Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is set to return for a second season, with Studio Trigger once again handling animation duties. This season, director Kai Ikarashi has introduced a more experimental and abstract visual style, aiming for a "punkish" and realistic feel that Showrunner Bartosz Sztybor likens to Martin Scorsese's filmmaking rather than the blockbuster action of Michael Bay.
Sztybor explained the shift, stating that while the first season's visual direction was bold, the second season "uses shapes and light differently." Even when utilizing existing assets from the game, Ikarashi's approach aims to capture the essence of a cutting-edge dystopia through unconventional animation techniques. This stylistic choice allows the series to explore a range of Cyberpunk themes, including cyber-psychosis and the integration of AI with human consciousness, resulting in a series that deviates from typical anime aesthetics.
Ikarashi's background includes key animation work on series known for abstract tastes, such as "Bocchi the Rock," "Mob Psycho 100," and "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time," suggesting a consistent artistic vision.
The experimental approach extends to the narrative with the introduction of Roman, a young cinephile who serves as the season's point-of-view character. Much of the story is presented through the lens of his analogue camera. Sztybor revealed that Roman was conceived after he and Ikarashi discovered their shared passion for cinema. "We had so many characters and realized we needed a POV character through whom we could see all the others—a connection between them," Sztybor said. Roman's character also serves as a counterpoint to the first season's theme of lost innocence, embodying a sense of purity in the harsh city and resisting braindances to preserve it.
Fans may also spot a cameo from game industry luminary Hideo Kojima within the series. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 will consist of 10 episodes and is scheduled for release on October 20.