Cyberpunk Edgerunners is Peak Studio Trigger (First Viewing Thoughts)

You see, Tekken Bloodline creators? THIS is how you make an anime adaptation out of a video game. Now that the first 10 episodes are streaming on Netflix, here are my first viewing thoughts on this year's Cyberpunk Edgerunners.

Courtesy- Netflix/Trigger/CD Projekt RED

Set in the same fictional universe as the Cyberpunk 2077 video game and the Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop game that it was based on; the anime follows David Martinez among other "edgerunners" in Night City trying to make their way and one day become legends. The opening scene, which shows a shootout between the NCPD and a "cyberpsycho" via a "braindance" sequence at a local "ripperdoc," manages to set the stage with not only the best of its source material; but of Studio Trigger as well. 

As a big fan of the source material and the animation studio associated with this anime, I am quite pleased with the results. One of the greatest strengths of the material has been its worldbuilding; and I'm glad this anime has retained that. The video game and tabletop game have immense attention to detail; with its vision of a near-future city in Northern California and an alternate history that goes back decades.

Of course, as one would expect; the series is visually stunning. It was a natural move to adapt this game into anime format; as the source material has many thematic and artistic parallels to Akira and Ghost in the Shell. As a longtime fan of Trigger's work, it's truly top-tier animation. Standout sequences include David getting back at a condescending classmate before leaving Arasaka Academy; and his first meeting with the enigmatic Lucy on the subway train.

Having poured extensive time into my first playthrough of the game (even with the rough launch); I can say this definitely works as both an adaptation and as an anime on its own merit. Honestly earns its TV-MA rating for sure: not just because of very not kid-friendly violence and language (as well as a very erotic BD implant in the first episode); but plenty of concepts younger audiences likely wouldn't find fun (including corporate corruption, institutionalized classism and the nature of humanity in a mechanical age, to name a few). Much as how the Street Kid, Nomad, and Corpo lifepaths were the natural progression of the classic archetypes of warrior, mage and thief in RPGs, David and Lucy are very much in the same creative vein as Trigger's body of work. I was already onboard from the first two, but the third episode, "Smooth Criminal" officially sold me (Joe Pesci workshopping his entry into the Lethal Weapon series not included). 

Bottom line: if you have Netflix, this anime is peak Studio Trigger; and a "preem" companion piece to the source material. I am also very close to a decision about my 650th post; which you should see before the month is out; most likely. I intend to give an update about Generation IX before I do the remainder of Chronicles as well; so that's another reason. That's all for now, samurai.