Cyberpunk Edgerunners Review: The Purest Essence Of Trigger On Netflix, Survive in Night City
Stars: Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Mercer, Zach Aguilar
Creator: Rafal Jaki
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
The ambitions of the developer CD Projekt Red have led Cyberpunk 2077 to become a large and varied franchise, with titles released on different that expand the world of video games, in turn, based on the famous board game created by Mike Pondsmith. The fate of the latter, which has become one of the most criticized and controversial launches in recent videogame history, has had no (at least apparent) consequences on these parallel projects.
Today fans can finally get their hands on the most promising of all, since the 10 episodes that make up Cyberpunk Edgerunners, an animated series spinoff of the main title created by the Japanese studio Trigger, have been released on Netflix. We have seen all the episodes in preview and we are ready to give you our opinion on an adrenaline-fueled and smashing anime that combines the charm of cyberpunk with the exaggerated and over-the-top aesthetics typical of the works of the studio of Hiroyuki Imaishi and associates. Enjoy the reading!
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Review: The Story
What has attracted the attention of audiences and critics since the announcement of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners in June 2020 was not only the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 would also receive an adaptation in animated form, but the studio and the staff is chosen by CD Projekt Red to bring this project to life. As you know by now, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners bears the signature of Trigger, the famous animation studio that has risen to the fore in the last decade for its unique and unmistakable style, in particular thanks to titles directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi such as Kill la Kill and Promare. And Imaishi is back as a director for this series, together with his historical collaborators Masahiko Otsuka, author of the screenplay together with Yoshiki USA, and Yoh Yoshinari, responsible for character design. To complete this real dream team of talents from the Japanese entertainment industry we find composer Akira Yamaoka, the mastermind behind the unforgettable music of the Silent Hill series video games, on the soundtrack.
In addition to its more exquisitely Japanese soul, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners represents one of the most emblematic cases of the growing internationalization of anime promoted by Netflix in recent years. Beyond the production, curated by CD Projekt Red itself and in particular by Rafal Jaki (author of the manga The Witcher: Ronin), the idea for the story comes from Bartosz Sztybor, a screenwriter at the Polish development studio. The latter, set in the Night City that video game fans know very well, a futuristic metropolis halfway between Tokyo and Los Angeles dominated by corporations and the pervasiveness of cybernetic grafts, sees as the protagonist the young David Martinez, a boy who lives in the slums of the city with his mother Gloria.
David is a model student but quite problematic at Arasaka Academy, where he was admitted thanks to the hard sacrifices of his only parent, and for this reason, he is bullied by his wealthiest classmates. One day, due to a fatal accident due to a gang fight, David’s mother loses her life and the boy suddenly finds himself alone. With no more certainties, David impulsively decides to have a military-grade Sandevistan installed by his drug dealer friend, a graft capable of enormously enhancing his speed and physical strength, thanks to which he gets noticed by Lucy, a mysterious and charming thief who introduces him to the world of crime. Thus began a new life for David in a cyberpunk gang in the pay of corporations, led by energetic Maine.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Review and Analysis
Many were skeptical of the news that an animation studio with such a strong and recognizable creative imprint would have brought to life the distinctly futuristic and now well-defined aesthetic of CD Projekt Red’s video game and, before that, of the board game created by Mike Pondsmith. Well, after seeing the 10 episodes (of standard length) that make up the series, we can confirm the excellent sensations described in our previous preview of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The fusion between Cyberpunk 2077 and Trigger works wonderfully, giving life to a pure entertainment product that brings the peculiarities of both its components to the screen, in a perfect balance that does not see one obscure the other and vice versa.
As could be expected from the production process that took place in close contact with the Polish parent company, in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners the magnificent Night City and its atmosphere – precisely – cyberpunk is transposed to perfection, and fans of the original products will find themselves home immediately having fun grasping the numerous references such as the corporations (Arasaka and Militech), the factions at stake, the grafts and many other elements that make the context in which the events take place unique and fascinating. Not to mention some settings and shots that are perfect replicas of their respective gaming counterparts. And given the link with the works from which it originates, many may wonder if the vision of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners requires previous knowledge of the video game or the board game. The answer we give you is: basically no.
Being a separate story, disconnected from the vicissitudes of the mercenary V and other characters of his vast multimedia universe, the Trigger anime can be enjoyed without particular problems even by those who have never approached the franchise before. The elements necessary to contextualize the events narrated are introduced and explained fluidly during the episodes, however, the script does not always deepen them properly and it is for this reason that we believe that the series will be more appreciated by those who are already familiar previous iterations of Cyberpunk. In general, it is the narrative apparatus that represents the weakest link in a production that fails to exploit its great potential.
If the first five episodes have a simply impeccable rhythm and presentation of events, immersing the viewer in a big and adrenaline-pumping toy that ranks among the most successful animation proposals in the Netflix catalog in 2022, the second half of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners fails to meet expectations due to hasty and confusing developments, led by those who represent in all respects the deus ex machina and which end with a final of sure impact, but too abrupt and hasty. We once again had the impression, now almost a constant of many exclusive productions of the platform, that a greater number of episodes it would have allowed giving the right space to all the interesting aspects introduced in the story.
Lights and shadows also as regard the characters. If the protagonist David is convincing in his evolution and characterization, as well as his mentor Maine, the same cannot be said of characters like Kiwi and Rebecca, who are too sketchy and superficial (in particular the first, given its fundamental role in the plot). The same goes for the co-star, the tenacious and charming Lucy, who for design and screen presence is rightly placed among the best characters ever to appear in an anime by the studio Trigger, but who unfortunately is overshadowed .right in the final stages of the story due to narrative choices that have not convinced us.
Where it is difficult to criticize, needless to say is the technical sector, which represents the purest essence of Trigger’s productions – and those directed by Imaishi in particular – perfectly at the service of the world created by CD Projekt Red and Mike Pondsmith. The cyberpunk – Japanese animation combination has always given excellent results (think of Akira or the Ghost in the Shell saga) and, while not revolutionizing anything, we can safely say that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners enters by right among the best modern exponents of this genre. Trigger once again proves to be a master company in knowing how to manage its resources optimally, and it can be seen thanks to the work done with animations, which skilfully alternates sequences with extremely reduced movements, at the limits of static, to others where the most tamarra and action essence of the series explodes in all its madness.
We also report a fair dose of violence, in any case very over the top and for this reason not disturbing, and the presence of content prohibited to minors under 18 (again, nothing particularly exaggerated). The often deliberately grotesque drawings and the character design of the master Yoh Yoshinari remain of excellent quality for the entire duration and complete the package with a virtuous direction and a chromatic palette dominated by bright and gaudy colors (yellow and purple in the first place), which at first glance it could surprise the neophytes of Trigger’s style.
Just like the graphics sector, Akira Yamaoka’s soundtrack is also one of the most successful aspects of Cyberpunk Edgerunners. Characterized by predominantly pressing and adrenaline-pumping melodies, but also delicate and introspective when the narration requires it, and constantly poised between instrumental and sung pieces, the OST does its dirty job making a decisive contribution to the final result. The internationality of the production also manifests itself in this area the psychedelic and flamboyant opening theme is accompanied by the song This Fffire by the Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, coming from their debut album in 2004.
A genre that at first glance could seem unsuitable for the scifi atmospheres of the series, but which matches surprisingly well with the images that appear on the screen. is of the excellent workmanship which sees the participation of famous names such as Aoi Yuki (Lucy) and Kenjiro Tsuda, even if the latter is a bit wasted in a character that appears very little, while the Italian one is good but not exceptional., due to some unsuitable or similar items. If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy the English one, know that in the cast you will also find the legendary Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring of Breaking Bad), in the role of the shady Faraday.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Review: The Last Words
Cyberpunk Edgerunners is exactly what everyone expected from the collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Trigger. A crazy, funny, intense and adrenaline-pumping cartoon that transposes into the world exquisitely cyberpunk created by the Polish studio all the style of the productions of Imaishi and company, giving life to a product of pure entertainment that ranks among the most interesting proposals of the Netflix combination – anime in recent months. Unfortunately, it is difficult to hide the disappointment for a narrative structure that, after an almost perfect first half, wastes its potential in a second act that is too sketchy and confusing. Fans of Trigger and the video game will immediately find themselves at home, others better approach Cyberpunk: Edgerunners aware of its limitations.
