What Does Japan Think of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners?

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has received high praise from Japanese critics and fans since its September 2022 release, seen as a bold new take on classic cyberpunk anime that pushes the genre forward.

Legendary Creators Voice Their Admiration

Several revered names in Japanese entertainment have publicly shared their enthusiasm for Edgerunners:

• Game design icon Hideo Kojima raved on Twitter about its "great music and visual direction". He binged the "awesome" show immediately.
• Popular anime YouTube critic Garnt (The Anime Man) was brought to tears by the ending, calling it a "masterpiece".
• WIT Studio CEO George Wada known for producing Attack on Titan praised Edgerunners‘ "high level of perfection" in capturing Night City.

For iconic Japanese creators like Kojima to give such glowing endorsements holds significant influence over public reception.

Studio Trigger Brings Signature Style

The anime production powerhouse Studio Trigger is renowned in Japan for their dynamic animation and stylized action scenes. Fan-favorite series like Kill La Kill established them as masters of blending humor and extreme content.

Since Edgerunners‘ team contains many key Trigger alumni, Japanese fans had built-up expectations for their signature excess and excitement. Early trailers showcasing the vibrant, neon-bathed environments and physics-defying fight choreography instantly recalled Trigger‘s style.

Several Japanese bloggers even spotted Easter eggs to other Trigger works hidden in Edgerunners‘ background art. This fueled anticipation among dedicated fans.

Dark Themes Resonate with Japanese Fans

While Edgerunners features graphic violence and sex scenes edgier than most mainstream anime, this provocative content strikes a chord with many Japanese fans. As one reviewer wrote:

"There‘s an long-standing affinity in otaku culture for works that explore taboos. Where Western studios might shy away from themes this extreme, Trigger leans into the challenge."

Multiple Japanese critics praised Cyberpunk‘s willingness to depict trauma and cruelty. Rather than empty shock value, they found the suffering woven genuinely into characters‘ arcs.

Popular Japanese cosplayer Enako expressed this on Twitter, saying the protagonist David‘s descent into chrome addiction and ruined relationships felt "very real and painful to watch."

Enako‘s acclaimed David Martinez cosplay from Edgerunners.

This relatable pathos resonates stronger than a straightforward heroic narrative. Edgerunners takes the iconic cyberpunk theme of "style over substance" to present characters that feel more human despite their high-tech world.

Pushing Anime‘s Cyberpunk Legacy

Since pioneering works like 1995‘s Ghost in the Shell and 1988‘s Akira, cyberpunk animation retains incredible influence in Japan. Edgerunners modernizes the genre with updated rendering of futuristic tech while keeping iconic callbacks like the psychologist holograms from Ghost in the Shell.

One way Edgerunners pushes the genre forward is through a globally collaborative production team. Polish game developer CD Projekt Red‘s rich Cyberpunk mythos blends seamlessly with the animation talents at Studio Trigger.

Several Japanese gaming sites noted Edgerunners‘ faithfulness to tiny details in Cyberpunk 2077‘s Night City, like fictional brands on drinks and vehicles. This careful translation of the game world impressed even Japan‘s nitpicky otaku critics.

In the end, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners demonstrates the continued vitality of anime‘s cyberpunk legacy. Its emotional depth, provocative themes, and blending of international creative forces come together into something uniquely designed for a modern Japanese audience. Not just chasing trends, Edgerunners suggests an inspiring model for the genre‘s future.