#034: Back to Night City – Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2

00:00:01: Hello and welcome to the Answer Podcast.

00:00:02: My name is Paweł Buża, as always I am joined

00:00:05: by my friend and co-host

00:00:07: PaweŁ Milniuczuk, the art director for Project HR.

00:00:13: It's gonna be an exciting episode.

00:00:31: I cannot

00:00:32: wait to meet our guests and we're going

00:00:34: to learn

00:00:35: a little bit about Edge Runners two, And how it plays with Edge Runner one.

00:00:40: but you are not here too.

00:00:41: listen me You Are Here To Listen Our Amazing Guest.

00:00:45: So Let's Be Alright Saia Bartek.

00:00:51: welcome to the podcast.

00:00:53: officially i said Bartek that sounds weird because normally its like Shtibbor right?

00:00:57: Everybody calls your shtibor.

00:00:57: No

00:00:58: one calls my bartek Thankyou.

00:01:00: Can we start by you guys introducing yourselves, especially to those who are listening in the podcast and not watching it so they can familiarize YOU with your voice?

00:01:11: You wanna go first?

00:01:12: Nope.

00:01:13: Okay!

00:01:14: Hi guys I'm Saia Elder... ...I am the executive producer of Cyberpunk Edgewinners II.

00:01:21: BRO-BRO

00:01:21: SAIA!

00:01:23: Beautiful!

00:01:24: And I'm Bartosz Tybor, aka Stybor also known as Bartek, since today.

00:01:34: I am a showrunner of Adrunners too and the former Bard so that's

00:01:40: beautiful.

00:01:41: The former

00:01:42: bard?

00:01:43: Bard!

00:01:46: Back in the day yeah i will tell you stories

00:01:49: You should have asked to like.

00:01:50: get all your songs on the soundtrack.

00:01:52: No no...I

00:01:53: have small ego.

00:01:54: That is why

00:01:55: these are very on down-the line.

00:01:59: So guys, first question.

00:02:01: Looking back at Runners One did you ever anticipate the show like really resonating with so many people and actually getting a lot of fans on board who sometimes maybe we were not anime fans but they kind of got into the whole genre through this?

00:02:15: Like Did You Ever Anticipate This To Be A Thing After

00:02:29: at the time of release?

00:02:30: because we had no idea or no expectation of this show doing well, reaching any of our fans.

00:02:38: It really was just like a passion project.

00:02:42: I was feeling the exact way i'm feeling right now, which is like super anxious for how it's going to be received by our audience.

00:02:53: Uh, I feel like I was spreading my anxiety to the whole team being like oh no one's gonna have this show and I want to rerecord all of the lines!

00:03:03: And might wanna rewrite everything?

00:03:06: Yeah...I had same feelings.. I thought that would be a flop.

00:03:12: It was like development and production, it's really hard.

00:03:16: And first time for all of us.

00:03:19: so honestly I didn't even care about the release day.

00:03:28: i overslept.

00:03:29: So then like I received lots of DMs that dude this is awesome It's happening.

00:03:39: But the funny thing is that we had Fort anniversary

00:03:43: a

00:03:45: few days ago and I wrote about those feelings on social media, And one guy who wrote... You're fucking stupid!

00:03:56: It was studio trigger.

00:03:57: it will be here for sure.

00:03:58: so like okay thank you

00:04:01: But I also remember back then in studio there's a lot of uncertainty about it.

00:04:05: A lot people are not believing, you know they're doing something but... ...a lot of people just very hesitant would be a- Not even talking about success.. ..but will actually anything!

00:04:14: Yeah?

00:04:15: About the release.

00:04:16: It became so huge and its one thing is how to was received.

00:04:19: second thing How it helped game.

00:04:20: Also You Know like I Remember on Steam the Cyberpunk like went six hundred percent After their release.

00:04:27: And So Looking back now, what made it so successful that we couldn't foresee before?

00:04:34: And do you know how?

00:04:36: honestly I still don't know.

00:04:37: I mean uh i think its like.

00:04:40: the story is very universal and you have a plot from zero to The Hero love story as well.

00:04:51: So I think it resonated with many people around the world.

00:04:58: I think it was also something that helped with that.

00:05:05: But when we were developing Adrunners II, I was trying to find the main thing what made Adrunner's one a huge success and I was searching for it And honestly didn't... Finded?

00:05:28: searching for the answers right now, but I don't think there is one thing.

00:05:32: It's some magic happened i guess.

00:05:35: Yeah

00:05:35: um...I think it's actually what you just mentioned Papa Wins that they're like you mentioned in this studio even inside CD Projekt Red.

00:05:48: um Edge Runners is kind of a black box.

00:05:53: uh..it is very small team that knows what's going on and who has access to the script, so the storyboards at any given time.

00:06:02: And What That Creates is a lot of freedom.

00:06:05: forced you board to do whatever heck he wants with this script.

00:06:09: Don't say it out loud

00:06:12: Someone might listen.

00:06:14: This Is The End Of Me

00:06:17: But

00:06:18: I think it's true, though.

00:06:19: Because if there is a lot of limitation put on Studio Trigger and Stiboron what they're allowed to do the more voices are in The Kitchen saying hey, Edge Runners too should be like this or no we shouldn't say that David is dead Or... We should have this character as main character instead?

00:06:42: That really puts a limit.

00:06:47: And I think at the end of today, what's important is that our creative minds are able to pitch their stories and what they want to write.

00:06:59: What do you feel will be the best story for them?

00:07:07: To have staff who support this vision The more people that are able to put an opinion into that vision, the more muddled division gets.

00:07:24: So that's why I feel that uh...the success of Retrunners one and also hopefully two is going.

00:07:29: be it a small team?

00:07:32: A very focused crazy creative mind!

00:07:39: But it really worked.

00:07:40: Like in the end, It really works because like you said has a little bit of romance that has this story from zero to hero where we're following kind of David's story here.

00:07:48: but I think what also really resonated with people is That overall thing.

00:07:52: how How do We Think About Cyberpunk and how Do You Think about Night City?

00:07:55: There Is Really No Happy Endings.

00:07:57: So We Can Also Really Dive More Into That And Say Okay You love these characters, we built this character throughout the show.

00:08:07: Well some of them are not gonna end up whole by then in story.

00:08:11: We also have Smasher there which is like a super cool tie-in to twenty seventy seven and they're so many things that really pull pieces from Night City or From The Game and actually incorporate it into

00:08:25: an

00:08:25: anime Which was Super Cool To See.

00:08:27: Like I'm maybe Not A Big Anime Fan And i don't watch alot Of Anime But This One Was Totally I can easily get invested in this story and maybe now check out more things than the anime space.

00:08:38: So, this is kind of like a gateway for me to get me on board because Cyberpunk and cyberpunk is something that's very super dear our hearts.

00:08:47: so it was cool going into question after my long tangent here.

00:08:52: where are some other thing?

00:08:54: looking at adrunners too you want take from one and incorporate, or did you want to maybe say like okay we need something which is totally different when we look at adreners too?

00:09:06: I don't think that there was any

00:09:20: pressure

00:09:21: to do these elements from a Trunner's One, and we have to have these characters.

00:09:26: We had this certain number of legacy characters in the game... And I don't think there was any pressure for that.

00:09:35: There is Shtibor and also Evil ShtIBOR who tells me things!

00:09:40: The quote

00:09:40: on Shtibo?

00:09:45: You know what I said before.

00:09:49: I was trying, that's the way i write and work when writing first Witcher comic book for a year.

00:09:56: I was analyzing Sapkowski games all of this.

00:10:00: so here... I was analysing season one why it hit.

00:10:07: what is great about it.

00:10:08: So Asaya said The first idea we are doing something new.

00:10:15: It's an ontology.

00:10:18: It will be a new cast of characters.

00:10:21: The legacy of David, we should keep that but still like the both temptations that oh maybe there shouldn't be romance and it's really hard to risk honestly.

00:10:43: But

00:10:45: I'm super happy very, very anxious and afraid before the first screening during Anime Expo.

00:10:58: And us showing all of our character designs because it is so different!

00:11:08: Season one was very beautiful.

00:11:10: The colors were different The lines like linear clear of that.

00:11:16: And second one is a punk in animation.

00:11:20: I was super afraid that people will say, oh no we like the beautiful lines from the first season and a love story of Beautiful David and Beautiful Lucy.

00:11:28: And here you have like Super Strange characters in violence.

00:11:33: But People were Like Oh Wow Yes We want That!

00:11:36: We don't Want You To Copy What You Did With Season One.

00:11:44: Was There A Moment Of Hestation?

00:11:46: Or Just Thought That?

00:11:48: having this low hanging fruit.

00:11:49: Should we continue the story of Lucy?

00:11:51: I mean, for those who haven't seen The Season One almost everybody dies but Lucy survived.

00:11:57: so that it's about her.

00:11:59: and continuation maybe is a prequel you know just to build around their first season or was from day one not an option?

00:12:05: No!

00:12:06: It was...I mean there were temptations during the writing process That Maybe We should come back.

00:12:15: safe, easy choice.

00:12:16: But no like the first idea was.

00:12:19: this is a different story but somehow connected to both Cyberpunk and Adrunners To This World.

00:12:29: So temptations?

00:12:31: Yes!

00:12:35: When I pitched a few ideas for Studio Trigger i had a huge help of Sia and Satoru to keep me strong that No we are doing something.

00:12:46: And I think it's also how we, as to the project approach franchises and storytelling that... We never retell.

00:12:59: The same story even if you have a great comic book will never do a movie adaptation of it or an anime.

00:13:08: so always different stories

00:13:12: Beautiful

00:13:15: transition.

00:13:16: I'm really glad that you stuck to your guns because i think we would have gotten into a fight if You were like, ah We have to revive David and he's going To be the protagonist of itch runners too.

00:13:27: Because my personal opinion I don't Like when characters come back to life after you very obviously kill them.

00:13:36: Yeah, I mean they could If you Have a proper idea for It.

00:13:40: but what was Why?

00:13:44: I had doubts because at first.

00:13:48: Uh, i don't know one year before that anime expo everyone on social media was writing bring David back you can do That this way in that way and so.

00:14:00: So like the feeling what's the pressure?

00:14:02: Was that that Everyone wants that?

00:14:04: but then when we When We firmly said no david is dead.

00:14:10: i was afraid people would be Like oh why.

00:14:13: But everyone was like super happy that we did.

00:14:18: So I also think sometimes fans doesn't know what they want.

00:14:24: Pop culture,

00:14:25: I guess.

00:14:26: Ditch

00:14:26: does a bit.

00:14:29: Yeah!

00:14:29: On the one hand were really attached to some of the characters in the first adrunners.

00:14:34: you get to love them and become part... You because you're following their story, really investing yourself in the story.

00:14:42: And even if it has a bad ending?

00:14:44: Well, you need to somehow like live with that and kind of tell your self okay this story is ended we can move on.

00:14:50: I feel like Night City really lends itself too be open sandbox playground which tells multiple stories.

00:14:59: Of course they won't happy stories but They opened up possibility.

00:15:04: talk about different cast characters here as we can see them.

00:15:09: So that was cool.

00:15:10: and I also like what you mentioned about kind of the distinct visuals, really liked.

00:15:14: there's a lot of things which are just taken straight from Roman's camera with old school filter on it And paint is beautiful picture.

00:15:28: how were looking at a dystopian future people you know, full to the brim with cybernetics and stuff like that.

00:15:36: enhancements gear it up.

00:15:38: And here You have a kid With an old school camera as Like these two things put together It just works so well.

00:15:49: I feel The more digital you get, the more analog is cooler.

00:15:54: So i totally love That approach.

00:15:57: A small thing that I was like, wow this is totally distinct from what we did in the first one.

00:16:02: Yeah i love it too and remember The day meeting that Ikarashi-san pitched that.

00:16:09: He said he has an idea to show different visuals through camera lens but also playing with light a lot.

00:16:26: I think Ikarashi-san really likes the differences in POVs.

00:16:31: And when he pitched that, i was like oh wow!

00:16:33: That's what we need for that story telling.

00:16:36: Yeah

00:16:39: it is

00:16:44: just remembering.

00:16:45: um... The reason why we decided to go with this full cast of characters not full new cast of characters is also largely because uh studio trigger agreeing to take on edge runners two again with a new director and a lot of new fresh blood coming into animate the show.

00:17:04: um, been very difficult for director Ikarashi to agree, take on edge runners too if we were do like a direct sequel with the same characters of edge runners one because those aren't really his babies.

00:17:20: Those are director Imaishi's children.

00:17:23: so i feel It would have been very difficult for it not to come off as kind of like fan-fictiony.

00:17:30: I think that's why early in production, we decided that we are going to do a brand new show, Brand New Artistic Style, brand new characters narratives and try Not To Recreate What We Did For Red Runners One.

00:17:50: Was there any difficulty with onboarding this new team, the director on Cyberpunk project?

00:17:57: No.

00:17:58: Because Ikarash-san was already part of The Edge Runners One Team.

00:18:05: he directed Episode Six from Edge Runner's One which was

00:18:07: a fan favorite.

00:18:08: it wasn't really wonderful episode but what I can say is that Episode Six From Edge Runners One Ikarash-san directed was also one of the most heavily adapted episodes from The Script to The Storyboard.

00:18:28: So when we first accepted the Ikarashi-san to be the director for AdTrainers Two, We were like...we are going to expect a lot of that!

00:18:38: A lot of adaptations From the writing process To the story board process.

00:18:42: so how?

00:18:43: How is That?

00:18:44: because...?

00:18:46: You are on the forefront of the review process for The Story Awards.

00:18:51: No, I think it will be more about that because in Episode Six of Season One Main's backstory was not in the script.

00:19:05: so Ikarashi-san created a bookend and he... It is one episode of the season and he did like, I would say a short story that has it's beginning an end.

00:19:24: So here at a lot but i don't think he added a lot in Season two in Storyboards mostly nothing changing this story.

00:19:37: But yeah ,I think is very visual person.

00:19:41: He likes visual metaphors those things he added.

00:19:48: But I don't think there was like a huge change in the story, maybe it's one with dinosaurs suddenly destroying the city...

00:20:01: Yeah, I remember Hrunner's one episode six still where he submitted the storyboard and immediately started off with like Maine in the middle of the desert.

00:20:13: And

00:20:14: what is that?

00:20:18: Because we do have an agreement with Studio Trigger.

00:20:22: when we enter this storyboarding process We don't ask for a lot of changes because that would kind of stilt the production speed by a lot.

00:20:36: So our agreement with them is we are able to review and discuss, collaborate to create a script which both agree on.

00:20:47: but when it gets adapted into the storyboard... We try be as hands-off as possible so long as this doesn't damage the CDPR brand doing something.

00:20:56: I don't think there's ever been in case like Well, maybe I think one case specifically that I remember was in the backgrounds.

00:21:03: there were advertisements.

00:21:07: That we specifically couldn't use because of the timeline that we wanted.

00:21:11: edge runners want to vaguely be set in so stuff like that would do ask hey could you change this?

00:21:20: But otherwise i don't really have been like.

00:21:24: no!

00:21:25: We don't like it.

00:21:28: No, I think

00:21:30: we

00:21:31: tinkered with some scenes to make something more clear but nothing critical.

00:21:42: Yeah so moving into edge runners too.

00:21:45: So in terms of the story you were trying to tell We have a new cast of characters and talked about distinct visuals that are different than Edge Runner's one.

00:21:53: What else was there as key pillar for this story?

00:21:57: without, of course trying to spoil everything because I know this episode is coming out very closely after the premiere.

00:22:06: When it comes to story and characters what was kind of direction you want take with?

00:22:15: First thing that honestly wanted me try answer same questions we had while working on season one but to answer them with different cast of characters.

00:22:34: The second, and I remember it was while... While I was searching for ideas for Season One the other idea was somehow mirror David's journey And that so in season one we had David who is an adrenaline want-to be kid That grows strong.

00:23:03: And in season two, we have weak was an old runner who's going week and to see the differences in ad runners lifestyle and how the city reacts through different kind of ad runners because it's cyberpunk ad runners.

00:23:22: that's why

00:23:22: I'm trying think what were trying tell with these characters?

00:23:29: in comparison to edgerunners one.

00:23:31: Edgerunners had basically won POV character and that was David.

00:23:38: I'm hoping that's a correct statement.

00:23:41: But Edrunners II, it has multiple POVs and has multiple protagonists.

00:23:49: so i think it was a narrative challenge to kind of balance out every character in their stories.

00:24:03: that opened us up to being able to tell a lot of different and new stories within Night City because I think the one thing that's special about The Edge Runners franchise, and also Cyberpunk We created this entire world that's traversable which is insane.

00:24:27: There are so many locations, there're so many NPCs and stories to tell.

00:24:33: And the one thing I specifically noticed last weekend At the time of this recording, we just finished English recordings.

00:24:44: So now I finally get to have like free time and my friend was like hey, let's play this TRPG with me uh... And i was creating characters for this game And I realized, well there's so many stories that I want to tell in this universe.

00:25:02: Coincidentally it was not Cyberpunk.

00:25:03: It is a different game but immediately i could just come up with like five characters That really wanna play and I feel the heart of what Edge Runners Is.

00:25:15: um... its' The idea that There are So Many Stories You can Tell Inside This Universe time.

00:25:25: Yeah, I also like that with two.

00:25:28: we start in a space where were seeing the first episode when you're already seeing Wiko CyberCycle and it's kind of closer to the ending of Adrener's One.

00:25:39: so really took me some time.

00:25:42: Oh, this connects in some way.

00:25:44: But we're telling a different story.

00:25:46: and to also say that I feel like the cast of characters that we have now... ...I think they are just more developed.

00:25:51: We know more about their backstory very quickly where you learn to understand what our motivations are What drives them.

00:26:00: Also that some of them has a dark past right behind them and stuff like that.

00:26:08: I'm looking at a specific Funko, that we have on the table when i'm talking about that.

00:26:12: but all these things really made characters feel like they're.

00:26:17: you can find here is David Lucie a little bit of Rebecca.

00:26:21: those are fan favorite characters let's say.

00:26:23: And then sometimes people pick other specific characters from main screw.

00:26:27: that kind of resonate with them.

00:26:29: But here it feels much easier to find your character.

00:26:34: This person or this character really like resonates with me.

00:26:38: So, this was also that for me.

00:26:41: it instantly got me in from the get go.

00:26:43: Who resonates

00:26:44: with you?

00:26:44: I love Roman the most but also Dee and I feel like... And i also loved the dynamic between two characters.

00:26:56: There are a couple scenes which were actually talking before we sat down to record.

00:27:02: there is scene Roman brings the back to his place and brings him beers.

00:27:10: Um, so he can pass out on the couch here.

00:27:13: but we also know that D has this like terrible background.

00:27:17: there's a lot of likes behind their.

00:27:19: that is happening.

00:27:20: um And I really liked it because Roman feels Like This.

00:27:24: He's Just Like This Ever curious, open-minded guy who just wants to understand like what's happening.

00:27:30: He just want us get the best shots he also wants make money out of.

00:27:33: it is really in for that art and everybody there about big goals exploitation stuff like that.

00:27:42: I wanna create our in this crazy city where he's kind of like watching something that he has on a tape, an older show and really invested in it.

00:27:58: He is this artist out there.

00:28:02: but also I just liked stories which tell you the whole history behind character who like the best, and then you see your hero.

00:28:17: Your main protagonist is kind of downfall for him getting his ass kicked lying in a puddle of rain and things like that having this losing all the cyberware he has and the stuff like that.

00:28:35: That's so cool, it is so cool to see... They call it like this in person or something?

00:28:41: Yeah because you actually can see on other side of metal not just shiny good stuff.

00:28:47: oh we're here where a bunch of badasses.

00:28:49: but there was downside into all of these.

00:28:52: I also liked them.

00:28:53: they instantly got me hooked onto story.

00:28:57: Yeah, I think one of studio triggers out there.

00:29:01: many many specialties is like.

00:29:02: their character designs are so attractive.

00:29:06: They're so it's really easy to Like the characters.

00:29:12: when you're looking at the characters just on text It's kind of hard too maybe grass, but what their character is or what kind of narrative arc that they're supposed to follow.

00:29:27: But I think i fell in love with a lot of the characters once I think specifically Talia, had a lot of trouble wrapping my brain around until the characters design started coming out.

00:29:44: And it was like okay i can see how this is going to be very cool character in.

00:29:50: Also seeing more maelstromer presentation was super cool.

00:29:54: Like having moment, more Maelstromers in the, and then that runner suit is really-really cool And kind of Seeing like they had heavy view modification and kinda things.

00:30:04: They're very into us.

00:30:05: It's super awesome.

00:30:06: I'm so happy we did it.

00:30:08: at first when we pitched i think there were a little bit Of concerns because Maelström just seems like A very difficult gang to animate Just beacuse It's a lot of lines.

00:30:25: Yeah, we are so thankful all the time for both studio trigger and on the CDPR review side that you guys let us like The Young Kids Say Let Us Cook because I know it is So difficult as the IP holders to have A pitch like Talia.

00:30:49: and you know, Talia's design a character that looks Like this doesn't really appear inside the video games.

00:30:54: And we when We were creating The video game I think That there is of passion and thought process.

00:31:04: And lore put behind the designs, again we have an entire art book that basically outlines this.

00:31:11: so when other people come into The Kitchen say hey!

00:31:15: We want to do THIS and it doesn't exactly align with our original vision on what game is supposed be.

00:31:20: I know its very difficult to swallow right off the bat but one thing that Studio Trigger said at a certain point and I think this was actually from Edge Runners One, not Edge Runner's Two that i'd like to keep in mind is that they're an animation studio.

00:31:40: so if we just wanted to do video game stuff then we shouldn't be asking an anime studio to do character designs or to do an anime heavy stylized story.

00:31:55: So every time I feel when we want to be like, hey this really isn't Cyberpunk twenty seventy seven or This Isn't Really What We Want To Do For This Franchise.

00:32:13: i think it's important to take a step back and say okay but this is edge runners what can we accept as cyberpunk Edge Runners Instead of Just Limiting Ourself?

00:32:28: Yeah, how?

00:32:31: what we want to do or what we are able to do in the video game.

00:32:34: This is an interpretation extension of the medium but on their hand later We adapt those characters

00:32:42: and

00:32:42: put them into again like with it with Lucy for example And I think both Lucy David and Rebecca now create a canon over cyberpunk characters.

00:32:50: For some people It might be even hard to distinguish which one from comes From Anima and which originated form The Game?

00:32:56: I think that's so friggin cool.

00:33:00: Speaking of character designs, though.

00:33:03: I know we've already talked about it a couple times elsewhere but David from Edge Runners One was originally designed internally on the CDPR side.

00:33:13: Can you guess which character?

00:33:15: We designed internally first for Edge Runner's Two?

00:33:19: Yeah!

00:33:19: You can!

00:33:22: Honestly i would say two over those

00:33:26: So d and main if I had to get main

00:33:29: week.

00:33:30: No, no

00:33:37: second shot.

00:33:38: so

00:33:39: we mean

00:33:40: yes Avida and week.

00:33:45: I was actually really surprised when Studio Trigger accepted Avida's design right off the bat.

00:33:50: They were like, yes we are going to go with this character design because i really did love The Character Design When it first came out but thought that she would come out looking a lot more typical anime style.

00:34:12: And they accepted our proposal at the bottom.

00:34:14: I was like, yes!

00:34:15: I love Avida's blue lipstick and her gold... She looks sick.

00:34:21: Yeah she is awesome.

00:34:23: No?

00:34:24: Yes correctly that's good.

00:34:25: That's good.

00:34:26: um i was also going to touch upon something that uh instantly kind of connects both adreners one and two.

00:34:33: it's kind of the amount of violence but violence done in a way.

00:34:40: How do you achieve that balance?

00:34:41: to have violence, which on the surface side can sometimes feel like oh there's guts flying around has being exploded and stuff like it out.

00:34:49: But You also then kind of talk about kinda the tolls that that also has on the characters And That Kind Of how It Resonates Throughout The Whole Story.

00:35:01: We have a lot of violence, but it's not violence for violence.

00:35:04: Of the sake of being violent and cool But actually as meaning.

00:35:07: so did you also like wanted?

00:35:10: Wanted this to kind of go from one two too?

00:35:12: And also is it just to have It tie in into adreners?

00:35:17: one and two be like okay This is adrener.

00:35:19: both of them has to be violent or yeah

00:35:22: Yeah would say its.

00:35:24: It's rather natural and organic I think.

00:35:28: for this world Violence is always meaningful.

00:35:36: And the way we create, not only as adrener creators but also a company... We created meaningful characters.

00:35:45: so I think it's just that we knew that meaningful character means violence and tragedy are things that make adreners.

00:35:57: And also

00:35:57: studio triggers always enthusiastic about putting animating violent scenes and I don't want to speak for them, but a studio trigger when they create two shows usually it's four like public broadcasts on Japanese TV.

00:36:20: so there is some limitations to the amount of sexuality or gore that you're allowed to put on the screen.

00:36:28: So edge runners I feel, it's a very rare opportunity.

00:36:33: they can allow blood!

00:36:39: You don't know what violence is.

00:36:41: Season one was just...

00:36:46: Just a little bit.

00:36:49: Do you personally have a character which is your favorite?

00:36:52: Like if he had to choose one, Which was like

00:36:55: weak.

00:36:56: Okay why?

00:36:58: because He's like main.

00:37:00: so No I he was My character.

00:37:06: it was that the first character that when i thought about adreners tool he came To my mind.

00:37:11: So i think I like him.

00:37:17: I remember when i first talked to you about uh after we were, After Edrunners One and asked what's gonna be in edrunners two?

00:37:24: And the first thing that told me is it was a week and kind of idea for the character That's totally different than edrunner one.

00:37:36: but I already knew You are very passionate about that.

00:37:40: Because I think after edrunners one the romanticized vision of who edge runner, who America is in Night City while a kid can have super powers.

00:37:55: Of course he dies in the end but it's super glorified I would say.

00:38:01: so i thought okay let's now show an edge runner whose older and something goes wrong.

00:38:14: what is going to be with this guy when everything is driven by Chrome in the city and he suddenly loses all the chrome, can do anything or not.

00:38:26: So I think it's a very tragic character.

00:38:34: It'd be difficult and say that my favorite character is not on the table right now.

00:38:38: And also at this current time of recording has not been announced, so I'm not going to say their character name but...

00:38:44: You mean that T-rex yeah?

00:38:46: Yeah purple T-Rex.

00:38:48: Back

00:38:49: to the dinosaurs.

00:38:51: No My favorite character Has an extreme potty mouth And she was

00:39:00: so

00:39:00: fun to record.

00:39:01: So I will just say that, uh... She is a character who screams stuff like joke on your mother f***ing tongues and i'm just like.

00:39:11: this is so fun!

00:39:15: I'm just going to say that there are more characters than what you see on the table right now who are all very attractively designed, very attractively written and have cool character arcs as well.

00:39:32: Yeah, remember?

00:39:33: That was first thing after watching a couple of episodes.

00:39:36: is The First Thing i had To Like Follow?

00:39:37: Is There's So Many Characters And cool things to kind of pick from in terms of like, oh I liked this.

00:39:46: Oh I love what you did.

00:39:47: here is there's so much variation and yeah...I think i know which character he was talking about though although haven't watched the whole show since beginning-to-end.

00:40:01: when it comes something that you wanted also to preserve for adrenners too Was there anything you wanted, like for sure to kind of keep so that people who are both fans of Cyberpunk twenty seventy seven adrunners one That they get the same thing and adrunters two or was there a multiple things?

00:40:30: I don't think There was checklist.

00:40:32: Yeah, but i think multiple things Checklist I would say.

00:40:38: Yeah, i feel like the second that you create a criteria That you need to achieve it starts becoming Like A school project and we in order To get an a plus on this assignment We must do abcnd.

00:40:51: And then don't think that any creative person wants to Do that?

00:40:55: I mean for sure we knew that It should be about Adrunners slash marks uh...that it Should Be Tragedy In a way but it doesn't Mean everyone needs to die, but it should have a structure of tragedy.

00:41:14: The thing that we talked earlier so meaningful choices, meaningful deaths, meaningful violence all those were the rules I would say.

00:41:29: and exploring the city introducing new characters TV, for example.

00:41:38: I think one other role we might have throughout the entire franchise is not so much tragedy but more so that these characters can't win against Night City like i think it's important to draw punk aspect of cyberpunk, where these characters are downtrodden and in some way shape or form fighting against the system.

00:42:05: But once it gets to a point of can these characters win against Night City?

00:42:14: And create change for The Better then becomes question is that really kind the world of cyberpunk

00:42:31: and looking at things that we have in a game or checklist that with all the comic books, board games we explore certain tropes and ganks for example.

00:42:44: Here you have Mastron, Nomad.

00:42:46: so it's like an effect of calculating what haven't been shown yet in our franchise or just...

00:42:54: I think It was natural here.

00:42:59: So i think D and making him a nomad was triggers proposition.

00:43:07: So, Talia and Maelstrom it was from the story because we knew that we want to say something about body dysmorphia in this world And It's just a great fit.

00:43:26: so yeah I think It's again, it's not a checklist.

00:43:31: A lot of those things are natural.

00:43:33: but also you know when me personally I'm searching for the story and remember all the comic books or the quests everything so i'm searching.

00:43:46: okay this little thing that we didn't mention yet uh...I still think that brain denses are these things used in our franchise favorite things.

00:44:00: And that was not a spoiler, no brain chances in Adraners too.

00:44:09: Apart from the beginning when Roman comes with tapes and they're like BDs man!

00:44:14: BD's only sell we coming with this analog He's like, give me the BDs.

00:44:19: This is what makes you big money kid.

00:44:21: and he was like no this isn't real art!

00:44:24: You're supposed to be consuming.

00:44:25: so yeah that one thing really worked for me.

00:44:31: One thing we didn't force it, but Phantom Liberty was in production when we started storyboarding and also just designing the backdrops for Edge Runners too.

00:44:44: So Studio Trigger did say oh new location!

00:44:47: We should have this new location on the show.

00:44:51: so Dogtown?

00:44:53: Was not necessarily on the checklist.

00:44:56: I don't want to say that we forced them do it, but they were enthusiastically like yes new location New cool locations to draw.

00:45:03: yeah great.

00:45:05: So.

00:45:06: and now going back this art style that you said there's more roll more Retro.

00:45:10: maybe remember also the first conversation for sketches We got from the studio trigger.

00:45:15: They wear very retro.

00:45:18: so how from where that came?

00:45:21: I think it's also through organic discussion, because the idea was when I was pitching Adreners Two for their first time.

00:45:35: My idea was to make a tribute to pop culture of nineties.

00:45:44: Pop fiction, Leon The Professional and all that... And Trigger liked this idea And then I think Ikarashi felt it in his own way, so he transferred that story idea to this retro visual vibe.

00:46:03: Can I quiz you on something?

00:46:04: Because I learned something recently actually...

00:46:07: No!

00:46:09: I didn't- In ninety seven.

00:46:11: that was not me That wasn't NOT ME!

00:46:15: Can i touch for a second?

00:46:16: Of course Okay.

00:46:17: So This is Talia.

00:46:18: Do you know what this hairstyle is called?

00:46:20: These are these

00:46:22: parts.

00:46:23: You did get it right!

00:46:24: I thought you wouldn't want to know What It Is.

00:46:27: I know everything.

00:46:28: It's called Air Vents, i didn't know that... In Japanese this part its called ahogae.

00:46:34: so uh that direct translation is stupid hair.

00:46:39: Stupid hair?

00:46:39: I don't know why but in this part there was like a specific name for it and I used to call it Bell Dandy Hair because I thought that

00:46:47: was dandy hair.

00:46:48: Yes,

00:46:49: there wasn't an anime with this character.

00:46:52: what it's very specific anyway.

00:46:54: so i'm learning new things every day.

00:46:57: they had the nineties haircut specifically had names

00:47:01: events yeah

00:47:02: right called these haircut duck butt here.

00:47:06: oh yeah looks

00:47:08: like you know how to imagine a kind of works

00:47:11: and not.

00:47:11: That Was The Very Specific Name Of That Hair Style.

00:47:14: It's very party in the back, kind of style.

00:47:18: So based off what we did at Anime Expo and a lead up to The Show coming out... And once you're watching this, The Show is already out!

00:47:29: Yeah it is?

00:47:29: Oh so we can talk spoilers

00:47:31: right?!

00:47:32: Let us get back to Dinosaur!

00:47:34: Because because we want people to discover for themselves but A lot of things that have been appearing online, apart from all the amazing fan-created content and fan arts people already picking their favorite characters just based off like a key visual we had with The Cast.

00:47:50: or maybe some watched the first episode.

00:47:57: I'm gonna feel miserable again.

00:48:00: I'm going to be rethinking this show like multiple times and thinking, oh how could this end differently?

00:48:05: Maybe who's gonna die this time?

00:48:08: but apart from all these things are there things in your opinion that you would want people to kind of... ...feel or understand when they're watching the show?

00:48:23: is there something...?

00:48:24: Is there some type thing that you'd like to convey to the people watching without spoiling, of course a lot but kind I do.

00:48:42: Yeah, okay.

00:48:46: No actually it's not so much of a...I would like the audience to take this home-.

00:48:51: I have a question that i want to pose to the audience because I did notice one very specific trend within the production team and uh The English recording studio and how the voice actors were reacting to character stories.

00:49:07: One other themes of edge renders two.

00:49:09: is parenthood or a generational gap and When we were writing the show there was a little bit of A disconnect between some of the staff members on how to react To the actions of some of The parent characters.

00:49:34: so what I would really like to know too.

00:49:37: The audience who watched is how they reacted to some of the parent characters and whether they empathize with them or if they didn't.

00:49:50: And, the reason that there was a disconnect is because Shtibor is father And also the executive, another executive producer Satoru is a father.

00:50:02: So they really strongly empathize... I don't want to put words in your mouth so please don't say like no i hate them!

00:50:10: They really strongly sympathized with some of I don't have a child and also another producer, Titsuya.

00:50:21: He also doesn't have the child.

00:50:23: so when we were looking at these characters in how they're acting throughout this series who are like what do you know?

00:50:28: What is he doing?

00:50:29: They're so dumb!

00:50:30: Why would they do

00:50:31: that?!

00:50:32: We didn't get it all but then i noticed there was voice actors with children.

00:50:43: Yeah,

00:50:45: they were going down.

00:50:48: I kind

00:50:48: of felt it though because like i was sitting in that recording studio and the voice actors would be crying And uh my Voice director would also be crying with what was going on on screen?

00:50:59: And i'm just sitting there like i don't get.

00:51:03: Have i gotten too close to it?

00:51:06: but am i not seeing?

00:51:07: But this is something that was discussed during the production team where Satoru was saying, maybe this is one of those things were if you have gone through the parenting process.

00:51:20: You understand more what the characters are going through and obviously he wrote it.

00:51:24: so you probably had that idea in mind when we're writing the characters on everything.

00:51:29: So that's one thing I'm very curious to see how the audience receives.

00:51:34: Super cool.

00:51:34: Yeah One thing i guess...I would like people through, of course first as adrunners too but also the POV.

00:51:51: For me those two things are connected on a theme level and they talk to each other somehow.

00:52:05: so I would really like fans To analyze that.

00:52:11: Okay,

00:52:12: perfect beautiful.

00:52:17: Last thing if you had to have someone hasn't watched the runners two or one and he had to like describe The show in three words only

00:52:30: three words

00:52:31: three words Only.

00:52:33: which three words would you use?

00:52:35: to sell this?

00:52:38: And so I was like okay say something but no

00:52:41: Don't get attached

00:52:43: Wow!

00:52:44: Beautiful.

00:52:46: Nice

00:52:49: I've been affected by your...

00:52:51: You took my line.

00:53:00: Don't trust dinosaurs

00:53:03: Good one Very deep

00:53:07: And steam.

00:53:09: Once you watch the show, you'll understand Yes

00:53:15: Perfect, and that puts a pin in it.

00:53:17: Thank you both for joining us on having this discussion.

00:53:20: Of course we don't want to get too much into adrunners because we want people To actually watch the experience set.

00:53:25: of course let us know what your thinking about It.

00:53:28: I hope everybody loves The show.

00:53:29: i love it personally And yeah thank You For Joining Us and taking

00:53:33: Time.

00:53:34: All

00:53:46: right, thank you very much for joining the episode and hope you enjoyed it.

00:53:50: And I think we managed to avoid any kind of spoilers.

00:53:52: so now It's time for you watch adreners two on Netflix As always don't forget to comment like subscribe all that jazz and also check out The beyond-the-game

00:54:02: blog.

00:54:03: where?

00:54:03: We have transcribed versions of the answer podcast So you can actually read everything That we have been talking about and also maybe factcheck

00:54:11: this if you want to do that.

00:54:13: but its another way of checking out the podcast and I highly encourage you to do so.

00:54:18: And, of course we'll see in our next one!