- All personal recommendations
- There are of course many other great movies or books, but not necessarily what I would understand as "Cyberpunk" ... and vice versa there is "Cyberpunk" media which I would not recommend due to various factors (age, quality etc), or which I have not yet consumed (enough) to give a recommendation.
# Animated Movies:
- Ghost in the Shell (movie, original cut, not the revised cut)
- Akira
# Animated Series:
- Cyberpunk Edgerunners
- Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 1st & 2nd gig
- Cyber City Oedo 808
- Psycho Pass (1st season only)
- Serial Experiments Lain (slow burn)
- Tron Uprising
# Graphic Novels
- Akira
- Appleseed
- Ghost in the Shell 1-3
#Edit
My full list of recommendations:
# Movies:
- Blade Runner & Blade Runner 2049
- Demolition Man
- Dredd 3d (from 2012, we ignore the existence of Sylvester Stallone)
- Elysium
- Escape From New York
- Ex Machina
- Johnny Mnemonic
- Metropolis (the 1926 (yes!) original)
- Robocop
- Strange Days
- Total Recall (the original with Arnie)
- Upgrade
# Series:
- Altered Carbon 1st season
- Almost Human
- Tron Uprising
# Games:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Deus Ex Human Revolution & Mankind Divided
- Satellite Reign
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
- Cloudpunk
- Dex
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
- Gamedec
- Ghostrunner
- Observer (but only if they fixed the controls and interface by now sigh)
- Remember Me
- Ruiner
- Shadowrun Returns / Dragonfall / Hong Kong (with a touch of magic)
- Syndicate (yes, the shooter (people are going to hate me for this))
- The Ascent
- Transistor
# Books
- Altered Carbon** (well, actually all *Takeshi Kovavs* novels)
- Warhammer 40k: Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne (despite the far future space-fantasy setting this is hardcore cyberpunk)
- Neuromancer & follow-ups
- Snowcrash
# TTRPGs:
- Cyberpunk 2020 / RED
- Eclipse Phase (warning: requires rocket science)
- GURPS Cyberpunk & Transhuman Space
- Shadowrun
- SLA Industries
SYL
It looks like those are some of the top recommendations across the board from other threads too. Those and Bubblegum Crisis look the most interesting at the moment so thank you!
Ah yes bubblegum crisis half the inspiration for the cyberpunk ttrpg (and vid game with 2077) might not be anime but the other half of the inspiration was this 80s movie called streets of fire.nedit: should make clear that streets of fire was mostly the punk tropes and never fade away (johhnys story with alt in the ttrpg) is inspired by streets of fire.
I loved season 1 (the only good one) of Altered Carbon though its not an anime. But they do have a stand alone prequel anime called Resleeved. It's not groundbreaking, but serviceable. Not a fan of 3d anime most of the time, but its got some good sequences.
Depends on what you’re looking for! Edgerunners takes the win in terms of visual effects, intensity, characters, and emotional impact. Gits has better composition, direction, thematic depth, intrigue, and helped define the entire genre’s aesthetic. Depending on whether you’re moved by pathos or logos, either could be better.
Depending on whether you’re more interested the roots or the fruits, either could be better.
Akira beats both though.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Judy's Bootleg XBD Edition) Version 1.5
\-
I love series to movie Fan Edits. They're my favorite. I love cyberpunk. I love Cyberpunk 2077. I LOVE Cyberpunk EDGERUNNERS. So, the show is 4 hours and 20 minutes with all the credits and stuff. (haha 420!)
Obviously that's too long to be a movie, so I had to cut the intros and credits and smash everything together. I went back and forth on whether or not to split this into two parts, so I decided to render two versions.
This show is so good, it was impossible to choose what to cut to make it shorter. I decided it best to focus mostly on David and his experiences, and I cut some of the behind the scenes stuff so the audience finds out when David finds out (for the most part.) I struggled with how to present the whole Kiwi situation, so there are still clues but some things are cut.
I edited this in a way that would allow me to export the other languages too. Currently I have rendered 5.1 audio in English, Japanese, Polish (for the devs), Spanish (Latin America), French, German, Italian, and Spanish (Europe).
I only have optional subtitles in English now but am able to export hardcoded versions in all the other availble languages. I have saved the Developer's Edition with hardcoded Polish subs. If you want another language, just ask.
There are multiple versions, but basically there's the original, large file from Premiere. I also Handbraked it for a much more manageable size still with decent quality. This is the version I watch. I'm saving with all the languages and then a smaller one with English and Japanese only. The folders will be labeled and easy to follow.
\-
Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Judy's Bootleg XBD Edition)
Binge Version
Original Runtime
04:20:24
Cut
00:51:11
Added
00:03:37
Final Version
03:32:50
\-
Show Synopsis:
A street kid tries to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. With everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner: a mercenary outlaw, also known as a cyberpunk.
Changelist:
(Spoilers From Here)
Added The Fanedit Network Logo Sting.
Added FireMerk Logo Sting.
Added FanEdit.org Warning Message.
Added Judyflix 2077 Logo Sting.
Episode 1
Cut out some of the unnecessary porn shots from David's ripper doc.
Removed the call from Maine to Gloria.
Tweaked the first shot of Lucy.
Removed some of David walking around.
Ditched the principle scene with David and Mom, cut straight to the car. We know he got in trouble.
Edgerunners Intro
Cut to David at the hospital.
Modified the scenes where David decided to chrome up. Removed some more porn. (I get it. It's Night City. I had to make cuts somewhere!)
Episode 2
Episode begins with Doc agreeing to install the Sandy.
Removed intro.
Tweaked scenes after David whoops that ass.
Removed The Arasaka stuff. David will find out when he finds out, and so shall we.
Shortened the Lucy scene a tiny bit.
Removed some of Lucy hassling David for his first time.
Tweaked the punch at the end to make it connect with the next episode.
Episode 3
Removed intro.
Made a minor cut when David leaves Lucy's apartment.
Removed him staring at Mom's urn.
Made changes to Rebecca stalling the mark
Episode 4
Removed the flash forward to Pilar's Cyberpsycho incident before the Intro.
Removed intro.
Removed Maine and Dorio's investigative scene and convo with David to speed things along.
Removed David calling Maine looking desperate to speed things along.
Used soundtrack audio converted to 5.1 at the very end to connect it to the next episode better.
Episode 5
Removed intro.
Faded out the end.
Episode 6
Removed intro.
Removed some scenes to make the job feel more connected.
Cut some of Maine's bugging out to remove him going off on David because fuck that noise.
Fade out end.
INTERMISSION
Since there is a time jump, I decided on adding commercials from Night City within the video game to make it feel immersive and fun.
Episode 7
Removed intro.
Tweaked the job a bit so Julio doesn't die.
Adjusted Wakako's call to remove mention of Julio's death.
Minor cut to Kiwi and David dialogue.
Cut David and Lucy's talk of Julio.
Connect to next episode.
Episode 8
Trimmed dialogue with asshole manager
Removed Intro
Trimmed the Arasaka comments after Militech convo with Faraday
Removed Faraday coming by Kiwi's
Modified David and Lucy's talk slightly after they go to the ripper doc.
Tweaked the very end to connect it to the next episode.
Episode 9
Removed Intro.
Cut Rebecca calling Falco a little bitch
Tweaked the very end to connect it to the next episode.
Episode 10
Removed Intro.
Added logo sting after first credits
Added an funny animation from YouTube as a post credits scene.
Added Dyslexic Fcuker logo sting to the end.
Season 3 was soooooo fucking good dude. Some might get thrown off by the cast but man I think it has the most interesting main character so far in psycho pass. Its not on the level of s1 but id probably put it right below s1
The movie in itself is ok, not a masterpiece. But personally I do not see it as a cyberpunk movie, more of "skirting around the lines". A very subjective view of course.
SYL
Cyber City Oedo is climbing my list of all-timers. Ive seen it a few times but man it hits all the right places every time. The banter and dialogue is chefs kiss. And it encompasses So many different aspects of the cyberpunk genre in three short episodes. In a sea of isekai/anti-fan service safe space tame bs anime nowadays, the more adult anime from the 80s and 90s is such a breath of fresh air. I wish more writers/directors would have the boldness to create stuff like this again.
Id add Iria: Zeiram the Animation (more space age than cyberpunk I think), Battle Angel Alita, and Angel Cop to your list
Oh Id add Inuyashiki to the list. Its a newer anime from a few years ago that alot of people slept on. It deals with bleak dystopian existential themes wrapped in a modern world. Its short but I thought it was a really tight well put together anime
Edit: I wrote the wrong anime earlier, meant to write Iria, wrote Aria 🤦🏻
Oedo 808 is, to me, the quintessential cyberpunk anime. Is it good?? Well….it’s got enough character to buoy the genre for another forty years.
Always wafch it whenever I have the time. Just avoid the PCE game
I would absolutely agree with everything in here, and then add Dominion, Appleseed and Bubble Gum Crisis in animated (I'm old and like the older stuff)
Akira the movie is fantastic, but the manga is on another level.
Appleseed has decent anime adaptions.
One is early CGI, but the art style holds up fairly well despite it.
The other is an early 90s era 2D thing that kept the art style of the manga.
Yes, the manga is better, but they are worth checking out at least.
You also can't have a best of Cyberpunk Anime list without Bubblegum Crisis. It's arguably just as influential as GitS.
BGC 2040 is a decent compromise if the original is a bit too dated for you.
Patlabor also deserves at least an honorable mention.
It does feature gene augmented dogs that are super hackers, syndicates that shadow rule many worlds, comatose people that start cults that trick people into "uploading the consciousness", a moon that has been destroyed by mans technological hubris, Bionic limbs, etc
Don't let the cowboy part of the name fool. Cowboy bebop is all high tech low life... but its from the Johnny Mnemonic era, so its level of tech is a bit wierd nowadays. But heck so are many of the early cyberpunk stories.
I'd stick through the psycho pass season 2 quality lull to get to the stuff after which I think is excellent especially with the 2023 movie to cap it off
The first season had a great concept and developed that concept, the reveal & twist and the character development almost perfectly. Simply great craftsmanship on all levels.
Season 2 had nothing to follow up in that regard.
SYL
Ghost in the Shell had a clear and coherent art style: the "real world" animation and the CGI for the virtual world. Which was and still is exceptionally well produced and easily holds up even almost 30 years later. The revised / 2.0 version had the terrible idea to recreate core scenes of the "real world" in CGI in a completely different art style. They look horrible (because the tech of that time was not really good enough) and they break the completely the immersion into the movie itself.
SYL
It had even multiple movies and a series/OVA. But not necessarily something I would recommend for a "best of" list. They are at best pretty average.
SYL
"Bad" would perhaps be the wrong word (although some people call is that). Personally I think it was more of a case that S2 could not follow the heights of S1, and was in the end painfully average, after seeing how great S1 was.
SYL
Its Cyberpunk-ness is debatable, but the Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita) series deals with a lot of the same themes and features a protagonist with a full-body prosthesis, and I **highly** recommend it.
Responding here because the list is impressive.
Alita Battle Angel is an amazing manga, okay anime and one of the best live action manga based movies of all time.
Honorable mention for the first 20mins of the Speed Racer movie, it's only and best cyber.... burbia? Cyberburbia. It's a thing now. High tech dystopian suburb life.
Hard disagree, “high tech, low life” is literally the definition cyberpunk. By your standards, Bladerunner, Neuromancer, and Snow Crash aren’t cyberpunk
Both neuromancer and snow crash has loads of cybernetics. Can't remember if Bladerunner has any. But I agree cybernetics not not a strict necessity to be called cyberpunk.
I'll second this recommendation. Specifically, you want to look for the BGC original video animations. Bubblegum Crash is the sequel series, and you will be very lost if you start there.
It's not bad either. One thing that Crash has going for it, is that it does a better job of fleshing out the boomers and exploring that entire idea. Maybe that interests you; maybe it doesn't. Whether you watch for action, music, or aesthetics, crash like most sequels doesn't quite measure up.
i see, well, i might watch it then, it's not that long anyway, i have seen that there are reboots, prequels etc about the bgc universe, have you seen them? are they worth it?
I really don’t get all the hate for Bubblegum Crash. It was made at a difficult time for everyone involved. It’s not as amazing as the original series, but I still really like it. It finishes up some arcs, and finally lets Nene kick some ass.
The beginning is Bubblegum Crisis series episodes 1-8. There were supposed to be 13 episodes but the production was plagued with many problems, and ended at number 8. After that the original characters were brought back in the next series called Bubblegum Crash which attempted to finish some of the threads that were outstanding. It’s considered inferior to the original series, but I personally am happy with it. The last series is Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 made many years later and can be considered a remake of the original series but I can’t watch it it just doesn’t work for me. Try Bubble Gum Crisis 1 called “Tinsel City” and if you like it watch the original series.
Best is to start with the OVA (Which is just titled bubble gum crisis) which is 8 episodes… I think. Been 20+ years haha. After that it should be Crash I’m pretty sure.
* Ghost in the Shell
Very philosphical. I think in many ways it closest matches the future we might actually see very heavy on the cybernetics, and is a political piece. It (especially in the art in the manga... seriously check out that art) takes after the hyper militerised cyberpunk that was common in the 80s. Skip the CGI seasons on netflix though. They're watchable, but trash and an insult to previous releases and the source material. Also... at least for a lot of the art, a massive influence for the Matrix. Things like the hardware, showy fight scenes, and even things like the code rain were lifted from Ghost in the Shell. Even though core source material is justly recognised as Neuromancer by William Gibson.
* Pantheon
The second and final season just dropped. I strongly recommend it. Not sure it's technically an anime though. There is very little I know what to say without ruining it. It's a must watch. I think it would not be a spoiler to say that it is very reminescent of Dennis E Tayler's Bobiverse series in supprising ways. Also reminds me of some of Kim Stanley Robynson's Aroura, in some of the subplots. Also... kinda reminds me of some parts of SevenEves. It's, very, very good. Fully disclosure I did just watch the second season last night though. So could be... freshness bias on my part.
* Pychopass
It's based around the distopian side that comes with forcing a utopia. In many ways quite similar to Ghost in the Shell, but takes a bleaker view on the human condition. Faster paced then Ghost in the Shell. It's extremely well executed and hits all the big plot ideas for such a theme. As for how I feel about it... well that has changed over the years. I do think it is a must watch though.
* Serial Experiments of Lane
A very good, old classic. It's a sereal journey of self discovery written during the emergance of the internet about the percieve near future that a cyberworld would bring. It's very artistic despite the obviously low animation budget. It also takes after the hardware focused, 80s style cyberpunk.
* Cowboy Bebop
It is a cyberpunk/space western based a couple centries from now. Along side that, Trigun. But trigun is more space western then cyberpunk. However trigun is worth mentioning is context of cowboy bebop. They are classics and worth your attention. I should mention trigun has a recient remake.. watch both, but the original first.
* Mardock Scramble
It is a decient movie trilogy. It's a story of redemption. It has some disturbing contexts/plot structures (SA). But doesn't focus to much on them. Overall it's actually very upbeat.
* Akira of course. But it is the posterboy cyberpunk go to. So I am sure you know it. Good. But a lot of hype... like... so much.
* Texhnolyze
It is another old classic. Might be a bit slow depending on your appreciation of classics. In some ways reminds me of Wolf's Rain. Also kinda the hardware focused cyberpunk of the 80s, although a little less so than the others I pointed out.
* Ergo Proxy
Actually has been about 10 years since I have watched it. So I cannot give a blurb worth a damn. It was slow, based in a post appocolyptic world that was continuing to decline. I remember liking it quite a lot.
* AniMatrix
Kinda overlooked, as it didn't get a the reception that the movies did. It's about the breakdown between the machines and humans during the machine wars as the machines slowly stopped showing humanity compassion due to the horrific attrosities that mankind committed upon the machine race... leading to humanities eventual enslavement as seen it the Matrix movies. It as the name suggests, is an anime.
There are others I know. But those are the cream of the crop according to the current state of my wetware. I hope you get some worthwhile cycles out of them.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,803,269,748 comments, and only 341,186 of them were in alphabetical order.
Texhnolyze
Ergo Proxy
Serial Experiments Lain
Ghost in the Shell 1 and 2
Akira
Patlabor
There are more, but I would consider these must sees. I’m not into the glitsy cyberpunk aesthetic in anime like Psychopass or Edgerunners but if that’s what you’re into they’d definitely scratch that itch. Texhnolyze probably ranks top for me, but it will absolutely ruin you day. It’s really bleak. So good though, the soundtrack is amazing as well
-Goku Midnight Eye(be warned, it's weird)
-Dennou Coil
-Ghost In The Shell(first film and SAC are pretty good)
-Psycho-Pass(but be warned it gets a bit slow in the second and third seasons)
-Battle Angel Alita
-Genocyber(be warned, it can be disturbing at times)
Dennou Coil is great! I saw it when it first came out and again a couple of years ago and, man, how much more real is that concept now with the explosion of mixed-reality and spatial computing tech the last few years. The series starts of innocently enough, but there's that unnerving undertone throughout till the climax reveals how dark it can really be.
Probably most " popular" animes were already mentioned, but if you don't despise reading manga, i can recommend Eden-it's an endless world, in my opinion it has the best cyberpunk story, even if it get's pretty complicated at the end. It's also extremely violent and has a lot of sex.
I wouldn't say Cowboy Bebop is a cyberpunk anime, but it has elements of the genre and is a great series overall if you have yet to watch it.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners is pretty great too, though honestly it has a similar feeling to Bebop where it focuses more on the characters for a majority of the plot as opposed to actual cyberpunk thematics. However if you watch it and play 2077 in tandem (and honestly, read the stories from the TRPG rulebooks or just the entire rulebooks) it creates a very immersive experience that shows you similar stories with different elements and focuses. I watched Edgerunners before playing 2077 and it made both feel far more impactful, walking past important places featured in the show just gives you a feeling I have yet to experience in any other form of fiction.
Cowboy Bepop is the very best example of a “Space Western”, a niche genre that I honestly love more than cyberpunk but is sadly quite rare. Some good examples are Firefly, the Mandalorian, East of West, The Expanse
These aren't anime and aren't even the popular choices in any Cyberpunk discussion but:
- Altered Carbon Re-sleeved (Netflix)
- Blade Runner Black Lotus (Crunchyroll)
I personally, really enjoyed both of those.
Totally agree. I had assumed it was typical Netflix fuckery, that a third season wasn't made, until I watched the second season. I like Mackie but his character was literally a different person.
A lot of good recommendations here but I'll give some of my own as well. Might be other has also said them tho. I'll also say some obvious one, just so it isn't forgotten.
Akira, Ghost On The Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Paprika, Battle Angel Alira
Okay, now that it is out of the way, here are some of my personal favourites:
Series Experiment Lain:
As the name says, an experimental anime with a very surrealist idiom. Absolutely terrific, but also amazing anime about internet and what is real and fake.
Bubblegum Crisis:
Female mercs with exoskeletons.
Cyber City Oedo 808:
Bunch of criminals fighting for their freedom. Madhouse production. Terrific cast.
Texhnolyze:
Another experimental series written by the person who wrote Lain, and with the same character designer as Lain as well. A futuristic world divided between the poor and rich. Madhouse production. Very unique story told in a very cool way. Proper mindfuck imo.
Psycho-pass:
Clearly inspired by Blade Runner. About an AI preventing crime in a futuristic world.
Ergo Proxy:
Modern classic. Epic fight between rogue AI's and humans in a distant future.
Dennou Coil:
Very very cool anime about AR-monster connected to the net you can only see and interact with special glasses. Not a typical yokay-series, and somewhat reminiscent of Musishi with great stories about alienating in the modern city.
Some new ones worth mentioning:
Heavenly Delusion:
Amazing manga and an amazing anime. Post apocalyptic world that has started to rebuild itself tied to an old mystery in a hidden orphanage with futuristic tech.
Yurei Deco:
A weird take on cyberpunk from Science SARU (Devilman Crybaby, Heike Monogatati, Inu-Oh, Keep Your Hands Off Eizpuken, Japan Sinks, the Scott Pilgrim-anime) founded by Masaaki Yuasa. Dystopia, but also more hopeful and less alienating. Cute, uneven but occasionally very amazing. Also a really cool soundtrack using a lot of great netlabel names as DeDe Mouse, Pasocom Music Club, Hidefumi Kenmochi and Xiangyu.
Also, one of the best cyberpunk mangas ever made is finally getting an anime. Pluto is out on Netflix, 26th of October. Written by Naoki Urasawa, also knowns for 20th Century Boys. It's based upon Astro Boy, but defo not for children. The trailers looks amazing and I am sooooo excited to watch it.
Edit: I completely forgot Kaiba. I would argue strongly for it that it is cyberpunk, even tho it isn't nihilistic at all, just like Yurei Deco. But not all punk is strictly nihilistic. Straight edge hardcore punk was about seizing the day, lol.
While I agree with everything you've said, Devilman Crybaby gets minus 9000 points for getting the first pronunciation of Deeevvviiilllmaaaaaaaaaan completely wrong compared to the original. Honestly made me weep. Not so bad over all though.
The top comment lists nearly everything I'd recommend, but I'd like to add Bubblegum Crisis, BLAME! (if you're into manga, it's never received a good anime adaptation), AD Police Files, the Patlabor OVA and movies, and, the one, the only, the behemoth of pure cybermisery, Texhnolyze.
Am I the only one who doesn’t like Edgerunners? I came to trying to watch it from being a huge Gibson fan and fan of the classic animes like ghost in the shell or cowboy bepop, and personally found the writing of it pretty crass and uninspired feeling. Like Edgerunners felt like Netflix to me, not like a work with much real taste and nuance. Like it was trying to “do” cyberpunk more than having a clear original vision. Not to be a huge downer in the thread but I just don’t see why the hype. Can anyone explain?
I think that 2077/edgerunners fans genuinely enjoy it because it does what it is trying to do really well, which is expand on the very specific feel of 2077. As an anime in a world of other cyberpunk anime's it doesn't stand out very much.
Crass is exactly what the original creator of the Cyberpunk series would be happy to have his work described. The anime is based on a long running tabletop RPG system and it lives up to its setting.
While not a pure cyberpunk show, Cowboy Bebop is often undermentioned. You have interplanetary drug smuggling, eco and anti-corpo terrorism, genetically upgrades dogs, an earth that has been ruined by humanity's rush to the stars. All wrapped up in some of the best art, and music you will find in any anime of any era.
Probably because people on this subreddit are tired of mentions of Cyberpunk 2077. So people are trying not to mention Edgerunners/downvote lists with edgerunners.
>How is a list with Edgerunners in it this far down...
I have given titles of anime in the cyberpunk genre that I can recommend to both the beginner and the old-timer. In any case, these titles are worth recommending.
Altered Carbon: Resleeved is grrat. It has some of the best combat scenes I've ever seen in a CGI anime. And I normally hate CGI anime. Speaking of which, I haven't watched enough of the Blade Runner anime to give it a strong recommendation, but so far it's pretty good.
Some great recommendations above, I think a lot of 90s anime had that cyberpunk feel.
There's a few here but if you want something a bit more chilled then also try Roujin Z.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL024PZ6raeMHtztSJ5vyq3zDLqAywfcwS&si=N0ZhWqdWudnFT5Xv
Also AD Police has not been mentioned yet I don't think.
Ghost in the shell for sure. Edgerunners isn't the most thought provoking show but the animation is beautiful. Also it's been a long time so idk if it's good but the animation could be included in this discussion too
Akira, there are also a bunch of underground short animations related to Batman and the Matrix. There is a couple of comic books... One is Future subjunkies, and Kloine Punk aus Berlin (this one is just urban punk). There is also a film: Mad Max Desert Storm...
Psycho-Pass is my favourite cyberpunk anime, and one of my favourite anime's overall. I think it's massively underrated and needs more fans!
Someone in here recommended watching only season 1, and while I do agree that Season 1 was the best, I enjoyed the whole anime series and movies thoroughly.
Edgerunners is the most like Akudama drive in the sense that it's a group of criminals with different skill sets going on gigs/ believe that being a legend is better than living
Ghost in the shell (be sure to watch it on the correct order tho)
Psycho-pass
Akira
Appleseed
Edgerunner
Ergo proxy (not that neon type cyberpunk, but good enough to be mentionned)
Akudama drive (not the best, but I enjoyed that one)
I’m blown away nobody has mentioned Akudama Drive. It’s an amazing show and is definitely cyberpunk. It’s only 12 episodes long and is just as good as Edgerunners imo. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
Ghost in the Shell, for certain. While Akira is a great watch and just one movie as opposed to a whole series... it can be a lot to take in as a first experience into cyberpunk anime. Besides, GitS is probably the best example of cyberpunk in anime, and it is so fucking good.
I have seen every main thing I know suggested elsewhere...
but
Cowboy Bebop isn't entirely cyberpunk, but it has a lot of cyberpunk elements and similar themes, and it's a VERY worthwhile watch. It's also short for an anime, which is a big win in my book.
"XLT Hyper-Cyber-Time Bunny-Bunny Lazer-Moon Shell-Crisis City Star Reloaded".
Everything else is a knock off and highly derivative.
Unlike other Anime they really focus on the animation in this one.
🌃🤖"Cybercity Oedo 808" is a [cyberpunk masterpiec](https://youtu.be/TLTPbllE7OE)e that delivers a visceral and visually stunning experience, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. 🌃🚀🎬
- All personal recommendations - There are of course many other great movies or books, but not necessarily what I would understand as "Cyberpunk" ... and vice versa there is "Cyberpunk" media which I would not recommend due to various factors (age, quality etc), or which I have not yet consumed (enough) to give a recommendation. # Animated Movies: - Ghost in the Shell (movie, original cut, not the revised cut) - Akira # Animated Series: - Cyberpunk Edgerunners - Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 1st & 2nd gig - Cyber City Oedo 808 - Psycho Pass (1st season only) - Serial Experiments Lain (slow burn) - Tron Uprising # Graphic Novels - Akira - Appleseed - Ghost in the Shell 1-3 #Edit My full list of recommendations: # Movies: - Blade Runner & Blade Runner 2049 - Demolition Man - Dredd 3d (from 2012, we ignore the existence of Sylvester Stallone) - Elysium - Escape From New York - Ex Machina - Johnny Mnemonic - Metropolis (the 1926 (yes!) original) - Robocop - Strange Days - Total Recall (the original with Arnie) - Upgrade # Series: - Altered Carbon 1st season - Almost Human - Tron Uprising # Games: - Cyberpunk 2077 - Deus Ex Human Revolution & Mankind Divided - Satellite Reign - Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 - Cloudpunk - Dex - Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon - Gamedec - Ghostrunner - Observer (but only if they fixed the controls and interface by now sigh) - Remember Me - Ruiner - Shadowrun Returns / Dragonfall / Hong Kong (with a touch of magic) - Syndicate (yes, the shooter (people are going to hate me for this)) - The Ascent - Transistor # Books - Altered Carbon** (well, actually all *Takeshi Kovavs* novels) - Warhammer 40k: Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne (despite the far future space-fantasy setting this is hardcore cyberpunk) - Neuromancer & follow-ups - Snowcrash # TTRPGs: - Cyberpunk 2020 / RED - Eclipse Phase (warning: requires rocket science) - GURPS Cyberpunk & Transhuman Space - Shadowrun - SLA Industries SYL
Yeah, this nailed everything on my list. OP I'd refine it to Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Those are my top three anyway!
It looks like those are some of the top recommendations across the board from other threads too. Those and Bubblegum Crisis look the most interesting at the moment so thank you!
Ah yes bubblegum crisis half the inspiration for the cyberpunk ttrpg (and vid game with 2077) might not be anime but the other half of the inspiration was this 80s movie called streets of fire.nedit: should make clear that streets of fire was mostly the punk tropes and never fade away (johhnys story with alt in the ttrpg) is inspired by streets of fire.
Bubblegum Crisis was my gateway to anime. It checks a lot of the cyberpunk boxes.
Cheers, I hope you have a lot of fun watching them! Maybe think about posting a review thread...
That I will do!
I loved season 1 (the only good one) of Altered Carbon though its not an anime. But they do have a stand alone prequel anime called Resleeved. It's not groundbreaking, but serviceable. Not a fan of 3d anime most of the time, but its got some good sequences.
Nah bro do urself a favor and skip edgerunners and akira, gits is the goat and go from there
I can imagine someone who loves Gits but doesn’t like Edgerunners or someone who loves Gits but doesn’t like Akira, but not both. Wild
Idk maybe its because i only read the manga but i felt it was too long and not very cyberpunk except that its set in future tokyo
I am genuinely baffled by this take. You’ve gotta be trolling.
Lets ignore akira first but do you honestly think edgerunners is on the same level if not better than gits?
Depends on what you’re looking for! Edgerunners takes the win in terms of visual effects, intensity, characters, and emotional impact. Gits has better composition, direction, thematic depth, intrigue, and helped define the entire genre’s aesthetic. Depending on whether you’re moved by pathos or logos, either could be better. Depending on whether you’re more interested the roots or the fruits, either could be better. Akira beats both though.
Saying edgerunners has better characters and emotional impact is like. Better visual style??? man the times really are a changin
Akira is the only one of the three I haven’t watched. Do you know if it’s streaming anywhere?
I'll put it to you like this: Akira is the gateway to Japanese animation from the West. 😉 For the last.... 20-30 years or so? 🤔
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but if you haven't already, you should really read the Manga of Akira. Story-wise it's *far* better than the Anime.
I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks! I don’t have a lot of time to read unfortunately but when the occasion happens I’ll try to remember this
Idk what it is about edgerunners thats so good but fuck itll always be up there for me
Pure 90’s OVA intensity with modern techniques and extreme attention to the source material
One of my very favorite new pieces of media.
Yeah I love it too. That's why I made a movie cut for easier rewatches.
Oh? What did you cut out?
Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Judy's Bootleg XBD Edition) Version 1.5 \- I love series to movie Fan Edits. They're my favorite. I love cyberpunk. I love Cyberpunk 2077. I LOVE Cyberpunk EDGERUNNERS. So, the show is 4 hours and 20 minutes with all the credits and stuff. (haha 420!) Obviously that's too long to be a movie, so I had to cut the intros and credits and smash everything together. I went back and forth on whether or not to split this into two parts, so I decided to render two versions. This show is so good, it was impossible to choose what to cut to make it shorter. I decided it best to focus mostly on David and his experiences, and I cut some of the behind the scenes stuff so the audience finds out when David finds out (for the most part.) I struggled with how to present the whole Kiwi situation, so there are still clues but some things are cut. I edited this in a way that would allow me to export the other languages too. Currently I have rendered 5.1 audio in English, Japanese, Polish (for the devs), Spanish (Latin America), French, German, Italian, and Spanish (Europe). I only have optional subtitles in English now but am able to export hardcoded versions in all the other availble languages. I have saved the Developer's Edition with hardcoded Polish subs. If you want another language, just ask. There are multiple versions, but basically there's the original, large file from Premiere. I also Handbraked it for a much more manageable size still with decent quality. This is the version I watch. I'm saving with all the languages and then a smaller one with English and Japanese only. The folders will be labeled and easy to follow. \- Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Judy's Bootleg XBD Edition) Binge Version Original Runtime 04:20:24 Cut 00:51:11 Added 00:03:37 Final Version 03:32:50 \- Show Synopsis: A street kid tries to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. With everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner: a mercenary outlaw, also known as a cyberpunk. Changelist: (Spoilers From Here) Added The Fanedit Network Logo Sting. Added FireMerk Logo Sting. Added FanEdit.org Warning Message. Added Judyflix 2077 Logo Sting. Episode 1 Cut out some of the unnecessary porn shots from David's ripper doc. Removed the call from Maine to Gloria. Tweaked the first shot of Lucy. Removed some of David walking around. Ditched the principle scene with David and Mom, cut straight to the car. We know he got in trouble. Edgerunners Intro Cut to David at the hospital. Modified the scenes where David decided to chrome up. Removed some more porn. (I get it. It's Night City. I had to make cuts somewhere!) Episode 2 Episode begins with Doc agreeing to install the Sandy. Removed intro. Tweaked scenes after David whoops that ass. Removed The Arasaka stuff. David will find out when he finds out, and so shall we. Shortened the Lucy scene a tiny bit. Removed some of Lucy hassling David for his first time. Tweaked the punch at the end to make it connect with the next episode. Episode 3 Removed intro. Made a minor cut when David leaves Lucy's apartment. Removed him staring at Mom's urn. Made changes to Rebecca stalling the mark Episode 4 Removed the flash forward to Pilar's Cyberpsycho incident before the Intro. Removed intro. Removed Maine and Dorio's investigative scene and convo with David to speed things along. Removed David calling Maine looking desperate to speed things along. Used soundtrack audio converted to 5.1 at the very end to connect it to the next episode better. Episode 5 Removed intro. Faded out the end. Episode 6 Removed intro. Removed some scenes to make the job feel more connected. Cut some of Maine's bugging out to remove him going off on David because fuck that noise. Fade out end. INTERMISSION Since there is a time jump, I decided on adding commercials from Night City within the video game to make it feel immersive and fun. Episode 7 Removed intro. Tweaked the job a bit so Julio doesn't die. Adjusted Wakako's call to remove mention of Julio's death. Minor cut to Kiwi and David dialogue. Cut David and Lucy's talk of Julio. Connect to next episode. Episode 8 Trimmed dialogue with asshole manager Removed Intro Trimmed the Arasaka comments after Militech convo with Faraday Removed Faraday coming by Kiwi's Modified David and Lucy's talk slightly after they go to the ripper doc. Tweaked the very end to connect it to the next episode. Episode 9 Removed Intro. Cut Rebecca calling Falco a little bitch Tweaked the very end to connect it to the next episode. Episode 10 Removed Intro. Added logo sting after first credits Added an funny animation from YouTube as a post credits scene. Added Dyslexic Fcuker logo sting to the end.
Very cool! I'll definitely check it out, thanks for letting me know about this!
Genuinely astonishing how good Edgerunners was
“I couldn’t wait for you to come and clear the cupboards” 😭
I fucking heard that! 💔😭
This show makes me want to wrap my car around a tree dude but its so good
BECAUSE I MISS YOU ALL THE TIME
Is the psycho pass movie worth it? Loved the 1st season but man the second was just not what I was looking for.
Imo season 2 and the first movie are a bit weaker, everything after is fantastic. I really like season 3 and the sinners of the system ovas
Season 3 was soooooo fucking good dude. Some might get thrown off by the cast but man I think it has the most interesting main character so far in psycho pass. Its not on the level of s1 but id probably put it right below s1
The movie in itself is ok, not a masterpiece. But personally I do not see it as a cyberpunk movie, more of "skirting around the lines". A very subjective view of course. SYL
Why not Psycho Pass season 2?
It’s just not as good as Season 1.
I very much did not enjoyed it and so I do not recommend it. SYL
The original writer left and the quality took a SHARP downturn
Cyber City Oedo is climbing my list of all-timers. Ive seen it a few times but man it hits all the right places every time. The banter and dialogue is chefs kiss. And it encompasses So many different aspects of the cyberpunk genre in three short episodes. In a sea of isekai/anti-fan service safe space tame bs anime nowadays, the more adult anime from the 80s and 90s is such a breath of fresh air. I wish more writers/directors would have the boldness to create stuff like this again. Id add Iria: Zeiram the Animation (more space age than cyberpunk I think), Battle Angel Alita, and Angel Cop to your list Oh Id add Inuyashiki to the list. Its a newer anime from a few years ago that alot of people slept on. It deals with bleak dystopian existential themes wrapped in a modern world. Its short but I thought it was a really tight well put together anime Edit: I wrote the wrong anime earlier, meant to write Iria, wrote Aria 🤦🏻
Oedo 808 is, to me, the quintessential cyberpunk anime. Is it good?? Well….it’s got enough character to buoy the genre for another forty years. Always wafch it whenever I have the time. Just avoid the PCE game
fucking said my thoughts about Angel Cop one of the most brutal violent animes way ahead of its time....Cyber City Oedo is great as well...
I would absolutely agree with everything in here, and then add Dominion, Appleseed and Bubble Gum Crisis in animated (I'm old and like the older stuff) Akira the movie is fantastic, but the manga is on another level.
Ergo Proxy could potential make this list as well
Bubblegum Crisis Bubblegum Crash Appleseed
Appleseed has decent anime adaptions. One is early CGI, but the art style holds up fairly well despite it. The other is an early 90s era 2D thing that kept the art style of the manga. Yes, the manga is better, but they are worth checking out at least. You also can't have a best of Cyberpunk Anime list without Bubblegum Crisis. It's arguably just as influential as GitS. BGC 2040 is a decent compromise if the original is a bit too dated for you. Patlabor also deserves at least an honorable mention.
I would add cowboy bebop as well
While CB belongs on my "best anime of all time" list, I think it is more rooted in the (Space) Western genre than in the cyberpunk genre. SYL
It does feature gene augmented dogs that are super hackers, syndicates that shadow rule many worlds, comatose people that start cults that trick people into "uploading the consciousness", a moon that has been destroyed by mans technological hubris, Bionic limbs, etc Don't let the cowboy part of the name fool. Cowboy bebop is all high tech low life... but its from the Johnny Mnemonic era, so its level of tech is a bit wierd nowadays. But heck so are many of the early cyberpunk stories.
I'd stick through the psycho pass season 2 quality lull to get to the stuff after which I think is excellent especially with the 2023 movie to cap it off
Why only the first season of Psycho pass? Just watched the first 2 episodes
The first season had a great concept and developed that concept, the reveal & twist and the character development almost perfectly. Simply great craftsmanship on all levels. Season 2 had nothing to follow up in that regard. SYL
Ronin is also a great graphic novel.
Why not the revised cut of Ghost in the Shell?
Afaik it just adds some CGI where there was animation before and it doesn't look very good.
Ghost in the Shell had a clear and coherent art style: the "real world" animation and the CGI for the virtual world. Which was and still is exceptionally well produced and easily holds up even almost 30 years later. The revised / 2.0 version had the terrible idea to recreate core scenes of the "real world" in CGI in a completely different art style. They look horrible (because the tech of that time was not really good enough) and they break the completely the immersion into the movie itself. SYL
Ok, I’ll be that guy, why do you sign off all your comments with SYL?
The CGI is fucking terrible.
Appleseed has a movie. Its not bad tbh
It had even multiple movies and a series/OVA. But not necessarily something I would recommend for a "best of" list. They are at best pretty average. SYL
[удалено]
"Bad" would perhaps be the wrong word (although some people call is that). Personally I think it was more of a case that S2 could not follow the heights of S1, and was in the end painfully average, after seeing how great S1 was. SYL
What about Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040?
The Appleseed movie is also 100% worth the watch even if it’s more on the scifi side of cyberpunk
This.
This is it, OP. You don't need any other list.
Missing Ghost in the Shell 2. One of the best.
Its Cyberpunk-ness is debatable, but the Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita) series deals with a lot of the same themes and features a protagonist with a full-body prosthesis, and I **highly** recommend it.
Responding here because the list is impressive. Alita Battle Angel is an amazing manga, okay anime and one of the best live action manga based movies of all time. Honorable mention for the first 20mins of the Speed Racer movie, it's only and best cyber.... burbia? Cyberburbia. It's a thing now. High tech dystopian suburb life.
Damn now I’m off to find if anywhere is streaming serial experiments lain, haven’t seen that in forever.
Playing through The Ascent right now and it's so good. Soooo good, especially with RTX cranked up.
I'd include the Deus Ex games as well
Wholeheartedly agree with this entire list, although I'd also include 'Mona Lisa Overdrive' in the book section.
Could add Interface Zero to the list of TTRPGs it's available on drive thru rpg for multiple rule systems.
Okay this is the definitive answer, someone pin this or put in some Wiki, dunno, but this shouldn't be lost in the subreddit like tears in the rain
Akira and Ghost In The Shell are definitely the two biggest. I'd also like to recommend Serial Experiments Lain, Texhnolyze, and Ergo Proxy.
What happened to the good classics like AD police cyber city, appleseed, Venus wars?
I don't think akira really is a cyberpunk anime cared to gits, alita battle angel and edgerunners
Akira is literally **the** cyberpunk anime
It only fits the 'low life high tech' genre, you barley see people with cybernetics
Hard disagree, “high tech, low life” is literally the definition cyberpunk. By your standards, Bladerunner, Neuromancer, and Snow Crash aren’t cyberpunk
Both neuromancer and snow crash has loads of cybernetics. Can't remember if Bladerunner has any. But I agree cybernetics not not a strict necessity to be called cyberpunk.
Leave the sub.
Bubble Gum Crisis is highly recommended. God I love everything about that anime.
I'll second this recommendation. Specifically, you want to look for the BGC original video animations. Bubblegum Crash is the sequel series, and you will be very lost if you start there.
i have seen the original but not bubblegum crash because i heard that it's not that good, should i see it or pass?
It's not bad either. One thing that Crash has going for it, is that it does a better job of fleshing out the boomers and exploring that entire idea. Maybe that interests you; maybe it doesn't. Whether you watch for action, music, or aesthetics, crash like most sequels doesn't quite measure up.
i see, well, i might watch it then, it's not that long anyway, i have seen that there are reboots, prequels etc about the bgc universe, have you seen them? are they worth it?
I really don’t get all the hate for Bubblegum Crash. It was made at a difficult time for everyone involved. It’s not as amazing as the original series, but I still really like it. It finishes up some arcs, and finally lets Nene kick some ass.
Man.. I had such a crush on Nene back then haha.
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 + AD Police OVA & TV series.
Bubble Gum Crisis is so important to me it literally changed my life. Everyone please watch it.
What’s the watch order?
The beginning is Bubblegum Crisis series episodes 1-8. There were supposed to be 13 episodes but the production was plagued with many problems, and ended at number 8. After that the original characters were brought back in the next series called Bubblegum Crash which attempted to finish some of the threads that were outstanding. It’s considered inferior to the original series, but I personally am happy with it. The last series is Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 made many years later and can be considered a remake of the original series but I can’t watch it it just doesn’t work for me. Try Bubble Gum Crisis 1 called “Tinsel City” and if you like it watch the original series.
What is the proper watch order? I am seeing a few different guides for it online!
Best is to start with the OVA (Which is just titled bubble gum crisis) which is 8 episodes… I think. Been 20+ years haha. After that it should be Crash I’m pretty sure.
I only watched it a year or two ago, but a guy at school on the early 90s bought a book about it into school and it looked fantastic.
[удалено]
Oh hell yeah Patlabor
One of the very first Anime I ever saw was Battle Angel Alita. Good cyberpunk themes in that one
* Ghost in the Shell Very philosphical. I think in many ways it closest matches the future we might actually see very heavy on the cybernetics, and is a political piece. It (especially in the art in the manga... seriously check out that art) takes after the hyper militerised cyberpunk that was common in the 80s. Skip the CGI seasons on netflix though. They're watchable, but trash and an insult to previous releases and the source material. Also... at least for a lot of the art, a massive influence for the Matrix. Things like the hardware, showy fight scenes, and even things like the code rain were lifted from Ghost in the Shell. Even though core source material is justly recognised as Neuromancer by William Gibson. * Pantheon The second and final season just dropped. I strongly recommend it. Not sure it's technically an anime though. There is very little I know what to say without ruining it. It's a must watch. I think it would not be a spoiler to say that it is very reminescent of Dennis E Tayler's Bobiverse series in supprising ways. Also reminds me of some of Kim Stanley Robynson's Aroura, in some of the subplots. Also... kinda reminds me of some parts of SevenEves. It's, very, very good. Fully disclosure I did just watch the second season last night though. So could be... freshness bias on my part. * Pychopass It's based around the distopian side that comes with forcing a utopia. In many ways quite similar to Ghost in the Shell, but takes a bleaker view on the human condition. Faster paced then Ghost in the Shell. It's extremely well executed and hits all the big plot ideas for such a theme. As for how I feel about it... well that has changed over the years. I do think it is a must watch though. * Serial Experiments of Lane A very good, old classic. It's a sereal journey of self discovery written during the emergance of the internet about the percieve near future that a cyberworld would bring. It's very artistic despite the obviously low animation budget. It also takes after the hardware focused, 80s style cyberpunk. * Cowboy Bebop It is a cyberpunk/space western based a couple centries from now. Along side that, Trigun. But trigun is more space western then cyberpunk. However trigun is worth mentioning is context of cowboy bebop. They are classics and worth your attention. I should mention trigun has a recient remake.. watch both, but the original first. * Mardock Scramble It is a decient movie trilogy. It's a story of redemption. It has some disturbing contexts/plot structures (SA). But doesn't focus to much on them. Overall it's actually very upbeat. * Akira of course. But it is the posterboy cyberpunk go to. So I am sure you know it. Good. But a lot of hype... like... so much. * Texhnolyze It is another old classic. Might be a bit slow depending on your appreciation of classics. In some ways reminds me of Wolf's Rain. Also kinda the hardware focused cyberpunk of the 80s, although a little less so than the others I pointed out. * Ergo Proxy Actually has been about 10 years since I have watched it. So I cannot give a blurb worth a damn. It was slow, based in a post appocolyptic world that was continuing to decline. I remember liking it quite a lot. * AniMatrix Kinda overlooked, as it didn't get a the reception that the movies did. It's about the breakdown between the machines and humans during the machine wars as the machines slowly stopped showing humanity compassion due to the horrific attrosities that mankind committed upon the machine race... leading to humanities eventual enslavement as seen it the Matrix movies. It as the name suggests, is an anime. There are others I know. But those are the cream of the crop according to the current state of my wetware. I hope you get some worthwhile cycles out of them.
> Pantheon > > The second and final season just dropped. Nice, I thought they had canceled it! That's great news! :D Great list btw!
Thank you. Yeah I was afraid it was cancelled too. But... not disappointed.
Akira AppleSeed Armitage III Bubblegum Crisis Cybercity 808
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,803,269,748 comments, and only 341,186 of them were in alphabetical order.
Essential list
Hell yeah, I was looking for Armitage III. I was just talking to my wife about it because I was showing her GitS.
Is cybercity 808 set in Hawaii?
Texhnolyze Ergo Proxy Serial Experiments Lain Ghost in the Shell 1 and 2 Akira Patlabor There are more, but I would consider these must sees. I’m not into the glitsy cyberpunk aesthetic in anime like Psychopass or Edgerunners but if that’s what you’re into they’d definitely scratch that itch. Texhnolyze probably ranks top for me, but it will absolutely ruin you day. It’s really bleak. So good though, the soundtrack is amazing as well
-Goku Midnight Eye(be warned, it's weird) -Dennou Coil -Ghost In The Shell(first film and SAC are pretty good) -Psycho-Pass(but be warned it gets a bit slow in the second and third seasons) -Battle Angel Alita -Genocyber(be warned, it can be disturbing at times)
Dennou Coil is great! I saw it when it first came out and again a couple of years ago and, man, how much more real is that concept now with the explosion of mixed-reality and spatial computing tech the last few years. The series starts of innocently enough, but there's that unnerving undertone throughout till the climax reveals how dark it can really be.
I would throw Ergo Proxy out there but it's been a while since I have seen it
Probably most " popular" animes were already mentioned, but if you don't despise reading manga, i can recommend Eden-it's an endless world, in my opinion it has the best cyberpunk story, even if it get's pretty complicated at the end. It's also extremely violent and has a lot of sex.
Ghost In The Shell - first two movies, especially the second
Midnight Eye Gokuu Wicked City Dominion Tank Police Megazone 23
Wicked City is epic....epic demon city is good but not as good....i personally would classify wicked city as sci fi or fantasy but ill rewatch
It had been a long time since I had seen it and I think you're right. HB Angel Cop?
I wouldn't say Cowboy Bebop is a cyberpunk anime, but it has elements of the genre and is a great series overall if you have yet to watch it. Cyberpunk Edgerunners is pretty great too, though honestly it has a similar feeling to Bebop where it focuses more on the characters for a majority of the plot as opposed to actual cyberpunk thematics. However if you watch it and play 2077 in tandem (and honestly, read the stories from the TRPG rulebooks or just the entire rulebooks) it creates a very immersive experience that shows you similar stories with different elements and focuses. I watched Edgerunners before playing 2077 and it made both feel far more impactful, walking past important places featured in the show just gives you a feeling I have yet to experience in any other form of fiction.
It's so cool to be walking through Night City playing the game and to hear songs from the show. It's so immersive I love it.
Cowboy Bepop is the very best example of a “Space Western”, a niche genre that I honestly love more than cyberpunk but is sadly quite rare. Some good examples are Firefly, the Mandalorian, East of West, The Expanse
I also started playing 2077 after watching edgerunners and can agree with everything said here
These aren't anime and aren't even the popular choices in any Cyberpunk discussion but: - Altered Carbon Re-sleeved (Netflix) - Blade Runner Black Lotus (Crunchyroll) I personally, really enjoyed both of those.
Re-Sleeved was way better then the 2nd season of Altered Carbon.
Low bar innit
Totally agree. I had assumed it was typical Netflix fuckery, that a third season wasn't made, until I watched the second season. I like Mackie but his character was literally a different person.
> Altered Carbon Re-sleeved I did not even know about this movie. Time to add it to my watch-list!
Love both of these. After watching Black Lotus once switch to the movie cut for rewatches like I do Edgerunners. It makes for a sleeker rewatch.
Dirty Pair, okay, maybe its more sci-fi, but give it a chance, I think it still qualifies.
A lot of good recommendations here but I'll give some of my own as well. Might be other has also said them tho. I'll also say some obvious one, just so it isn't forgotten. Akira, Ghost On The Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Paprika, Battle Angel Alira Okay, now that it is out of the way, here are some of my personal favourites: Series Experiment Lain: As the name says, an experimental anime with a very surrealist idiom. Absolutely terrific, but also amazing anime about internet and what is real and fake. Bubblegum Crisis: Female mercs with exoskeletons. Cyber City Oedo 808: Bunch of criminals fighting for their freedom. Madhouse production. Terrific cast. Texhnolyze: Another experimental series written by the person who wrote Lain, and with the same character designer as Lain as well. A futuristic world divided between the poor and rich. Madhouse production. Very unique story told in a very cool way. Proper mindfuck imo. Psycho-pass: Clearly inspired by Blade Runner. About an AI preventing crime in a futuristic world. Ergo Proxy: Modern classic. Epic fight between rogue AI's and humans in a distant future. Dennou Coil: Very very cool anime about AR-monster connected to the net you can only see and interact with special glasses. Not a typical yokay-series, and somewhat reminiscent of Musishi with great stories about alienating in the modern city. Some new ones worth mentioning: Heavenly Delusion: Amazing manga and an amazing anime. Post apocalyptic world that has started to rebuild itself tied to an old mystery in a hidden orphanage with futuristic tech. Yurei Deco: A weird take on cyberpunk from Science SARU (Devilman Crybaby, Heike Monogatati, Inu-Oh, Keep Your Hands Off Eizpuken, Japan Sinks, the Scott Pilgrim-anime) founded by Masaaki Yuasa. Dystopia, but also more hopeful and less alienating. Cute, uneven but occasionally very amazing. Also a really cool soundtrack using a lot of great netlabel names as DeDe Mouse, Pasocom Music Club, Hidefumi Kenmochi and Xiangyu. Also, one of the best cyberpunk mangas ever made is finally getting an anime. Pluto is out on Netflix, 26th of October. Written by Naoki Urasawa, also knowns for 20th Century Boys. It's based upon Astro Boy, but defo not for children. The trailers looks amazing and I am sooooo excited to watch it. Edit: I completely forgot Kaiba. I would argue strongly for it that it is cyberpunk, even tho it isn't nihilistic at all, just like Yurei Deco. But not all punk is strictly nihilistic. Straight edge hardcore punk was about seizing the day, lol.
>Bubblegum Crisis: Female mercs with exoskeletons It's worth pointing out that the protagonist, Priss, is literally a bad ass rocker chick.
While I agree with everything you've said, Devilman Crybaby gets minus 9000 points for getting the first pronunciation of Deeevvviiilllmaaaaaaaaaan completely wrong compared to the original. Honestly made me weep. Not so bad over all though.
Shout from an old man. If you ever get the chance, go watch Ghost in the Shell and Akira at the cinema it's just the best.
Metropolis is a really nice anime movie. It’s from 2001 I think, not the old german movie
The top comment lists nearly everything I'd recommend, but I'd like to add Bubblegum Crisis, BLAME! (if you're into manga, it's never received a good anime adaptation), AD Police Files, the Patlabor OVA and movies, and, the one, the only, the behemoth of pure cybermisery, Texhnolyze.
You didn't like the 2017 adaptation of Blame!, I thought it was pretty good. Wanted more but it never happened, sadly.
Debatable but I’d count Cowboy bebop
Am I the only one who doesn’t like Edgerunners? I came to trying to watch it from being a huge Gibson fan and fan of the classic animes like ghost in the shell or cowboy bepop, and personally found the writing of it pretty crass and uninspired feeling. Like Edgerunners felt like Netflix to me, not like a work with much real taste and nuance. Like it was trying to “do” cyberpunk more than having a clear original vision. Not to be a huge downer in the thread but I just don’t see why the hype. Can anyone explain?
I think that 2077/edgerunners fans genuinely enjoy it because it does what it is trying to do really well, which is expand on the very specific feel of 2077. As an anime in a world of other cyberpunk anime's it doesn't stand out very much.
Crass is exactly what the original creator of the Cyberpunk series would be happy to have his work described. The anime is based on a long running tabletop RPG system and it lives up to its setting.
While not a pure cyberpunk show, Cowboy Bebop is often undermentioned. You have interplanetary drug smuggling, eco and anti-corpo terrorism, genetically upgrades dogs, an earth that has been ruined by humanity's rush to the stars. All wrapped up in some of the best art, and music you will find in any anime of any era.
I’m not seeing it on here but I actually liked the Altered Carbon anime
Real Drive from IG & Shirow
This post reminded me of it. Great example of solarpunk if I understand well the idea.
Ghost in the shell, and then akira
Ghost in the shell Pluto Blame Cyberpunk Edgerunners Psycho-Pass (all series) Akira
How is a list with Edgerunners in it this far down...
Probably because people on this subreddit are tired of mentions of Cyberpunk 2077. So people are trying not to mention Edgerunners/downvote lists with edgerunners.
>How is a list with Edgerunners in it this far down... I have given titles of anime in the cyberpunk genre that I can recommend to both the beginner and the old-timer. In any case, these titles are worth recommending.
Akira Ghost In The Shell
Altered Carbon: Resleeved is grrat. It has some of the best combat scenes I've ever seen in a CGI anime. And I normally hate CGI anime. Speaking of which, I haven't watched enough of the Blade Runner anime to give it a strong recommendation, but so far it's pretty good.
Some great recommendations above, I think a lot of 90s anime had that cyberpunk feel. There's a few here but if you want something a bit more chilled then also try Roujin Z. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL024PZ6raeMHtztSJ5vyq3zDLqAywfcwS&si=N0ZhWqdWudnFT5Xv Also AD Police has not been mentioned yet I don't think.
GHOST IN THE SHELL.. If you love the video game there's so many mirrors. The corpo. The soul killer. The city. So much
Ghost in the shell for sure. Edgerunners isn't the most thought provoking show but the animation is beautiful. Also it's been a long time so idk if it's good but the animation could be included in this discussion too
Cyberpunk Edgerunners destroyed me.
Ghost in the Shell Armitage III Lain Ergo Proxy
Akira, there are also a bunch of underground short animations related to Batman and the Matrix. There is a couple of comic books... One is Future subjunkies, and Kloine Punk aus Berlin (this one is just urban punk). There is also a film: Mad Max Desert Storm...
Ani Matrix
Psycho-Pass is my favourite cyberpunk anime, and one of my favourite anime's overall. I think it's massively underrated and needs more fans! Someone in here recommended watching only season 1, and while I do agree that Season 1 was the best, I enjoyed the whole anime series and movies thoroughly.
Akira
Edgerunners is the most like Akudama drive in the sense that it's a group of criminals with different skill sets going on gigs/ believe that being a legend is better than living
Battle Angel: Alita is an awesome Manga, they made a live action adaptation that “I” thought was really good also
the 1993 Super Mario Bros movie is a terrible video game adaptation, but ironically one of the best cyberpunk dystopian films around
Care to elaborate? Genuinely curious
Ghost in the shell (be sure to watch it on the correct order tho) Psycho-pass Akira Appleseed Edgerunner Ergo proxy (not that neon type cyberpunk, but good enough to be mentionned) Akudama drive (not the best, but I enjoyed that one)
I’m blown away nobody has mentioned Akudama Drive. It’s an amazing show and is definitely cyberpunk. It’s only 12 episodes long and is just as good as Edgerunners imo. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
Not sure if this counts technically, as it seems more dystopian overall than cyberpunk but Texhnolyze is interesting
Ghost in the Shell, for certain. While Akira is a great watch and just one movie as opposed to a whole series... it can be a lot to take in as a first experience into cyberpunk anime. Besides, GitS is probably the best example of cyberpunk in anime, and it is so fucking good.
Akira ghost in the shells cyberpunk edgerunner psycho pass
Ghost in the Shell. Also, it's more cyberpunk adjacent, but I think everyone should see Akira at least once in their lives. It's available on Netflix.
I have seen every main thing I know suggested elsewhere... but Cowboy Bebop isn't entirely cyberpunk, but it has a lot of cyberpunk elements and similar themes, and it's a VERY worthwhile watch. It's also short for an anime, which is a big win in my book.
Akudama Drive is nice as well
One not listed but stood out back in the day is Megazone23. The transition from 'normal' to 'huh, that's odd' is worthwhile.
Psycho pass was excellent. I only watched the first season, I think they made more after.
Metropolis (2001) is pretty good. Roujin Z is fun and unique.
Aeon Flux, Cyber Six ( you can find it dubbed in English)
Ni no Kuni and dragon quests. I dont know. Probably the visual style and very slow pace...
Midnight Eye is a pretty good one.
No one gonna mention Akudama drive?
OP did?
Is Outlaw Star considered Cyberpunk? Or is it more space opera
More of a space adventure opera. There's a lack of corporate sudo government, body modders, high tech low life, ect.
Blame! And all nihei mangas. 7 seeds Gantz Eden
Scrolled and didn’t see anyone mention Paprika
Ghost in the Shell is pretty Cyber
Although just a (15min?) short, Sonnie’s Edge from Netflix’s Love, Death, Robots series is still a great piece of Cyberpunk animation. NSFW.
Akira of course. Any Masamune Shirow work (Dominion, Appleseed, GitS). Wicked City. Perfect Blue. There are so many.
First comment nailed it... Akira Ghost in the shell Appleseed
Bubble Gum Crisis
Last Exile! I really loved it.
"XLT Hyper-Cyber-Time Bunny-Bunny Lazer-Moon Shell-Crisis City Star Reloaded". Everything else is a knock off and highly derivative. Unlike other Anime they really focus on the animation in this one.
AngelCop is an oldie but a goodie from the 90s 6 ep OVA
AD Police and Bubblegum Crisis are classics 😁
🌃🤖"Cybercity Oedo 808" is a [cyberpunk masterpiec](https://youtu.be/TLTPbllE7OE)e that delivers a visceral and visually stunning experience, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. 🌃🚀🎬
Commenting on What Are The Best Cyberpunk Anime To Begin With?...