references I make in this review will also be void of any plot-related connections. __Plot__ Set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, we are given a futuristic corporatocracy where mega-sized technologically advanced supercorporations clash for competitiveness while the majority of the citizen often suffer because of their negligence. Our story follows David Martinez and a story of how a slum kid is introduced to the world of Edgerunning. Throughout the series, we get convoluted corporate plots, high-stakes high-thrill edgerunner jobs, and meaningful personal connections splattered here and out. The primary danger mechanic of the show is also masterfully integrated into the very tools that give Edgerunners like David power. Each chrome implant and each overuse drives the Edgerunner closer and closer to the titular edge of insanity. It becomes a dangerous game of playing balance scales that all edgerunners will live to see tip in one way or another. Ten episodes didn't feel like enough for a Trigger anime, but in these 10 episodes they not only flushed out a world that normally would've required hours of playing 2077 to feel, but also created compelling connections and channels for raw emotion to pour. Each episode the stakes get higher, and you cling to the edge of your seat hoping that we see David crawl out of it without losing anybody. It is a high-stakes job, after all. With the climax at the end of the 10 episodes, you are dragged into the fights, the animations, the story, and the characters so hard that when you see the credits scroll at the end of it, you are left with no words except "holy shit". img500(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/riBhjyjW7nihsTDmjizE2q4kVfo=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016192/Edgerunners_001.jpg) _I mean look at this, that's goddamn beautiful_ __Characters__ The characters are some of the most compelling you can find, especially in recent seasons. Throughout the 10 episodes, you follow David as he metamorphosizes from a high school roughhouser to a newbie edgerunner to a full-on master mercenary. Despite revealing little to no compelling emotion to keep up a face, you can see the emotional turmoil he experiences as he gives more and more for his new partners, even if it may cost him. We see him hammered with soul-testing events after another, things that either make us revel in joy or slam our desks in anger along with him. Each and every time, we see him pull through. By episode 7 we see him matured into his prime, and it felt like a true moment of "I raised that boy." img550(https://occ-0-2773-358.1.nflxso.net/dnm/api/v6/E8vDc_W8CLv7-yMQu8KMEC7Rrr8/AAAABRJmnyekljq6GHSq0dzQps6ZGd0BVaR8CN-vSRLasvxoaN4DEs0UYpVY9bQOgjAst8QLpqJCe59lQ2i7cuUyDofgnindZE00T3FI.jpg?r=b72) David's development wouldn't have happened without his supporting characters. Two of which are the most important. Lucy's cold demeanor yet instinctive trust she has with David made them natural partners in crime, also giving them chemistry that feels genuinely developed and not half-assed for plot purposes. Likewise, David's mentor Maine connects to him on a personal level, past the metal plating of their cybernetic upgrades and into the soul itself. Those who have played Xenoblade Chronicles 2 can basically attest that he is the spiritual successor to Vandham, whose traits of being a charismatic, compassionate, caring leader are relayed perfectly in this badass gunslinger. We also see him display many bro moments that interject many much-needed moments of laughter into this plot and emotion-heavy anime. img500(https://c4.wallpaperflare.com/wallpaper/829/500/975/cyberpunk-cyberpunk-2077-cyberpunk-edgerunners-lucy-edgerunners-anime-hd-wallpaper-thumb.jpg) The other side characters also provide a much-needed relief from the emotions of the show. Doc is hilarious though genuinely caring, Rebecca and Pilar are pure comedic relief, and Kiwi and Dorio are silent mentors to the whole affair. And of course, who can forget best mom Gloria Martinez. __Animation__ As with all Trigger works, the animations speak for themselves. Set in Trigger's signature colorful and vibrant pastel style, Edgerunners gives stunning visual clarity to the futuristic world of Night City. The vibrant lighting translates into a very distinctive high-contrast 2D artstyle that makes the entire world feel colorful and real. Honestly, it feels so vibrant it feels like you're tripping along with them, because this whole thing feels super psychedelic, which only serves to heighten the drug-based dependencies these characters need. However, longtime viewers of Trigger works may argue that this happens with every Trigger anime. Their criticism will then be quickly silenced with the first demonstration of the bullet-time ability that would later become David's signature technique. The color and the image capture-esque style create a very sick view of bullet-time that differs yet carries the same style of Matrix's bullet-time. img500(https://preview.redd.it/o8od49urgl491.jpg?auto=webp&s=18aeb8c3671a4fd7e30a15231eafa7532cd4ca15) On top of this, one of the best things in this anime was its representation of Cyberpsychosis, the insanity condition I mentioned earlier. Not only do we see their world literally glitching apart, but we also see the symptoms victims experience in a stunning way. From color swaps to represent nausea to the vivid hallucinations experienced by those in the later stages, it creates for a terrifying reality that quickly changes your mind from "what implants would I use if I was in Cyberpunk" to "hell naw I ain't touching that". Lastly, I can't talk about animation without the fight scenes. Despite most of them finishing in less than a millisecond, we see each action carried out fluently in bullet-time, giving Trigger an opportunity to flex their fight choreography in our faces. The showdown at the climax of the scene only serves to heighten what I mean. __Music__ The music of Cyberpunk Edgerunners is a mix of original OST (the OP and ED) and borrowed OST from the game. Personally, I feel that this makes it more grounded to its original source material, giving game -> anime people an opportunity to do the Rick Dalton meme while giving anime -> game people the same treatment, albeit now with a bit more feels attached. The symbolism behind the OST choices also makes for a great thing to take note of. So I have a bit of an example to make. If you are reading this after finishing the series, listen to the track below and hop back on the feels train. If you're reading this before starting the anime, then come back later to tell me what you felt when you heard this track being played. The feels train isn't a one-way ticket ya know. youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzbLODUb1sA) __Overall__ When people watch anime adapted from video games, disappointment is usually the main feeling. Stein's gate was an exception to the curse, but other shows such as Azur Lane certainly got hit with it (here's to hoping Arknights and Genshin's announced anime can deliver). Trigger just gave us the gold standard of anime adapted from video games. Even though its on Netflix and even though its coming from a game berated by disappointment, Edgerunners proves that even if results can vary, the heart and soul of the universe these creators built reigns true. img500(https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_956+h_529+to_webp+ret_img/https://vulkk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/View-from-Lucys-apartment-Edgerunners.jpg)

nummystuff2

An unexpected masterpiece, not only a fantastic intro to the Cyberpunk 2077 world, but a phenomenal display of Studio Trigger's talent. Characters TO DIE FOR that you will be rooting for the entire way through, an absolute banger soundtrack, BEAUTIFUL visuals and attention to detail loyal to the game, a fantastic dub, lots of cyber-packed action, and feels for DAYS. I was absolutely messed up by the ending, and will be coping with it emotionally for days, weeks, maybe years(?) to come. This is an absolute must-watch with memorable characters driving you through one of the most fun story experiences I've ever went through the honor of following for a long time. Lucy is one of the most well-written characters I have ever seen, and David is an absolute treat of a protagonist to follow as he changes the course of his life in a way that forces you to both agree and deny in his evolution. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners brings you into a gangster, on-edge, sinister yet charming life inside Night City. You are dragged along the inconvenient life of David, one of the most iconic protagonists to date, as he learns to cope and find his way through life by throwing some of it to the side, making way to pave a new path for his complex future. From there, we meet Lucy, who is secretive and mysterious but still puts a little bit of her fun and lighthearted personality on display to slowly introduce us to her. We wind up sympathizing with David and rooting for the duo as they become an ideal pair within the Edgerunners, and the show becomes a very fun pattern of up-in-your-seat action pitting cybergear against cybergear, and emotional moments where the show takes its time to slow down and help you connect and fall in love with the characters. Despite the grimm nature of Night City and the doings of the Edgerunners and people of similar nature, you ultimately start finding beauty in how this hell of a setting allows a newborn appreciation for world views and the ways characters choose to spend their lives. Lucy, for one, wants to escape the sad world humanity left behind and start completely anew. And while at first this is a depressing topic, you are quickly swayed to consider believing her. Night City is full of monsters, psychos that are an ugly threat and lost all trace of humanity. With all these new ones developing day by day, building themselves less and less of a human until it's gone, you can't help but hope all of your favorite characters too can isolate themselves one day and get the happier future they're fighting for. Hands down, this is a legendary anime, and the most fun I've had watching a show in a real long time. Also, you will listen to "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" while staring at the moon for several hours both during and after watching this anime.

jaysunnii

*SPOILERS* This show was the ultimate bait and switch-- making me believe David was more than a cis-het-male self-insert and that Lucy's *Manic Pixie Dream Girl* archetype might have actually been badass. David *is* a self-insert, gets buff and ugly, doesn't learn from Maine's cyberpsychosis, and proceeds to pull the same shit as his supposed father-figure/mentor-- but the show doesn't fail to remind you of his love for Lucy that never goes beyond a teen boy's wet dream. Lucy would have been better off committing to the MPDG trope, but that's ripped from the audience the second her life suddenly revolves around a teen boy that never gave her a reason to like him in the first place. RIP Gurney-Scene Lucy. You will be missed. I forgot the point of the show halfway through with the juggling of plots. Faraday backstabs them, Kiwi backstabs them, Lucy continues to keep secrets from David by being aloof and mysterious, David is bitching about why his girlfriend never talks to him because she's aloof and mysterious-- and then it ultimately becoming their downfall as David gets one-shot by Adam Smasher. Yawn. David and Lucy ruined the show-- zero chemistry-- it was like dogshit being shoved down my throat-- nails on chalkboard every second they shared a scene together. The writers would have done us a favor by making Rebecca the main protag of the show instead, as she was literally the only character showing any sign of having even a single brain cell-- but wait-- that's also shot to shit as she, and every other main character, is blown to blood and guts-- so I don't even get the satisfaction in being even remotely upset over her death as it was executed purely for shock factor. *Fart noise*. If I was God, I'd want to be in the same room as the writers pitching the plot for this show-- that exact moment, because I know there was at least one person that had the right idea, but the rest of them diluted it in a puddle of piss and spit. Why didn't David's fixation in fulfilling other people's dreams cause friction between him and Lucy? Instead, it was Lucy's aloofness and mysteriousness. And for what? To protect David? *And for what?* They could have easily been foils of one another considering Lucy's tragic backstory of-- her words-- "fulfilling someone else's dream". Why was she so fixated on David not dying then? She escapes Arasaka to live for herself only for her to end up living for someone else? She was so ready to up and abandon Maine and Dorio, but for *some* reason David is the exception? I could write an essay on the main couple's dynamic with each other and each point would sound good in theory, but then you watch the show just to see how poorly it was executed. I'd believe anyone telling me this show was a tragedy, because boy, it sure was fucking tragic. Aside from the meat, plot, and writing of the anime-- I give the world building, concept, and lore an A+. Especially for fans of the game. Terminology is the only thing that would probably hold people who haven't played the game back a bit when watching the anime, but the writers were solid in keeping everything within context. People coming back to the game because of the anime-- I totally get, because I'd re-install to remind myself just how much better the game is too.

Yuuko

~~~This is my first review and I wrote this in my sleep so please dont mind the errors, and I will make it very short and not boring I wish. (No spoilers) ___ __Personal Enjoyment 10/10__ As a huge Cyberpunk enjoyer, this show has got everything I'd have ever wanted in a Cyberpunk anime and more. I had high expectations for this and this blew it out of the blue. This delivered much much more than everyone'd ever imagined it could. This is imo Studio Trigger's best work yet and arguably(or not) the best Cyberpunk anime there has ever been. ___ __Story 9/10__ This story captured the essence and struggle that one's constantly feeling in while living in a dystopian Cyberpunk world. The portrayal of the huge parallel differences between the low life and the mega high tech corporations, the underground night life, the unbalanced tech-driven society and the every human's self-priority driven actions was on point. No one is doing what they do for personal reasons, they are just doing it to survive, which humanity does best. David's struggle from a normal school kid to an underground fixer and a Cyberpunk legend might just be how everyone in the night city has to gain a name and reputation for themselves. _No one is special in night city but everyone thinks they are special and that drives them to their end._ ___ __Characters 10/10__ Everyone in the crew has a story to tell and the past they want to forget and move on from, but it is still dwindling in their life. In such a short amount of time, Cyberpunk managed the audience to get attached to the characters, feel what they feel and want to know their full story. - [David](https://anilist.co/character/284158/David-Martinez) is the selfless and honest boy who is too good to be born in this world full of self-important humans. He doesnt have a reason to survive until he met Lucy and the crew and now they have become his reason. His dream is to make others' dreams come true whatever it takes, and that mindset isnt what is fit to survive in night city but he defies the norm and survives and makes himself a name. - [Lucy](https://anilist.co/character/284157/Lucy) is the one with cold and laid back exterior but a warm, emotional and sentimental heart inside. Constantly struggling since her childhood, she has been through it all. She does have a dream, to make it to the moon, and its just a distant dream until she met David, that became a goal instead of a dream. Always trying to protect David over herself and everything else, she's the perfect combination of good and wicked (in a good way). I definitely want more of her story for sure. - [Maine](https://anilist.co/character/284159/Maine) is like a caring father who always look out for his crew over anything and he also had a rough past that drove him to this point and will drive him to the end. [Rebecca](https://anilist.co/character/284163/Rebecca) managed to grab everyone's hearts(deservedly) in such a short time and she definitely deserved more time for her story. [Kiwi](https://anilist.co/character/284161/Kiwi) is portrayed as your average Cyberpunk survivor and she was arguably one of the coolest characters in night city, and the same goes for [Faraday](https://anilist.co/character/284165/Faraday) who is corpo-obsessed and does everything he can to climb up the social ladder. _[Falco](https://anilist.co/character/287420/Falco)'s moustache alone is the epitome of society._ ___ __Animation 10/10__ This doesnt even need to be explained coz Trigger always delivers bangers with top notch quality and this definitely even one ups their previous works. Cyberpunk world can be the coolest thing ever if portrayed correctly and they definitely did that perfectly. The amount of care they put into creating this immersive world is truly insane and you can feel the love they put into this shows in every sec of this. Just look at some of these: img400(https://c.tenor.com/Ngm1DAHzlSkAAAAC/edgerunners-rebecca.gif) img400(https://c.tenor.com/cYV2BPDio1EAAAAd/cyberpunk-cyberpunk-anime.gif) img400(https://c.tenor.com/QDm-IrI9JD4AAAAC/cyberpunk-cyberpunk-anime.gif) img400(https://c.tenor.com/cM_ZcK4AgmIAAAAC/cyber-punk-cyberpunk-edgerunners.gif) ___ __Soundtrack 11/10__ This soundtrack will make you feel the emotions you didnt know you could. The OP and ED are both masterpieces. Every track in this definitely dissolves well with the scenes and that makes the scenes much more impactful and emotional. What's even more crazy is they reused a lot of the tracks from the game and those just feel so in place for the show that it just seems like they're written for the show. The songs I have been hearing all the time in the game will hit totally different after this show. ____ __Connection with the game__ I guarantee you will definitely want to play/replay Cyberpunk 2077 after this show, and I am one of them, and I'd recommend you give the game a chance too. They really crafted it carefully to blend in with the game so you can find places, people, and things that were in the show in the game. Thats a good feeling. Its crazy how this show will make everyone invested and interested in this world that this revived the game(which is already good enough after massive updates) and it will make playing the game a unique experience that you'd have never experienced without this show. ___ __Enjoyability 10/10__ You wouldnt even get to decide whether you should invest your time on this because once you starts, you cant stop and when it ends, you'll be left there wanting more of this show and wish it would have been longer. This show is full of high octane action sequences and quiet and emotional moments that it wont let your brain rest for a sec and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the experience. ___ __Potential complaints__ The only real complaint might be that people can argue that this was so short to even get invested and that itself means people cant get enough of this show and they really wanted more, and if you do want more, you can experience it in the game. Thats what they aimed for anyway. ___ __Overall 9.5/10__ This is a must-watch show for every anime fan or just animation fan in general. You can definitely see the passion and love they put into this one hell of a banger show. This show is not just a hollow action packed show with nothing else. It is a portrayal of one's struggle to survive in the ever changing Night City or life in particular and how certain events can change a human for the better or for the worse. This show hits every mark in every direction, top notch quality and crisp action scenes, an interesting plot, amazing characters who managed to shine bright in this short amount of time, immersive worldbuilding, heavenly soundtrack, perfectly delivered epic/emotional moments, and much much more. ~~~

Lukasu

Cyberpunk Edgerunners is an anime set within the cyberpunk 2077 universe, and I just love the combination of the 2. Story: 9/10 I'll say you don't need to have played Cyberpunk 2077 to enjoy this show, since I loved it even though I didn't finish the game. People who have played the game will just notice small Easter eggs and details, but overall it's still a great watch. Edgerunners' story is fantastic! It has impactful moments, sorrowful moments, funny moments, but most of all it has meaningful moments in the story. The story deals with how the city can change a person's life, experiences, relationships, and humanity. In a world where people put cybernetic implants on their bodies, chaos happens, and in this show it's the beautiful type of chaos. In just 10 episodes, this show does a great job setting up its plot and shows some world building. My only problem with this story is that I just wanted more like many people. I would honestly give this a 10 probably if we had more than 10 episodes to explore more of the story, world, characters, and lore behind the Cyberpunk franchise. This show has a beautiful story and a beautiful message, and I can't recommend this enough to viewers. Art: 10/10 This is probably the best looking anime I have seen in 2022 other than KnY and just watching it is just like candy for my eyes. I love that all the gore and adult visuals are uncensored in this anime, and studio Trigger really went all out and had fun drawing all the gore, sex, and other things that most anime would censor, or most shows would just remove. Cyberpunk is an adult franchise, and I love that even the anime follows through with this. Another thing that is just mind-blowing is the action in the show. The fights look so crazy and cool and still have the wacky signature trigger look to them. I love the addition of small details in the show like the call icon on the corner of the screen just like the game, and also the small details and parallels that some scenes have with each other. I love the lighting in this show since it really makes you immersed in this show. Night city looks brilliant and as beautiful as it looked in the game, and everything looks so similar and stunning. I think studio trigger was the perfect studio to make Edgerunners since they have a unique style that works well with the crazy world that cyberpunk 2077 has. Thank you studio trigger for the amazing animation. Sound: 10/10 This show's soundtrack broke me. The show's OST doesn't sound or feel like your average OST since they are all bangers and great songs. They had many different genres of music and all of them fit with the scenes very well. Some OSTs remind me of beautiful moments in the show, and a lot of them appear in the game itself. Many songs now will be Iconic as some of the best anime OSTs of 2022. The voice acting is spectacular and both Japanese and English dub are good, although I kinda regret watching it in Japanese since I heard some clips from the English dub and the voice acting is just amazing, plus they actually use words from the cyberpunk universe. 10/10 for the sounds in this show they are all amazing. Character: 10/10 This show had some of the best characters I've seen in a while. I connected with all of them and grew to love all of them. I think David is one of the best protagonists this year, and he and his character growth in just 10 episodes was fantastic. We have 2 best girls in this show, Lucy and Rebecca, and both are brilliant and great. I like how some characters from the game end up appearing in the show, but I wouldn't expect too much from the game's cast, since this show is set before the game. I loved the relationships between characters, and I think that was the most beautiful thing about this show. It really makes you feel emotions for the characters you love in this show. Great characters! Enjoyment: 10/10 This has been one of the top shows of 2022 for me so far, and I enjoyed it a bunch! The characters, the music, the artwork, everything made me so happy and depressed when it was all done. I feel kinda empty now that I finished it. Overall, I do think this is studio trigger's best anime, and it's also one of the best anime to come out in recent times. Thank you, studio trigger, Thank you, CD Project Red, Thank you, Cyberpunk Edgerunners.

Pursueth

Story: 4/10 Art: 9/10 Score: 8/10 Characters: 4/10 Enjoyment: 7/10 Overall: 6.5/10 I haven't played 2077 but what a series this turned out to be. With all its ups and downs I felt it still managed to be consistent even towards the end which is funny cause trigger. But it still never reached the mark I expected it to with how praised it is. Cyberpunk: Edgrunners is a dystopian show that follows every known trope in the genre to a T. The first episode you see the terrible conditions of the main character, you see the corruption surrounding the world he inhabits, a random girl spends 2 seconds with him and falls in love because why not et cetera. Tropes like these are not exactly used as springboards to explore any deeper themes or subvert your expectations they're just used as substitute for any time spent actually fleshing out these developments or relationships. And the funny thing is that's not even the worst of it. My main problem with cyberpunk is probably the generic storyline. It's like the same outcast story being told in the exact same way it has been a million times before. There is no twist to this idea and I feel that brings the show down a few notches. The same problems present themselves with characterization. Everyone feels like a reskin of some other character from some other show set in a future dystopia. It's like I've seen these exact arcs play out the exact same way. The cast is also not that great. You don't care about half the characters in here because they're either one-dimensional or dead. The emotional core of the show is also never properly developed. Things either happen way too quickly for me to register how I'm supposed to feel or they're just unimportant. It doesn't help that the main character is either stone-faced most of the time or just displays emotions at highly selected moments that just make it all feel forced. The only thing that remotely made me feel anything was the romance but that's probably because I'm a sucker for the dynamics at play. I still think David's the most forgettable protagonist I've come across in a while. It's crazy how boring he is. ~!I liked his conclusion though which felt fitting. It was sad to see him go but at the same time, it's the consequence he had to face. Rebecca's death was hilarious I'm sorry that just came out of nowhere. Lucy's conclusion was fine.!~ This show NEEDED to be longer. It's way too much shit dumped way too quickly for anything to stick. Overall this is a 6-7/10 show. It's a good cyberpunk show. Finale was the best episode hands down. Dreams and aspirations be damned in this world, just like the pacing of the show. ~~~img1000(https://i.imgur.com/uoE7cVf.png)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shisui0

My friend had been recommending to me a new hot topic anime out right now called Cyberpunk Edgerunners. At first, I was not intrigued because I do not trust the public's opinion, however, I saw how fluid the animation was and went to check it out. I came out of the experience and it was an entertaining one, to say the least. SPOILER WARNING PLUS I DID NOT PLAY THE GAME SO THIS REVIEW WILL BE FROM SOMEONE WITH NO GAME KNOWLEDGE. Anyways, the story is about our Grade A student named David who attends Arasaka Academy and only lives with his mother, Gloria. Neither of them fit in with their respective groups but they try to get by despite the massive amounts of debt they are in. After ending up in a car accident that kills David's mom, David finds Sandevistan and plans to become an Edgerunner. I'll start with the overall story and say it's decent. You can tell where the plot is headed but that isn't a bad thing. They set out with a goal to show the bad side of a dystopian world and they pulled it off albeit in a very predictable sense but it worked nonetheless. I will say that a big gripe that I had with the show is how rushed it felt. I get that it is 10 episodes but everything felt a bit too fast for me to the point where I couldn't feel emotionally invested in the characters or story. I'll get to the characters in a bit but another little gripe I had was the direction they took in the second half which should make sense with context, as Maine (the leader just died) and David took in the role of the leader. The flow just did not feel natural to me which could just be the rushed pacing but that's how I felt. Next are the characters and again, none of them are too deep or well-written. A lot of them are obvious stereotypes but that doesn't weigh them down for me that much. I liked all the characters as none of them were that annoying other than Pilar and they were all just likable. Most of the characters including David die though which feels like a double-edged sword because, in the context of this show, it was the right call, but as a viewer, it just stings that I just feel nothing for their deaths. The ending felt bittersweet mainly because we saw Lucy (main girl) on the moon, alone without David. I am usually not a fan of bittersweet endings as they ruin my overall watching. It feels like I'm ranting too much even though I liked the show. The animation and ost/sound design are just incredible. Almost everything in this show looks and feels amazing to watch and is just out of this world. I also really loved the character interactions in this show. Their chemistry is insane in the first half and I just wished we got that more. Overall, I felt like Edgerunners fall under the category of "A good anime that with more episodes, could've been perfect." There are many things that made me wish there was more to this. I would really like to see this amazing world again sometime.

Fretro

Take any successful dystopian sci fi venture, one of the major parts of writing such stories is building the world properly. First, you teleport your audience into a different world, and then you get started with the plot proceedings. This show, however, doesn't tell the story in this traditional way. The world isn't even briefly expanded on. It just feels like the writers started out without figuring out any plot, initially, and then made a bunch of dogshit up. Characters are randomly introduced out of nowhere, most of the times, like how the fuck do you expect your audience to connect with your characters, when you don't give them enough time to actually develop. The main character is an extremely primitive uni dimensional character. I don't know about you, but I'm fucking sick and tired of mc's going like, my dream is to fulfill some other peoples' dreams. Like shut the fuck up. I can't believe it. This is such a tried and tired trope, like we've been at this for a century. There's nothing to uncover here, themes wise. And Lucy. You can set up a drinking game and drink a shot every time something cliche as fuck happens in this show. Trust me, by the end of the game, you'll put yourself in a hazardous position, because you'll be drinking so much. Like, how many fucking times do we get the same fucking character arc? There isn't a single layered character in this show. Right from the world - things you'll see in this show, you'll have seen them elsewhere before already. This show offers literally nothing new, it's a disgrace. And man, this show has got a knack of using disgustingly cringe asspulls. I honestly don't get the hype. People are comparing this to fucking devilman crybaby? Bro, what a fucking joke. This show offers 0 nuances whatsoever. Every character is poorly written, every plot point is poorly written. I've not played any of the cyberpunk games, and after seeing this abomination, I honestly don't give a shit. The fans may go batshit crazy at all the references and stuff that this show offers, and they're the only likely target audience I can think of. It feels like the purpose of the show was also just that - it was made for the fans of the game, not for the general audience. And that's one of the biggest issues I have with this show. Take Arcane for example, viewers who are not well versed with league of legends, can also easily get into the show, and it has some really beautiful moments. I'm not saying that, a story needs to showcase complexity to be good. Even Arcane isn't complex. Arcane is a simple, straightforward story, but it's narrated in such a way, that, while , it's not showcasing anything new narratively, it still causes for some extremely entertaining moments, that really stay with you. That's really what this show missed. They tried to go for a bittersweet ending, but it was too late. That motherfucker, Adam whatever, was literally brought in - in the last fucking episode. It's as if, the writer just sat down, and thought, ''huh, what would be a good way to end this?" and then thought of this emo ending, and he just rushed with the progressions. This is a show, that is all style and no substance. The music is fine at times, the animation absolutely slaps, it's the major takeaway here, nothing noteworthy otherwise. Cyberpunk Edgerunners is one of the worst things I've seen all year, and it's not something I'd recommend to anybody. They didn't have a complex story to tell, they had an awfully simple one in their hands, and they still messed it up so badly, that it just becomes a stupid and rushed pile of dogshit. And THAT, needs some heavy fucking talent, doesn't it? __30/100__

VivavideoUser2x

It’s here, it’s finally here, been keeping my eye on this project since 2020,but now its here and goddamn.I don’t even need to tell you this is my favorite NetLick anime because that's not a high bar to cross. But Trigger literally went over the moon with this show. img220(https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2022/07/03/cyberpunkopen-1656832179010.png) Now…I didn’t play 2077,because it's the video game equivalent of a 9 year old stillborn,its release was a massive disappointment to me. Apparently the story was alright,but all the bullcrap with the glitches,the drama,and the lawsuits basically turned me off from wanting to play it, and also I just wasn’t in a mood to wait around for it to “get fixed” when there are many other games that aren't broken. CyperPunk:EdgeRunners on the other hand isn’t broken.EdgeRunners is literally hell unleashed.Ridiculously graphic, insanely gorey,straight up absurd at moments,full on nudity which is a first for Trigger, action scenes that don't give you time to breathe and styyyyyyyyyyyyyyle.Style 4 days. I think this is a good example of an anime knowing its audience, and one of the greatest examples of a video game adaptation that does the source material justice while taking creative liberties and, yknow ,not being a cash grab like a lot of other anime. #STORY/CHARACTERS 2077 Its honestly indescribable how well the characters are written in this show,but I will say each of them feel very distinct from one another personality wise, even if some don’t get a lot of screentime, I feel I can tell alot about them from the script, the VA,and their look, they all look and sound different,but the show doesn't focus on everyone,but it does what it needs to keep the story well paced.And while that pace is very quick and fast, i wouldn't call this show “fun” to watch necessarily.If you're the type of person who plays CyberPunk just to screw around in an open world, I don’t know if this show would be something you would enjoy as much as that. I was going into EdgeRunners expecting this sleek and stylistic balls to the walls visual spectacle, and I wasn't wrong about that. What I did not see coming was the tone of the show. The show is absolutely depressing.Like this is legit one of the more depressing anime I have seen recently. The reason why is that it does a good job of showing the ups and downs of people trying to just make a living. The beginning grabs you by your throat emotionally, and a good chunk of the middle half is just hell unleashed, bloody, dangerous, but lots of fun. Afterwards it's just a downward spiral, it shows the characters going through grief,trauma, and withdrawals, and you are there for all of it, man. And it can be tough to get through because it's so raw and doesn't shy away from any of it. And what Triggers does well is use its animation to give these emotional moments breathing room for the audience to cope with it instead of trying way too hard to force emotions on them.One thing I need to touch on is how the show handles death.There are people literally dying left and right in this show, but when it happens to someone you're attached to in this anime, the only one who truly feels it is you. The main character David sort of feels it,but that empathy goes away as he loses his humanity, and the deuteragonist Lucy becomes so detached and loses the spark she once had when you first see her,and Night City itself is just a mess where people die but death isn't really treated with the respect it should have.So basically the only one feeling grief is you,but the show keeps on going while you try to contain your emotions because time waits for no man and that makes it all the more depressing.It's not what’s said, it's what's not said that makes it sad. Wow, that was somber, so let's talk about something cheerful. :) #ART/ANIMATION 2077 Would it be a stretch to say this is the best looking Trigger show I have seen? Well in that case call me Elastigirl because I'm sticking to that statement.This show is such a sight for sore eyes, with animation that is very crisp and clean, yet still having that Trigger style that makes it well known.And some of the best character designs ever to come from Yoh Yoshinari’s wonderful brain. David’s power is animated really creatively, it looks as if Golden Experience Requiem took acis,overdosed,and then took speed afterwards.I know TRIGGER gets memed on for their animation sometimes. I think that's what makes it iconic. I think this studio is up there with Shaft on using their animation budget wisely. Trigger loves still shots like a lot. I think their best example of this was when they were still a part of GAINAX and they blessed all the eva analysts with the iconic elevator scene. There are scenes like that in this anime too.Sometimes they use it very well.Other times, my ADHD brain is like… “okay I get it, it's a shot of David’s eye, wow let's move on pls.” During the times they nail it is in the emotional scenes I mentioned earlier, scenes that flaunt off the beautiful background art and some clever editing tricks to kind of break that repetition. #SOUNDTRACK 2077 Before I get into the sound I just wanna say. What kinda strings were pulled to get Franz Fucking Ferdinand to perform the mellow yellow looking opening to this show but woooooow,Paradise Kiss is shaking in their 2005 boots right now.As for the soundtrack, it feels less like a soundtrack and more like a bunch of songs on the radio being played in the background,I think the frequency of these songs and when they’re played do feel a little excessive,but the songs themselves sound really well made. #OVERALL 2077 Goddamn trigger is literally out here making a video game adaptation that might be better than the game itself.And this is EXACTLY what Trigger needed. This is probably some pippin hot tea to spill, but i always thought TRIGGER was a meh studio. Despite having a style that was iconic and expressive animation, each of their shows had something that felt subpar like the characters or the story, but this is legit the first time I can say TRIGGER has an anime that shows they are a force not to be reckoned with. img220(https://64.media.tumblr.com/229ff902aa7548c936e21d3b7c4c086c/2e72c66deb3d50c5-3f/s540x810/a3abecd60a98655e2e9ec497b116fad612f6b16e.gifv)

Coolgu275

~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/XqdHDre.jpg)~~~ So I finished watching Cyberpunk Edgerunners and let me tell you it was amazing. It is crazy how Studio Trigger could fit so much story in only ten episodes. You can always count on studio trigger to bring outstanding animation into all of their animes and I feel like this might be studio trigger's best anime to date. I will highlight the things that I believe stood out in all of the topics including; plot, characters, animation, setting, and soundtrack so I do hope that you enjoy my review and I will not give spoilers as I feel like this review should entice people to watch the anime. And to the people who have already watched it I hope that you can agree with my opinions on this anime and figure out what this anime means to you. ~~~__Plot__~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/XepkPEd.jpg)~~~ This anime takes place in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe and everything that happens in this anime is cannon to the game. As you should expect going into this anime everything and everyone is super futuristic. I personally have always enjoyed certain sci-fi series and when I started watching anime when I was a kid that love grew even more. I decided to watch this anime off of a whim because I just wanted to sit down and watch an anime thinking that I could just turn my brain off and that I wouldn't get super invested into the story, as well as the characters but was I sorely mistaken. You immeadiately get thrown head first into a super colorful and immersive universe and you get to watch from a front row seat at how people find a way to live within this universe whether they are Corpos, Cyberpunks, or people who were castaway from society and forced to live in the slums of Night City. The plot is definitely well executed and will constantly have you on your toes waiting to see what will happen next. ~~~__Characters__~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/ptrfdk9.jpg)~~~ The characters of this anime are extremely well written and you start to really enjoy learning about all of the character's motives, interests, and backstories from the first episode. You immeadiately see that everyone in this anime was effected by their surroundings in some way or another and the people that surrounded them. Most of the characters in this anime were not given a choice and were forced into the life they live now but some other characters chose this life because they either thought that this life was their only choice or the fact that they are very materialistic and enjoy to live a life more lavishly. In Night City you will get to see a plethora of people of different backgrounds and upbringings. Speaking of diversity, I really enjoyed the fact that these characters are from all over the globe and still somehow ended up in Night City. ~~~__Animation__~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/gv0icBD.jpg)~~~ As I stated earlier in the review Studio Trigger was the studio behind the animation and let me tell you that they did an outstanding job on it. If you are curious, Rafal Jaki and Mike Pondsmith came up with the characters and scenario of this anime. You might recognize Studio Trigger's name from other anime but most notably among them is _Kill la Kill_. You get to see over the top gore and action and then all of a sudden the story slows down and you get to enjoy watching the city at night and the overall beauty of Night City espcially with the towers covering the skyline. The animation style is so incredibly detailed from its goriest moments to its most calm ones where you can just sit back and enjoy the character dialogue and animation. ~~~__Setting__~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/LnhScUB.jpg)~~~ The setting for this anime is set in a very dystopian universe where you get to see from the beginning that Night City is beautiful on the outside but once you delve deeper into the city you see how dirty and grotesque the underworld is and if you aren't careful it will swallow you up whole.Therefore I feel like Studio Triggered nailed adaptating Night City from the video game into the anime and they perfectly captered all of it and then made it even better. As the viewer you will be constantly wanting to learn more about the city and everyone who has somehow made a living in this place. Later on in the anime you get to see the outskirts of the city. The outskirts are literally just deserts which must make you think that all of the peope in Night City must feel like they have nowhere else to go and that they must somehow survive in this place or die trying. ~~~__Soundtrack __~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/1kFzkvA.jpg)~~~ The sound track from this anime is simply perfect. It is really difficult to find music that suits an anime so perfectly as it does this one. I really loved the music overall, So much so that I added all of the songs to my playlist. I feel like I will be listening to these songs long after I've already watched it. The opening visuals as well as song perfectly suit the animes' crazy over the top action and violence. On the other hand the outro perfectly captures the more mellow/depressing nature that this anime exhibits. Even the music that plays during the dialogue constantly changes to where the characters are or what kind of situation they are currently in. I am a huge fan of this because all of my favorite anime do this so well and Cyberpunk Edgerunners is no different. ~~~__Conclusion__~~~ ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/JHr8CuN.jpg)~~~ Overall this anime is just simply amazing and one of my favorites I have seen in a while. If I have one single complaint, it is that I really wanted more episodes to watch. If you haven't watched Cyberpunk Edgerunners yet I strongly encourage you to do so, or If you have already seen it I really hope you enjoyed my review. Please leave a like on the review as it is much appreciated and I really do hope you continue to enjoy _Cyberpunk Edgerunners_.

Ozzieboi

Edgerunners was really good and did everything super well, however, the short runtime (while making it easy to watch due to each episode being packed with plot development) meant that they neglected giving the story "downtime". In my opinion stories have three general modes they can be in at any one time; "uptime", "downtime", and "filler". "uptime" is when big plot or large character development happens, with stuff like people dying, big decisions, action sequences, dilemmas, etc. happening, while "downtime" is where a lot of stuff happens like character development through interaction with other characters, exposition, information, world building, character nuance, and where the audience can better understand and connect with the characters and the world they inhabit. The one problem I have with Edgerunners is that the scale of the story being fit into 10 episodes means that it feels like a lot of "downtime" is cut due to the fact that so much has to happen for the plot to conclude, i.e. it gives the impression that they had the start and end goals and then tried to fit everything in between them, leading to way too much "uptime". This means that for me at least some of the emotional moments were a lot less impactful then they could have been, as while they were definitely emotional I was very slightly apathetic to them as I had limited attachments to the characters. An example of this would be [SPOILERS FROM HERE ON] David and Lucy's relationship, which was developed very rapidly and didn't have as much screen time as it should have. I thought this was especially true as by the end I felt like they had only known each other for a few days when the time skip (and therefore their proper relationship) lasted anywhere from a few months to two years. This reduced the emotional impact of the ending for me, which I thought was a shame as it had massive potential to be one of the most emotional shows I have ever watched. When compared to the end of the Chimera Ant Arc in Hunter x Hunter, which actually made me cry (a lot), the major difference is the amount of "downtime" character and relationship growth that mainly Meruem, but also Kokugi, experience while playing Gungi. The more you can relate to characters, watch them grow, and see their complexities, the more they feel like real individuals with their own aspirations and fears. This brings me back to Edgerunners, as the lack of "downtime" hurts how real the characters feel, and so when something bad happens to a character (like David's mom for example) you just go oh no and move on, because they feel less like real people that could exist and more like a robot that has bad stuff happen to them. If you made it this far I appreciate it, as I am not saying it is a bad show. I think Edgerunners is a fantastic show which does everything extremely well. My criticism is more of a review of what could have been then what it is, as it is a better show then 95% of other anime out there. I think that with a few more episodes to spread out the "uptime" big shocks and moments and provide more development to the relationships between the characters, I would have been crying buckets instead of feeling a bit sad and emotional on the inside at the ending. I gave it a detailed rating of 8.9 (averaging seven categories each out of ten) and it would have been closer to a ten out of ten if the story had more of a chance to breath and develop at a slower pace. Still really loved it though, studio Trigger did a fantastic job with this one

Realluck

~~~~I'll start this review/analysis saying that you don't need to play or even like Cyberpunk 2077 to enjoy this anime. You're definitely going to have fun with the crazy action and get emotional with the well written drama of the anime series. Let's go! Img 220(https://i.imgur.com/oMFc6k0.jpg) Character: 10/10 The Characters are very likeable, if you have empathy in your heart, you're gonna feel bad for the David, the main character. He is struggling to survive in a dystopian mega city obsessed for cybernetic upgrades and crime. He is passing through a very difficult time in his life and this city does not give second chances, if you don't act, the city will crush you and you will die like a like if not even existed. This city makes all the characters exhale nihilism, and the anime made a very good job on this, you can feel that the characters have nothing loose and because that, they do what they do. The characters are complex, with strengths and flaws. Img220(https://i.imgur.com/r3K4di3.jpg) Art and Animation: 10/10 I don't need to explain to much into this, Studio Trigger puts their souls and hearts into this masterpiece. The visuals are colorful and the action is a hot adrenaline injection. Img220(https://i.imgur.com/Op9tQUr.jpg) Story: 9/10 Definitely, a very good story. It's take us in a fast and insane journey full of emotion, romance, action, well written relationships and character development. The arcs are interesting, the cliffhangers make us hyped for next episode and the plot twists are surprising. It's not 10/10 because there are moments that they didn't develop the characters relationships enough. The reason for that, it's the number of episodes, the anime is very short, we have only 10 episodes to watch. I think if would be 12 episodes would fix this problem. Don't get me wrong, is a very good story, it's a 9/10 and 9/10 is very good. Img220(https://i.imgur.com/Fi7MpDk.jpg) Music: 9/10 The music is great! The composers deserve Emmys for this soundtrack. Its not 10/10 because sometimes I felt that they didn't use the best music for some moments. In the begging there is a moment that a sad song would fit better than a happy song, but definitely this is not something that will ruin your experience, in general the soundtrack is perfect. Img400(https://i.imgur.com/8taSBBD.jpg) Total: 9.5/10 Cyberpunk is sub genre of science fiction and Cyberpunk Edgerunners has all the elements of this sub genre. You can definitely feel the High Tech - Low Life dilemma on this show. The anime is set in a very well written universe created by the genius Mike Pondsmith, one of the greatest writers of all time and this animation translate all of the energy from the books. I loved it.~~~~