Is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners a Japanese show?

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has captivated audiences around the world since its release on Netflix in September 2022. As a collaboration between Polish video game developer CD Projekt Red and Japanese animation studio Trigger, some viewers may be wondering – is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners a Japanese show? The answer provides interesting insight into the global influences shaping this cyberpunk anime.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a Polish-Japanese co-production

While Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is based on the Polish-developed video game Cyberpunk 2077, the anime itself was produced as a collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Japanese animation studio Trigger.

CD Projekt Red developed the original Cyberpunk 2077 game and provided the initial story concept, settings, and characters for the Edgerunners anime. However, the actual animation production was handled by Studio Trigger in Tokyo, Japan.

Studio Trigger is known for high-octane action anime like Kill la Kill and Promare. According to director Hiroyuki Imaishi, CD Projekt Red approached Studio Trigger specifically because they wanted an authentic anime aesthetic and visual language for Edgerunners.

So in summary, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners represents a fusion of Polish and Japanese creative talents – the cyberpunk visuals and lore of CD Projekt Red combined with Studio Trigger‘s signature anime style. While not a solely Japanese production, Edgerunners showcases the vital contributions of Japanese anime creators.

Cyberpunk tropes have deep roots in Japanese sci-fi

To understand Edgerunners‘ Japanese influences, it helps to examine the origins of cyberpunk fiction. Many seminal cyberpunk works were created by American authors like William Gibson and Philip K. Dick in the 1980s. However, cyberpunk as a genre drew heavy inspiration from earlier Japanese sci-fi writers and artists.

For example, Katsuhiro Otomo‘s iconic manga/anime Akira (1982/1988) is considered a foundational cyberpunk work. Akira depicted a gritty, dystopian vision of a high-tech future Tokyo and featured many hallmarks of cyberpunk like youth countercultures, cybernetic body enhancements, and corrupt authorities. Akira‘s critical acclaim and visual language gave cyberpunk an early Japanese foothold.

The work of other manga/anime creators like Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell) and Koushun Takami (Battle Royale) further developed cyberpunk anime tropes in the 1980s-90s. Series like Bubblegum Crisis (1987-1991) and Serial Experiments Lain (1998) defined the early aesthetics of the genre.

Cyberpunk narratives have continued to be popular in Japanese manga, anime, and live-action films up to today. So when Studio Trigger collaborated on Edgerunners, they were building directly upon a long legacy of Japanese cyberpunk media. The neon-bathed cityscapes, cyborg body horror, and youthful hackers of Edgerunners all pay homage to the groundwork of earlier Japanese works.

Edgerunners blends Japanese and Western cyberpunk influences

Looking at the landscape of Night City in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, we see a blending of both Japanese and Western cyberpunk influences.

The towering corporate skyscrapers, crime-ridden streets, and high-tech body modification are all staple elements of the cyberpunk worlds first envisioned by the likes of Philip K. Dick and William Gibson. Edgerunners is faithful to the gritty, hypercapitalist dystopia of traditional Western cyberpunk.

At the same time, Studio Trigger brings contemporary Japanese anime aesthetics to the table. The stylized character designs, the youthful hotshot protagonist David, and the focus on coming-of-age amid violence all align with recent shonen and seinen anime trends.

Small details like ramen noodle cups and vending machines also subtly "Japanify" the Western dystopian setting. The vibrant color palette and fluid action animation are also trademark Studio Trigger.

So in Edgerunners, we see Polish and Japanese creators building something new together from the common well of cyberpunk fiction. The collaboration expands the possibilities of cyberpunk worldbuilding for both.

The story stands on its own from the games

A common question about Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is whether viewers need familiarity with the Cyberpunk 2077 games to fully appreciate the anime.

In fact, Edgerunners tells an original self-contained story that requires no knowledge of the games. While both are set in the same overarching Night City universe, Edgerunners introduces a whole new cast of characters and conflicts separate from the games‘ main storylines.

The anime takes place in 2076, one year before the events of Cyberpunk 2077. Protagonist David Martinez and his friends exist entirely independently from V, Johnny Silverhand and the other game stars. There are some subtle lore connections, but Edgerunners was conceived as welcoming to newcomers.

Series director Hiroyuki Imaishi stated that Edgerunners aimed to "create a story that even people who did not play the game could enjoy." The show succeeds in being accessible to any viewer looking for a gritty, action-packed cyberpunk anime.

In fact, Edgerunners has inspired many viewers who enjoyed it to pick up and try out Cyberpunk 2077. So rather than requiring game knowledge, Edgerunners serves as an exciting entry point into the broader Cyberpunk universe. Both Polish and Japanese creators clearly took care crafting a story open to all.

The future of global anime co-productions

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners shows the potential of collaborative anime projects bringing together creators across borders.

While there is a long history of Western IP being adapted into anime, Edgerunners represents a step forward into more equitable co-productions. Both Polish and Japanese artists had strong creative input in making Edgerunners a reality.

We may see more hybrid anime works like it in the future. Passionate studios like Trigger are eager to work with artists worldwide to evolve anime‘s visual language. And global franchises recognize anime‘s powerful storytelling.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners combines the best that Polish and Japanese creators had to offer. Let‘s look forward to even more boundary-pushing collaborative anime in the years ahead!