Makoto's review of Akudama Drive

Must Watch

Akudama Drive doesn't let bullshit hold it down. It is what a cyberpunk should be: An incomprehensible mesh of action and ideas. The only thing that holds it down is some pacing issues, but in the grand scheme of things, Akudama drive is surely to stay in your mind at the end. Artistically, Akudama Drive is stunning, even its detractors agree. The photography works really well to bring you into the cyberpunk mood. On Akudama Drive, aesthetics IS the show, and not some side business and it works really well into this genre. Detractors complain about some aspects of the action scenes, specially some questionable motorcycle physics. Like it's a problem and not characterization. Just because a show is a science fiction doesn't mean it needs to explain every detail. If it really makes you less immersed, you are not on the right mindset. And that's ok. Being ambitious in an audio-visual production means you can't make everyone understand you. But that the parcel of your viewers that do, will be rewarded, and that should be applauded. There are a lot of big names acting here, and all them perform as well as you expect from them. Sakurai Takahiro would carry it in any other show but everyone shines here, even the new blood. Characters are... characters. They are not plot devices. They don't even have freaking names! If you wanna signal that this is a no bullshit show, the best way is to not name your characters. Well played. The storytelling is so much done via images and not words. The show doesn't serve the story. It doesn't owe you any explanations and it will only expand its world when it serves a larger purpose. Still, the world created is detailed and interesting enough to house the characters who are the center of everything. It is a cyberpunk, so it deals with social issues and the nature of humans. Akudamas are humans who have no rights, they are threats. They traded their status as human for something most humans living in Kansai have given away: Freedom. Akudamas are criminals, but so are those pursuing them. This simple and, honestly, shallow source of conflict only works because it is cyberpunk. It's a feature and not a bug. Every character dies being tied to their own personality and according to what is shown on the opening, which is neat. Akudama drive was made for the west. From its themes, to its genre to the names of its episodes. It is not a surprise it tanked in Japan as it did. Akudama Drive is something I can safely recommend to any non anime watcher. It is really distinct and it pays tribute to a lot popular media. From Reservoir Dogs to Blade Runner, its all there. Overall an incredible end product that you definitely should checkout.