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 roleplaying game first published in 1988 titled Cyberpunk that this world was invented from. Needless to say Cyberpunks world is one with extensive history. And yet CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS clearly has its roots planted firmly in the video game. The grimy streets of Night City and the sweltering dessert of a droughtstricken northern California are nearly identical to the point that hardcore fans of the game will recognize more than just a few locations. 300https://cdn.voxcdn.com/thumbor/riBhjyjW7nihsTDmjizE2q4kVfo=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal0x0:1920x1080:noupscale/cdn.voxcdn.com/uploads/chorusasset/file/24016192/Edgerunners001.jpg Atmosphere. Set in the imaginary place of Night City decades into the future megacorporations wage wars above the drug and crimefilled 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 youre poor. Youre 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 didnt believe would be real. Ultimately the world and atmosphere is the strongest part of this show. 300https://occ0444300.1.nflxso.net/dnm/api/v6/9pS1daC2n6UGc3dUogvWIPMROU/AAAABbxx6ayJUVIOe9EbU3q6sDGFEc4Tz97Agvi3c3KAS9TQaXZmwDZ0Vumqh2Qaz6XafEdyN14Gd29dtBGGoEJRigrFgisGtXbpRNog01g1SEP5Q9yHpdpZR.jpg?r=412 The characters. Excluding the main character the rest of the cast can each be labeled by simple archetypes. But it doesnt mean theyre unlikeable. I actually loved each and every one of them even though they werent the most wellwritten 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 largemuscled arrogant team leader. A foulmouthed 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 thats his moms dream not Davids. David never knew what he wanted and even though hes rebellious at every turn hes never truly acting for himself. He doesnt have dreams he just wants to make others come true. The story sees him transform incredibly to the point that hes nearly unrecognizable at the end. Even with a few flaws and generic people I enjoyed every interaction between the cast. 300https://1401700980.rsc.cdn77.org/data/images/full/106206/netflixanimeseriescyberpunkedgerunnersrevealsofficialteasertrailer.jpg Im not going to talk much about the story as I want to avoid major spoilers but its a rather nonlinear one. Theres not an overarching goal and theres 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 its depths. The main character lives life the way he wants and were 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 isnt 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 its end and I enjoyed the way it ultimately unfolded. 300https://www.digitaltrends.com/wpcontent/uploads/2022/09/cyberpunkedgerunners03.jpg?fit=7202C404p=1 Lastly Im 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 theres something at every corner that draws you in not to mention each characters 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 whos 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 didnt match certain scenes although I only felt this in the beginning and not later on. 300https://64.media.tumblr.com/d7ca7ec714a69eaacb6bf6a2a1f38ea8/5a2f4285f273943411/s540x810/4c73a6f7f106b6647e5e0457b43e36955301a137.gifv Overall I think this is an anime well worth a watch even if you havent played the game or know anything about the franchise. You may feel bombarded by the weird lingo and technology that isnt always explained but I still think this is a great standalone show about a characters personal struggles and how he overcomes the harsh world around him. If youre 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.