For me, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is Studio Trigger's magnum opus. It's one of the most breathtaking anime I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Even if this show were purely action spectacle, which it's not, it would still be worth watching for the visuals alone. It's so vibrant & visually alluring, which starkly contrasts the hopeless, unforgiving place that is Night City. I really can't sing this show's praises enough from a production standpoint. The direction is great. The action is dynamic & fast paced, the animation is expressive, & Trigger's signature style is a perfect fit for this brutally violent Cyberpunk world. Not to mention, the music couldn't be more fitting. I know the music is taken from the Cyberpunk 2077 game, so it's tailored for the Cyberpunk genre. You can definitely feel that. There isn't another anime with a soundtrack/score quite like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It really gets the blood pumping.

The Story follows David Martinez. He's a high schooler with a rebellious streak, who quickly gets caught up in the violence of the corporate hellscape that is Night City, after the tragic death of his mother. He decides to become an Edgerunner, a high-tech, black-market mercenary also known as a "Cyberpunk". It's an unforgiving profession. As one character states, "You don’t make a name for yourself as a cyberpunk by how you live… you make a name by how you die". To understand why such a dangerous profession is so prevalent in this world, you have to understand Night City itself.

Night City is a dystopian hell overrun by mega corporations that dictate just about every aspect of life. Any citizen who is not ultra rich & in power is at the mercy of Night City. But even then, being a higher-up does not guarantee a comfortable life. Therein lies the cruelty of this world. No matter how much you struggle & claw your way to a better life, Night City will not allow you to succeed. Unfortunately, the main cast of characters cannot escape this harsh reality.

Speaking of the characters, they are quite the lively bunch. David's found family consists of Maine, the leader & David's father figure of sorts. He acts as a mentor for David & gives everybody a fair shake. Lucy, David's love interest who exhibits a cool & mysterious demeanor. And Rebecca, a fiery, pint-sized girl who packs some serious firepower. There are a couple others I won't mention here for the sake of time, but these three are the most memorable members of the group. Each character only has a very brief backstory, if any, to flesh them out. Generally speaking, that would be seen as a bad thing, but in this case, it doesn't present an issue. These characters are strong enough to stand on their own whether we know more about them or not. They are very entertaining and have such great chemistry, I just enjoy seeing them interact with each other more than anything else.

The show revolves around David & his crew as they make a name for themselves. It follows a more episodic formula, highlighting their violent escapades. They eventually capture the attention of the Megacorps of Night City & things only escalate from there. Without giving away too much, you can expect a lot of high-octane action & some seriously gut-wrenching emotional moments. I highly recommend Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to anyone who is interested in a short story that provides thrilling action sequences, lively characters & emotional moments that may leave you in tears.