Cyberpunk EdgeRunners: A deep dive into exciting story and visuals

"Cyberpunk Edge Runners": A masterpiece anime depicting the darkness and light of a futuristic city

Overview

"Cyberpunk Edge Runners" is an original animation series that was released on Netflix on September 13, 2022, with all 10 episodes released at once. Based on CD Projekt RED's popular game "Cyberpunk 2077," the series follows street kid David as he survives as an edge runner in the futuristic city of Night City, where technology and body modification have become commonplace. Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and produced by TRIGGER, the series vividly depicts the cyberpunk worldview.

■ Story

"Cyberpunk Edgerunners" is a 10-episode original animated series that follows the story of a young boy who makes great sacrifices and overcomes hardships to become an outlaw mercenary - or "cyberpunk" - in the megalopolis of Night City, where technology and human modification have become commonplace. The protagonist, David, chooses the path of an edgerunner to survive after losing his mother and everything else. His journey is a story of friendship, betrayal, and self-discovery, and is characterized by powerful storytelling that draws viewers in.

■Explanation

"Cyberpunk Edge Runners" is a 10-part independent story about a boy who lives as a street kid in the future city of Night City, where technology and human modification have become commonplace. After losing everything, David chooses to survive by becoming an edge runner, an outlaw mercenary known as a "cyberpunk." While based on the worldview of the game "Cyberpunk 2077," this work depicts the darkness and light of Night City from a new perspective.

The series will be produced by CD PROJEKT RED, the same company behind the video game Cyberpunk 2077. Rafal Yaqi (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher Ronin) will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Honma Satoru, Bartosz Stebol and Saya Elder serving as producers. The CD PROJEKT RED team began working on the new series in 2018. Animation will be handled by Japan-based industry leader Trigger, who will bring their signature dynamic style to the cyberpunk world. The director is Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Promare), the creative director is Hiromi Wakabayashi (Kill la Kill), the character designer is Yo Yoshinari (Little Witch Academia, BNA: Brand New Animal), the script is by Yoshihiro Usa (GRIDMAN UNIVERSE series, Promare) and Masahiko Otsuka (Star Wars: Visions 'The Elder'), and the soundtrack is produced by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill series).

■Cast

The cast of this work is KENN as the main character David, Aoi Yuki as Lucy, Hiroki Tochi as the main character, Michiko Togi as Dorio, Takako Honda as Kiwi, Wataru Takagi as Pilar, and Tomoyo Kurosawa as Rebecca. Each cast member's performance brings out the individuality of the characters and adds depth to the story. KENN's role as David in particular realistically portrays the growth from a street kid to an edge runner, evoking sympathy from viewers.

■ Main staff

The original game is "Cyberpunk 2077", the original story is by Rafal Jaki, the director is Hiroyuki Imaishi, the assistant directors are Masahiko Otsuka and Yoshihiro Usa, the setting is conceived by Mike Pondsmith, the executive producers are Rafal Jaki, Dylan Thomas, Daiki Sakurai, Yoshihiro Usa, the producers are Sō Elder, Bartosz Stibó, Satoru Honma, the animation producers are Shunsuke Shida and Naoko Tsutsumi, the screen story is by Bartosz Stibó, the series composition is Masahiko Otsuka, the script is by Masahiko Otsuka and Yoshihiro Usa, the creative support is Hiromi Wakabayashi, the character design and general animation director is Yo Yoshinari, the sub-character design is Yuto Kaneko and Yusuke Yoshigaki, the art director is Masanobu Nomura, the color setting is Yukiko Kakita, the director of photography is Tetsuya Kawada, the editor is Masato Yoshitake, the sound director is Hiroki Uragari, the sound effects are Hiroki Nozaki and Airi Kobayashi, the music is Akira Yamaoka, the animation production is TRIGGER, the production is CD It is being produced by PROJEKT RED. This impressive team of staff members has brought together the team to improve the quality of the work.

■ Main robot items

This game features a variety of robots and items that are symbolic of the cyberpunk worldview. The main ones are introduced below.

• ICE (Anti-Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics) : It is the cutting edge of internet security. Most companies have teams of netrunners to defend their own data fortresses. This is because there are many external runners who try to find the backdoors in the company's ICE and infiltrate into the subnetwork.
• The Animals : A gang known to everyone in western Pacifica. They use homemade augmentations that do not rely on electronic devices to modify their bodies, and their own street fighting style allows them to fight on equal terms with implant users. Due to their ferocity and combative nature, they are highly valued as bouncers and security personnel.
• Arasaka : The world's oldest and largest corporation. Today, Arasaka is known as the largest manufacturer of weapons and is involved in military conflicts around the world. With the latest technological innovations and seemingly inexhaustible financial resources, its growth shows no signs of slowing.
• NCPD (Night City Police Department) : The Night City Police Department (NCPD), which protects the safety of Night City, is a law enforcement agency backed by corporations. Its main mission is to maintain public order, but if a corporation threatens that public order, it will turn a blind eye.
• Corp : People who work for a company, or corporations (commonly known as Corps), are one of the upper classes in Night City. Their slogan is "Money, Power, Ambition" and their trademark is a fine suit. People who are not employees but who pledge allegiance to a company are also called Corps.
• Cyberware (also called implants/chrome) : Cyberware (implants or chrome) are devices that are implanted into the human body. There are many different types for different purposes, such as implants in the eyes to enhance vision, or devices attached to the legs to give incredible jumping power.
• Cyberpsychosis : Cyberpsychosis is a collective term for any personality disorder caused by behavioral modifications involving implanted hardware or software into the body. It is commonly believed to be caused by defects in the cyberware, but some disagree.
• Cyberpunk (Edge Runner) : Cyberpunks, or edge runners, are people who live on the edge, constantly pushing themselves to their limits. They don't just strive for success, they put themselves at risk and live every day facing failure - that is, death.
• Sundevistan : A type of cyberware. When activated, time slows down at a fixed rate for a certain period of time, allowing the user to move at speeds that are beyond the ability of the average human to follow with the naked eye.
• Scavengers : A gang that specializes in collecting and trading high-end implants. They do not only do illegal transactions, but also often steal them from their owners. They are dangerous people who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
• Solo : A freelance mercenary who takes on dangerous jobs in Night City, Solo specializes in combat skills. They fight using weapons and cyberware, and often complete jobs that involve murder, protection, theft, etc.
• Tiger Claws : As a gang, they are well organized, efficient, and effective, but you never know what they'll do next. Most of their members are Asian, and their main bases of operations are Japantown, Little China, Kabuki, and Charter Hill.
• Techie : A techie is someone who has a wealth of tech knowledge, having repeatedly taken machines apart and put them back together. They can open electronic panels to shut off power, send elevators to specific floors, rewire alarm systems, or remotely control military bots from a safe distance. Techies are also essential when it comes to working with both hardware and software. Braindance editing is a good example of this.
• Trauma Team : Trauma Team International is Night City's largest medical provider, offering a wide range of services from healthcare products and insurance, emergency rescue and evacuation services, medical implants and replacement surgery, and is arguably the only company trusted by the general public.
• Night City : A dream city built at the end of the 20th century based on the urban vision of businessman Richard Knight. He aimed for a futuristic city that is not bound by old ideas or restrictive rules. Night City consists of six districts - "Watson" and "Santo Domingo" are two of them, each of which is the territory of a different gang group.
• Netrunners : Netrunners have a deep understanding of computer systems, programming languages, and the creation and modification of killer viruses. Armed with a cyberdeck, they are as dangerous as a fully armored corporate soldier. While many Netrunners are independent free agents, some are contracted by large corporations to defend their data fortresses. Almost every corporation today employs its own team of Netrunners.
• Fixer : The fixer is the middleman between the mercenary and the client. He selects the crew, negotiates the fee (which of course affects the fixer's own share), and deals with any problems that may arise. Of course, this doesn't include cases where the mercenary makes a terrible mistake...
• BD (Braindance) : A technology that allows someone else to "relive" the experiences or memories of a person who has filmed (or "recorded") them, as easily as watching a movie. As a rule, the recorded material cannot be used without editing or other processing.
• Max Tuck : An elite special task force of the NCPD, Max Tuck has one mission: eliminate cyberpsychos. Members of the unit are given the ability to use their weapons of choice, are equipped with top-of-the-line cyberware and the latest prototype equipment, and are given complete freedom in how they carry out their operations. But even with all these perks, no one in their right mind would want to join the unit.
• Militech : A huge corporation in the New United States founded towards the end of the 20th century, whose core business is weapons manufacturing and military services. In recent years, it has expanded into the private sector and has been successful.
• The Maelstrom : A gang that dominates Watson and the Northern Industrial District (NID), they are characterized by their hideous faceplates and intimidating optic implants, which highlight their obsessive obsession with cyberware modification.
• Ripardok (Ripar) : Ripardok is a cross between surgeon, techie and artist. Patients who come to Ripar's clinic range from those seeking cutting edge implants to those brought to him by friends in a tattered state.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• #1／Let You Down/With Expectations on My Shoulder (2022/09/13)
• #2/Like A Boy/What does the boy think? (2022/09/13)
• #3/Smooth Criminal (2022/09/13)
• #4/Lucky You (2022/09/13)
• #5/All Eyez On Me (2022/09/13)
• #6/Girl on Fire/Enveloped in Flames (2022/09/13)
• #7／Stronger (2022/09/13)
• #8/Stay/Don't go (2022/09/13)
• #9/Humanity (2022/09/13)
• #10/My Moon My Man (2022/09/13)

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for this work are as follows.

• OP1
  • Title: This Fire
  • Lyrics: Nick McCarthy, Alex Kapranos
  • Composer: Nick McCarthy, Alex Kapranos
  • Arrangement: Rich Costey
  • Sung by: Franz Ferdinand
• ED1
  • Title: Let You Down
  • Lyricist: Dawid Podsiadło
  • Composer: Dawid Podsiadło, Magdalena Laskowska
  • Sung by: Dawid Podsiadło
• IN1
  • Title: I Really Want to Stay At Your House
  • Lyricist: Rosa Walton
  • Composer: Rosa Walton
  • Arrangement: Rosa Walton
  • Singer: Rosa Walton & Hallie Coggins

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Cyberpunk Edgerunners" is a work that combines visual beauty with deep storytelling. TRIGGER's unique animation style realistically depicts the futuristic city of Night City, immersing the viewer in its world. In particular, the human drama of David's growth and the characters surrounding him leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

The story is consistently tense, and each episode works well together to form the overall narrative. David's journey as an Edgerunner tests his humanity and ethics, and resonates deeply with the audience. The supporting characters, such as Lucy and Maine, are also fascinating, and their backstories and interactions add depth to the story.

Music is also an important element of the film, with songs such as Franz Ferdinand's "This Fire" and Dawid Podsiadło's "Let You Down" enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the insert song "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" is a beautiful song that symbolizes the relationship between David and Lucy and resonates in the hearts of viewers.

■Recommendation

Cyberpunk Edgerunners is recommended not only for cyberpunk fans, but for everyone who loves anime and drama. This work, which depicts the darkness and light of a futuristic city, is a masterpiece that combines visual beauty with deep storytelling, and is sure to leave a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the growth of David and the human drama of the characters surrounding him will deeply evoke empathy in viewers. Also, do not miss the unique animation style of TRIGGER and the high quality of the luxurious staff. Be sure to enjoy all 10 episodes at once on Netflix.