Written by Hairong Long 2022 Cohort
**Spoiler included**
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a new animation made by Studio Trigger, based on the game Cyberpunk 2077. Before the animation project began, the game had already started a trend in social media; the unique concept and innovative design attracted more than 20 million players worldwide. The story is set in a megalopolis called Night City, where it is riotous and perilous; power changes and body modifications-obsessed are the constant themes. Although the game presented problems with in-game quality and was overhyped, people are still concerned about every upload for the game. While the animation was released, the trend of Cyberpunk has pushed to a stream again.
The protagonist is a street kid named David, who loses everything and is trying to survive in the Night City. Soon after he acquires a powerful body unit, he meets Lucy. As the heroine in this game, Lucy introduces him to becoming an Edgerunner, an outlaw known as Cyberpunk; he has chances to start a do-or-die fight for himself and new friends. The plot for the animation is simple and short; only ten episodes show a people-pleaser dedicated his life to the wishes of others. The ending scene aroused everyone’s resonance on social media; the song from the ending episode had already been played 4 million times on Youtube. Although the image of David is vivid and curved, the writer rarely focuses on the female protagonist – Lucy. Conversely, the less description of this character has made her famous in social media. Was she a well-rounded character, or did people use their imagination to flesh out her flat personality?
From the beginning, Lucy has an aggressive temper. She made David transform from a student boy to an outlaw. After David joined her group, her presence gradually disappeared and even smoothly completed the escalation of the relationship with David. In the end, Lucy seems to have changed her personality and has become his loyal girlfriend.
From the scientific aspect, female protagonists could simply use the Bechdel test, Sexy Lamp Test, and Mako Mori test to verify if they are round or not in the story.
The Bechdel test includes three rules about female characters:
- The movie has to have at least two women
- Who are talking to each other
- About something other than a man.
Luckily, the animation has four different female characters, with more female than male characters. Although they all have unique things to show their personalities, did they pass rule b – talk to each other? Yes. In episode 5, Lucy and another character talk about how to save David from danger. In episode 7, a female character wanted to date David but was turned down. After David was gone, another female character mocked her for aiming too high. In episode 8, Lucy had a call with another female character, and they briefly discussed David’s changes, and Lucy took advice from her. Unfortunately, all the plot and female characters did not pass the third rule; everything they discuss is about the protagonist David.
The Sexy Lamp Test is a simple test to replace female characters with a Lamp to test if she is relevant to the story. In the first half of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Lucy advances the story’s plot and helps David complete a critical turning point. In the second half, Lucy sacrifices for David selflessly, and less of her work contributes to the main story.
The Mako Mori test is a complement to the Bechdel test, which features also three rules:
- A film must have at least two female characters (in some cases, it is stipulated that these characters must be named and credited),
- That these characters have an on-screen conversation with each other,
- Where they talk about something different than a man or a heterosexual relationship that they are in. (“Mako Mori test”)
According to the above description, the animation has successfully passed the first rule but failed in the last two. Although the animation includes four female characters, four are teammates; they seldom talk about group work but focus on the main protagonist David.
While none of the female characters ultimately passed all of the tests, the other male character, called Maine, has victoriously given and passed all of the tests. There are abstract descriptions of his past and obsession in the story, and his death completes the second half of David’s turning point.
Although the story is short, it vividly depicts David’s persona. The whole plot is flawless and worthy of praise. Nevertheless, the role of Lucy is left to our imagination to fulfill, which may explain why the tone of discussion between male-based and female-based forums is so different. Although the description of the characters is limited by the length of the story, Trigger’s unique insights into graphics and colours create a distinctive cyberpunk world. Many were drawn to the animation and turned the game back on. On October 2, more than 118 thousand people were online and playing this game. As a short tv animation, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a milestone.
Work Cited
Ahmed, Riz. “Bechdel test.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test. Accessed 2 October 2022.
“Mako Mori test.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mako_Mori_test. Accessed 2 October 2022.