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Why did the Cyberpunk Edgerunners Western video game anime adaptations succeed? Will Edgerunners’ success pave the way for additional Western video game anime adaptations? This article will give you the answer. When they aren’t their own original works, anime adaptations are frequently based on the manga and light novels.
Sometimes, an anime will be released that is truly based on a series of video games. The majority of these anime are either based on well-known mobile apps or Japanese video game franchises, such as the Persona anime adaptations (like the upcoming Genshin Impact anime). But occasionally, anime works get their influence from the west, as it did with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Less than two years after the debut of the extremely contentious computer game Cyberpunk 2077, Netflix will premiere an original anime based on the Cyberpunk series called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Edgerunners ended up being a huge success, revitalizing interest in the game and introducing a fresh wave of attention to the genre, despite the bad reputation the Cyberpunk series had years after the game’s awful launch.
A significant indication that other western video game properties may show interest in making their own anime adaptations is the popularity of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Why Cyberpunk Edgerunners Western Video Game Anime Adaptations is one of the best game adaptations of all time
A Creative Hand in the Process
Edgerunners was developed with input from the designers of Cyberpunk 2077. As an executive producer for the show, Bartosz Sztybor, who has written numerous Cyberpunk comics for Dark Horse, assisted in developing the majority of the episodes’ narratives.
The original tabletop game’s creator, Mike Pondsmith, has offered nothing but appreciation for the series. He gushed on Reddit, “They fucking nailed it.” It’s quite uncommon for the creators of an IP to take part in a project like this, let alone offer praise that feels sincere.
However, Edgerunners seems to be the exception and hopefully serves as a model for people who desire to adapt a video game for television.
The animation studio that created David’s story was yet another important component that made Edgerunners a must-watch. The animation work was undertaken by Studio Trigger, whose fluid and frantic aesthetic proved to be the ideal complement to the technologically advanced setting of Cyberpunk 2077.
The animation studio Trigger is well-known for producing well-liked anime like Kill la Kill and the eerie movie Promare. More recently, the company worked on two pieces for the Star Wars: Visions anthology series. For the production of its anime series, Netflix frequently works with studios, and the results have been nothing short of amazing.
The animation for DOTA: Dragon’s Blood was produced by Studio Mir, who is most known for their work on Avatar: The Last Airbender and Young Justice: Phantoms. With the success of Castlevania, Powerhouse went on to sign a first-look agreement with Netflix to produce new shows for the streaming service, including Masters of the Universe: Revelation.
But the main character of Edgerunners may be what really sets it apart. Throughout the events of Edgerunners, David goes through some significant changes.
He endures hellish physical and mental torture in order to develop into a cybernetic warrior, losing his mother and getting expelled from school. But he also discovers meaning in his job with the Edgerunners and true love in Lucy’s embrace (Emi Lo).
Even while character customization is possible in RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077, no two players will ever have the same experience because everyone has a unique background.
David’s path gives the audience something to hold onto, and his hardships make him just as interesting a character as Johnny Silverhand or the lead character in 2077, V. Netflix’s video game adaptations have had their ups and downs — for every Resident Evil there is a Castlevania — but Edgerunners may have nailed the code.
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A strong sense of character
The main character of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, David Martinez, was initially a pupil at the esteemed Arasaka Academy. He did not fit in with the other classmates and was ridiculed and avoided simply because of his family’s financial situation.
David, who didn’t have any dreams of his own, strived to fulfill his mother’s desire to advance through the ranks and one day make it to the top level of Arasaka Tower. Since things did not proceed as planned, David eventually turned into an edge runner, commonly referred to as a “cyberpunk.”
David Martinez grew a lot throughout the series and eventually discovered his calling in Night City.
People in the cyberpunk world were obsessed with altering their bodies through the use of cybernetic implants. Although “cyberware” was prevalent and frequently required, it also carried a high risk. A disease known as “cyberpsychosis,” which causes people to lose control over themselves, could be brought on by excessive cybernetic augmentation.
This was thoroughly examined in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which also looked at how the characters were impacted by a culture that relied too much on technology. The show also did a great job of balancing a small-scale plot with large stakes.
Studio Trigger surrounded their main character with an incredible array of characters, from Maine to Rebecca. Each character in the series has a distinct personality and a clear goal. Given that Edgerunners was still primarily David’s story, Studio Trigger’s utilization of supporting characters was pretty impressive.
None of the characters were there only to advance the plot toward the series’ stirring conclusion.
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Imagining the Beauty and Ugliness of the Night City
The future city of Night City, which is situated on the west coast of California, has long been thought of as the center of the Cyberpunk franchise. While being referred to as the “City of Dreams,” it was also chosen as the worst city to live in America by the universe.
On the one hand, Night City boasted incredible architecture and cutting-edge technology. On the other hand, violence, corruption, and greed had taken over the city. The fact that corporations controlled their city and were constantly vying for dominance was accepted by the populace.
Life was all about surviving, buying stuff, and moving up the corporate ladder forever. Knowing that the city was a bad place to live, both Lucy in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077 dreamed of escaping the city.
Despite all of Night City’s ugly aspects, it did offer a setting where individuals could develop lasting friendships, find true love, and overcome significant challenges alongside those who were most important to them. Both the deplorable parts of life in Night City and its redeeming features were expertly captured in the television series. The darkness still had some brightness to it.
Respect for the Source Material
You may watch and fully appreciate Cyberpunk: Edgerunners whether or not you have played Cyberpunk 2077. The Cyberpunk franchise was introduced to many people through the Netflix series.
Because the events of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners were preceded by those of the video game Cyberpunk 2077, it has also served as a fantastic starting point. Instead of providing them with an alternative view of that world, this action has introduced the Cyberpunk universe to a completely new audience.
In order to establish a high level of synchronicity between the game and the Netflix series, Studio Trigger extensively collaborated with CD Projekt. Edgerunners has incorporated the look, feeling tone, and – most importantly – the spirit of Cyberpunk 2077.
Fans of the show can practically travel to all the locales shown on the show in the video game after viewing Edgerunners. A video game’s adaptation has hardly ever complemented its source material so perfectly.
Real Repercussions
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners repeatedly put its protagonists in peril over the course of its ten-episode run. Much while Night City was already a perilous place for ordinary citizens, edge runners were put in even riskier situations. The television show succeeded in making viewers worry about the main characters.
Studio Trigger made careful that any plot protection the protagonists in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have did not lessen the suspense. The characters’ acts had repercussions, and they didn’t always emerge from their missions triumphant.
Other Possibilities For Anime Adaptations
It’s not the first time that western video game properties have dabbled with animated adaptations; Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is only the latest example. Riot Games and Netflix collaborated to produce Arcane, an animated series based on the League of Legends franchise, even though it wasn’t produced by a Japanese animation studio.
Arcane was a huge success, and while League of Legends was already a well-known franchise and didn’t require the press, having a show that included some of its colorful cast of characters didn’t hurt.
The animation could be a terrific method for franchises to reach new audiences and rekindle interest in their games since not everyone is a major gamer. Edgerunners from Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrated it, and there is no reason why a different series couldn’t see similar results.
A video game franchise like Overwatch might adapt well to the anime style, despite the fact that not every video game franchise would. The game hasn’t been getting the recognition it once did, despite a sequel being released soon.
Conclusion – Cyberpunk Edgerunners Western Video Game Anime Adaptations
Above is our information about Cyberpunk Edgerunners Western video game anime adaptations. Similar to how Edgerunners increased interest in Cyberpunk 2077, an anime adaptation centered on the Overwatch characters might do the same for the game.
The success of Edgerunners and Arcane may inspire other brands to dabble with the idea since there is no rule that says franchises must be in trouble to pursue an anime adaptation.
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