Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 takes a different artistic direction from its acclaimed predecessor, with Studio Trigger drawing inspiration from anime of the 1980s and 1990s instead of recreating the original series’ visual style. In an interview with Gizmodo’s io9, showrunner Bartosz Sztybor explained that creating something visually distinct was a priority for the sequel developed by CD Projekt RED and Studio Trigger.
“While thinking about Edgerunners 2 one thing was a must: it shouldn’t look like the first season,”
Sztybor said. He added that the team wanted to take artistic risks rather than copy its earlier work. The decision gave director Kai Ikarashi room to develop a distinctive visual identity for the new story.
STUDIO TRIGGER TURNS TO CLASSIC ANIME FOR A NEW VISUAL IDENTITY
Sztybor initially pitched the sequel as an homage to 1990s cinema. However, Ikarashi took that concept further by incorporating influences from older anime, giving the new characters a more exaggerated and stylized appearance.
The shift reflects the sequel’s intention to explore Night City through a different creative lens. While the first series followed David Martinez’s rise as an ambitious young mercenary, the follow-up introduces a new cast and a standalone story. The official Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 website describes the series as a more brutal return to Night City.
The visual changes are only part of the creative shift. Sztybor also cited films such as Pulp Fiction, Léon: The Professional, City of God, and Mean Streets as influences on the sequel’s atmosphere. These references helped shape its approach to crime, violence, and the lives of people trying to survive in Night City.
The story also contrasts its protagonist, Weak, with David. According to Sztybor, Weak is a once-famous mercenary who loses his cyberware and must rebuild his life, offering a more grounded view of the edgerunner lifestyle.
All 10 episodes of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 are available on Netflix. By combining retro anime influences with a new cast and perspective, the sequel aims to establish its own identity without abandoning the brutal world that made the original memorable.
