Most of the time, anime adaptations are usually based on manga and light novels, when they aren't original projects themselves. Occasionally, an anime comes out that is actually based on a game franchise. Most of the time, these anime are either based on Japanese game franchises (like the Persona anime adaptations) or they are based on popular mobile games (like the upcoming Genshin Impact anime). However, sometimes anime projects get their inspiration from the west, which is the case for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a Netflix original anime based on the Cyberpunk franchise, coming out less than two years after the release of the highly controversial video game Cyberpunk 2077. Despite the negative reputation around the Cyberpunk series years after the game's terrible launch, Edgerunners ended up being a massive success, reviving interest in the game and bringing a new wave of attention to the franchise. The success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is profound, and a big sign that more western video game franchises might become interested in creating anime adaptations of their own.
How Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Achieved Its Success
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has a unique story that is not connected to the game, so the writers are not constrained by the game's storyline. The series is the story of David Martinez, a troubled kid who loses his mother in a car accident. In a fit of anger, he installs a Sandevistan implant and joins a group of edgerunners making a living in the underworld, including the sexy and mysterious Lucy, the boisterous yet reliable boss Maine, and the gun-toting, foul-mouthed Rebecca. While life is fun, it is not without its problems, and David is constantly reminded that one day, his implants will mean an early death for him.
The legendary Studio Trigger was tapped to create the series, a good choice considering their previous work on Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill, both high-octane and vividly animated shows known for being totally off the wall. Edgerunners has an incredibly well-developed cast of characters, and the story's fast pace and action-heavy scenes mesh well with Trigger's design philosophy. This combination of Trigger's animation and Cyberpunk 2077's aesthetic results in an incredible show that absolutely knocks all expectations out of the water. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was eventually released on Netflix in full and the rest is history.
How The Show's Success Affected The Game
Cyberpunk 2077 released at the tail end of the year 2020, and its launch was a massive disaster. Bugs and glitches made the game unplayable for many, and CD Projekt Red's reputation was in tatters. The situation was so bad that Sony was forced to provide refunds for anyone who bought the game on PS4. Since then, CD Projekt Red has made considerable efforts to fix up the game, and nowadays the game is in a much better state than it was on launch. Nevertheless, the sea of bad press and memories of the launch have caused many would-be players to steer clear of the game, showing how devastating a bad launch can be.
However, that all changed with the release of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which immediately convinced many who were on the fence or burned by the game's launch to give the game one more chance. Cyberpunk 2077has seen a huge resurgence of players since the anime's release, with many surprised by the changes that have been made to the game since then. If the only goal of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was to revive interest and attention to the video game franchise, it has certainly succeeded on that front alone.
Other Possibilities For Anime Adaptations
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is not the first time that western video game franchises have flirted with animated adaptations. While it wasn't created by a Japanese animation company, Riot Games worked with Netflix to create an animated series based on the League of Legends franchise known as Arcane. Arcane was a massive hit, and while League of Legends was always a popular franchise that didn't need the publicity, having a show that highlighted a number of its vibrant cast of characters certainly didn't hurt.
Not everybody is a big gamer, and animated adaptations could be a great way for franchises to reach new audiences and renew interest in their games. Cyberpunk 2077 proved it with Edgerunners, and there's no reason why another franchise couldn't see the same effects. While not every video game franchise would translate well to an anime adaptation, a franchise like Overwatch could translate well to the anime aesthetic. Despite having a sequel launching soon, the game has not been receiving the renown that its reputation once commanded.
An anime adaptation focused around the characters of Overwatch could raise interest in the game in the same way that Edgerunners did for Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, there's no rule saying franchises need to be struggling to consider an anime adaptation, and the success of Edgerunners and Arcane might encourage other franchises to experiment with the concept.