Welcome to Night City, a dystopian metropolis where violence is rampant, poverty is the norm, and the wealthy elite live in gilded towers. It's the worst place to live in America, yet everyone wants a piece of its promise. This is the setting of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a standalone anime prequel to CD Projekt Red's hit video game Cyberpunk 2077. Co-produced by CDPR and animated by the legendary Studio Trigger, this series is a tragic, bittersweet sci-fi story about chasing your dreams in the most unforgiving city on Earth.
A Beautiful Expansion of the Video Game
Set two years before the events of Cyberpunk 2077, Edgerunners fleshes out the game's concepts with a unique vision of Night City brought to life through stunning animation. CDPR's in-house writers oversaw the story, ensuring the series aligns perfectly as a companion piece. Fans will spot exciting Easter eggs and references to the game's characters and events. The worldbuilding is meticulous, from the slang of Night City to the Ripperdocs and the roving mercenaries known as "Edgerunners."
The series immediately immerses viewers in the bleak future of the 2070s, where privileges are reserved for the wealthy and corporate workers, or "corpos." Gang warfare is rampant, and cybernetic augmentation is common, but it comes at a cost. Those who undergo too many implants risk cyberpsychosis, losing their sanity and sense of reason.
Characters and Relationships at the Core
Despite its extreme violence and edgy themes, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners never loses sight of its characters and relationships. The heart of the series is the bittersweet love story between David Martinez, an Ivy League student turned unlikely Edgerunner, and Lucy Kushinada, a mysterious netrunner. After his mother's tragic death, David undergoes a risky cybernetic implantation with stolen military-grade hardware, leading him to cross paths with Lucy. He proves himself to the leader of her crew, Maine, and becomes their newest teammate.
While David finds a newfound family, he lacks a dream of his own. Lucy dreams of traveling to the moon, while Maine wants to become a legend. Over 10 episodes, David's arc darkens as he undergoes more augmentations, losing his grip on sanity. The storyline serves as a powerful metaphor for addiction, with Lucy's concern growing as David pushes his tolerance to the limit.
A Genre-Defining Masterpiece
The cyberpunk genre is defined by "high-tech, low-life," where technological advancement comes at the cost of humanity. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners interprets this theme brilliantly, showing how megacorporations like Arasaka control society, creating a vast class divide. Working-class individuals like David are treated as disposable.
On a personal level, cyberpsychosis represents the ultimate loss of humanity, both physical and mental. This is embodied by Adam Smasher, a cybernetic super-soldier who appears in both the series and the game. David desperately fights to maintain his reason through his love for his friends and Lucy. With excellent worldbuilding, deftly crafted characters, and a heartbreaking narrative, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners stands as a genre-defining sci-fi masterpiece. It's a must-watch on Netflix, and for fans of the genre, it's as essential as other sci-fi masterpieces like Minority Report or the cult classic Galaxy Quest.
If you're looking for more dark, thrilling series, check out Netflix's The Sinner for similar vibes. And for more anime excellence, explore why long-running anime never get old.
