Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a anime based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077 which features a dystopian cyberpunk future. In this future technology has advanced to the point where humans often have cybernetic body parts, and people can connect their mind's with technology and the internet. In this anime we are introduced to David Martinez a smart but arrogant teenager on the poorer end of society. The story revolves around David going through the transformation of a student alienated by his peers to a bona fide mob boss of the criminal underworld.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a high octane thrill ride that sometimes forgoes letting the audience breath in the atmosphere and the character's. Standing at only ten episode's each around twenty-five minutes in length, Cyberpunk chooses to spend a lot of it's time on it's action sequences. Many of the exposition scenes that takes place in the anime will happen simultaneously cutting between each other. The character development happens very rapidly and their aren't many scenes baring Lucy and David to develop character relationship's. David is the most fleshed out character lost in life and trying to avenge his mom and Maine's death. His relationship with Lucy is another motivation throughout the story. Even though their are scenes that try to show a connection between Lucy and David, Lucy feel's like she undergoes a significant character change from cold and calculating to selfless and compassionate rapidly. Maine's downfall of undergoing cyber psychosis while not feeling unnatural, leaves out the finer details of why he was so reluctant to be safe. Many death's of character's barring Rebecca and David felt less impactful than expected due to the lack of establishing the character's. The anime felt constrained by it's runtime and I wonder if that was budget related or specifically designed.

Cyberpunk felt lacking in substance at point's but makes up for it with having a intriguing world, memorable action, and nice music and coloring to enhance the atmosphere. The action sequences that propagate the show are fun and interesting, even though sometimes they feel a little hectic. Studio trigger's animation in these fight's while not being super detailed or smooth is well shot and intense. Cyberpunk is a relatively underutilized genre in anime with the main anime championing the genre being "Ghost in the Shell" that feel's dark and mysterious. Cyberpunk in comparison feel's more transparent, lively and somewhat equally interesting. The corporations, feeders, and criminals that populate the world each have their own agenda and interest's. The ability for people to replace and enhance their body parts with cybernetics is the most fascinating part of the cyberpunk genre. What takes the concept beyond regularity in Cyberpunk is the introduction of cyber psychosis where people with heavily cybernetically modifed bodies become violent and crazy. Adding a new dimension and stakes to the story for each person that undergoes the process. What really enhances the atmosphere and sequences is the show is the use of interesting coloring and well formulated music selection. Studio Trigger's typical animation style is apparent here with it's vivid use of coloring, and really fits what each scene chooses to accomplish either giving it a really futuristic and beautiful feel or being grungy and dirty. The music selection should also be applauded here it really applies more emotion to scenes.

The final episodes of Edgerunner deal with a corporation manipulating David and his crew to test David's cybernetic capabilities. This plot line felt a little lacking in depth but never lacks in potent fast paced action and coolness as David test's his limits with highly advanced technology. He is battling for his friend' and Lucy, towing the lines of undergoing cyber psychosis. Risking his life and and sanity he goes against the corporations and the villain Atom Smasher, who felt a little half baked. In the final moments of the series he scarifies himself to save Lucy, wanting her to fulfill her dreams of going to the moon. The ending felt a bit nonsensical with the corporations not pursuing Lucy even though she escaped and the fact that the corporations caused mass destruction and death just to test something they ultimately didn't utilize. That didn't take away from the fun that the action provided but did take away from how much I was entranced by the shows story line.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is unabashed entertainment and while the story line left much to be desire, the sheer coolness of the world will leave you wanting more. I'm giving this a rating of 7.