Akudama Drive is a cyberpunk anime series set in a dystopian future. The story follows a girl, later known as Swindler, who accidentally becomes a criminal (or Akudama). Several dangerous Akudama get a message that promises them a big reward in return for freeing Cutthroat and rescuing him from execution. Swindler ends up helping them and getting dragged into a mysterious heist of the Shinkansen train along with the rest of the Akudama.
The series received mostly positive reviews due to its intense action and intricate plot. Fans also mention outstanding art style: the world looks alive and character design is very unusual in a good sense. However, not everyone shares the same opinion, and for some viewers the anime just seemed…ordinary.
One of the first things fans mention when it comes to issues with Akudama Drive is the plagiarizing vibe. They don’t necessarily say that the anime is a rip-off of another show but they’ve noticed some similarities. Fans think of Baccano when they see a cat and the Shinkansen train, the art style and two masterminds explaining things remind them of Danganronpa, and they compare the executioners hunting Akudama to the CCG agents in Tokyo Ghoul. They also mention that the trick of killing one partner in order for the other to gain more experience is quite an overused cliché.
The pacing of Akudama Drive has also been criticized by the audience. Some felt that the story got too rushed in the second half of the season, and it looked like the series didn’t really know where it was going. The story itself wasn’t poor but still felt too chaotic to some viewers, making them dislike several plot points. A number of concepts were introduced abruptly and viewers felt like they needed more clarity. For example, some feel that the idea of Akudama wasn’t fully explained: who are they really, why save and protect them if they're going to be executed anyway?
The characters are another thing that hasn’t really become the strongest point of the anime. While not being completely uninteresting, they seem to be lacking depth and some viewers feel like they are a little bit one-dimensional. Fans add that it’s not inherently a bad thing, since the way they are portrayed works well with the setting and the plot of Akudama Drive, but they can’t help their desire for more complex characters.
Akudama Drive leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and it might not be your cup of tea if you are not a fan of such stories. But if you’re there for a beautiful picture, stunning action and intricate sci-fi story, you should give it a try and form your own opinion.
Is this cyberpunk crime really enjoyable?
Akudama Drive is a cyberpunk anime series set in a dystopian future. The story follows a girl, later known as Swindler, who accidentally becomes a criminal (or Akudama). Several dangerous Akudama get a message that promises them a big reward in return for freeing Cutthroat and rescuing him from execution. Swindler ends up helping them and getting dragged into a mysterious heist of the Shinkansen train along with the rest of the Akudama.
The series received mostly positive reviews due to its intense action and intricate plot. Fans also mention outstanding art style: the world looks alive and character design is very unusual in a good sense. However, not everyone shares the same opinion, and for some viewers the anime just seemed…ordinary.
One of the first things fans mention when it comes to issues with Akudama Drive is the plagiarizing vibe. They don’t necessarily say that the anime is a rip-off of another show but they’ve noticed some similarities. Fans think of Baccano when they see a cat and the Shinkansen train, the art style and two masterminds explaining things remind them of Danganronpa, and they compare the executioners hunting Akudama to the CCG agents in Tokyo Ghoul. They also mention that the trick of killing one partner in order for the other to gain more experience is quite an overused cliché.
The pacing of Akudama Drive has also been criticized by the audience. Some felt that the story got too rushed in the second half of the season, and it looked like the series didn’t really know where it was going. The story itself wasn’t poor but still felt too chaotic to some viewers, making them dislike several plot points. A number of concepts were introduced abruptly and viewers felt like they needed more clarity. For example, some feel that the idea of Akudama wasn’t fully explained: who are they really, why save and protect them if they're going to be executed anyway?
The characters are another thing that hasn’t really become the strongest point of the anime. While not being completely uninteresting, they seem to be lacking depth and some viewers feel like they are a little bit one-dimensional. Fans add that it’s not inherently a bad thing, since the way they are portrayed works well with the setting and the plot of Akudama Drive, but they can’t help their desire for more complex characters.
Akudama Drive leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and it might not be your cup of tea if you are not a fan of such stories. But if you’re there for a beautiful picture, stunning action and intricate sci-fi story, you should give it a try and form your own opinion.
