‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2’ Writer-Producer Leads Us into Night City’s Next Chapter

This article was created for the
November ’26 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 362).

Cyberpunk has become more audacious and lively than ever, with an impressive surge of tech-boosted, rain-soaked, neon-bright environments appearing across comic books, movies, video games, and captivating animated TV shows.

Headlining this month is Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and its ensemble of advanced mercenaries that navigate the shadowy alleyways and perilous streets of Night City. This sequel to 2022’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a prequel spinoff of the addictive sci-fi RPG video game Cyberpunk 2077, guarantees even more hyperviolent anime excitement and stunning visuals.

Edgerunners 2 is scripted and produced by Polish screenwriter and game designer Bartosz Sztybor along with Studio Trigger and the CD Projekt Red development studio. It takes place in the same exceptionally stylized urban dystopia as the Cyberpunk game franchise, which draws inspiration from cyberpunk masterpieces such as Blade Runner and Akira. This 10-episode Edgerunner follow-up is enriched with fresh characters and interconnected narratives focused on a seasoned assassin known as Weak.

A Mad Metropolis: Produced by Japan’s Studio Trigger, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 showcases a new independent 10-episode narrative set in a city that flourishes in the glare of violence.

Dark City

Directed by Kai Ikarashi (Promare) and showcasing the talents of lead character designer Ichigo Kanno, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 revisits the imaginary California megacity for compelling investigations of revenge, identity, familial connections, and legacy.

“It’s the worst time for cyberpunk,” Sztybor remarks to Animation Magazine, referencing the global climate at the release of the series’ second season. “That’s why it’s so beloved, because regrettably we are experiencing a cyberpunk reality right now. In the ’70s and ’80s, when cyberpunk as a genre blossomed, I think it was a grim future for everyone. ‘Don’t do this or don’t do that because it will happen soon.’ Suddenly, I believe we’re living in a reality today where corporations dominate everything. I recall when Cyberpunk 2077 launched, it was one of the few titles in the cyberpunk category. Now we have Blade Runner and Neuromancer and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, but also Ghost in the Shell.”

From the outset of Edgerunners, Sztybor and his creative ensemble aspired for an anthology-style format, where every season would feature a unique story with different characters while maintaining the same fundamental elements.

“Currently, we have many more characters,” he continues. “In Edgerunners Season 1, it was predominantly David and Lucy and their connection, a romance, and his ascent and decline. I prefer to describe it as a Pulp Fiction style, as there are six or even eight distinct characters and various story arcs. Each one has different ambitions, and similar to Tarantino’s film, some will encounter each other along the journey. This is something that thrills me. I have always appreciated stories with multiple characters, where there’s cause and effect, which leads to intersections, where what one character does influences another.”

“I like to say it’s a Pulp Fiction approach here now, because we have six or even eight different characters and different storylines. Each one has different goals, and like Tarantino’s movie, some of them will meet along the way. This is something that excites me.”

— Writer-producer Bartosz Sztybor

Dedicated cyberpunk enthusiasts expect a specific degree of familiar stylistic elements from their content, and Edgerunners 2 is ready to provide all those evocative sensations.

“The series serves as an anime rendition of very realistic role-playing games. Those aspects are separate, yet I believe Studio Trigger flawlessly captures the aesthetics of the video game. As a child, I watched Blade Runner and I think it was the first cyberpunk experience I encountered. For me, and for 90% of many, cyberpunk signifies neon, nighttime, rain, and that visual identity Blade Runner established. When I viewed the first trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, and noticed the sunlit palms and something distinct musically [other] than Vangelis, I thought, ‘What the hell, this isn’t cyberpunk.’ Then I began processing it and realized that this is the essential difference of Cyberpunk 2077 compared to everything else. It’s incredibly Californian, and I think that’s what renders it fascinating and authentic. I believe Neuromancer and both Cyberpunk 2077 or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners feel more grounded. This resembles our reality. Night City is a fusion of modern-day Los Angeles and major cities in China or Tokyo. And that is the visual identity that’s incredibly unique for both properties.”

Translating the enticing aspects of the Cyberpunk 2077 universe into an extraordinary episodic anime series, while remaining true to the source but also drawing in new fans, is undeniably a formidable endeavor. Sztybor resolutely took charge and moved ahead!

“This was the most challenging aspect of creating the initial Edgerunners, honestly,” Sztybor clarifies. “As the team and I crafted storylines, that was our aim, yet the game was still evolving, resulting in many fluctuations. One day the focal point of the plot was corporations, the next it was Edgerunners, then Mercs. It was challenging to pinpoint the essence of the game. Eventually, upon learning that the lead character was a Merc named V, we resolved to focus the show on someone who was an Edgerunner. We contemplated rise-and-fall narratives, so that became the original core. This second season reflects the first, where you had a novice Edgerunner aspiring to become the most eminent Edgerunner in Night City.”

Happy Endings Not Guaranteed

“So I pondered, what if David hadn’t met his demise in the first season? He’s now about 40 or 50, an older Merc, and what could unfold? [The] second season centers around a veteran Edgerunner who loses all his cyberware in a futuristic city. It’s a parallel narrative but approached in an inverse manner. The second foundational theme, which extends beyond cyberpunk to The Witcher and the entire company, [is] narrating melancholic, morally intricate tales. There may be a happy conclusion, but it will differ. In CD Projekt Red stories, there’s no straightforward good or evil. If you succeed in the end, you will have sacrificed a great deal.”

Animation responsibilities again landed with the skilled team at Studio Trigger, though there has been a shift in the key members of the production team, and that invigorating spirit is evident in the latest season. One reason Edgerunners 2 appears so distinct from the initial season is director Kai Ikarashi, who was influenced by Léon: The Professional and its iconic appeal from the ’90s.

“I’d contend that the first season is more vibrant and universal,” remarks Sztybor. “The lines are very clean. Trigger led the character design for the initial Edgerunner, and they were significantly influenced by Disney. The first season represented the old guard of Studio Trigger, the veterans. The second season is created by newer talent, with fresh perspectives. The animation style and illustrations are considerably more raw and punk-like. Season 1 was such a hit that it keeps me up at night. However, I believe Anime Expo demonstrated the audience’s desire for another season. Having the opportunity to manage everything from start to finish this time, from writing to visuals and music, has truly been the most rewarding experience.”

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 premieres on Netflix on October 20.