![akudama drive akudama drive](https://0c86e2d1-madman-com-au.akamaized.net/shows/akudama-drive_stage-key-art-normal-medium_95658.jpg)
Wait, that’s only six Akudama, isn’t it? Well, the last is the main character: an ordinary young woman incarcerated for only having credit to pay at a cash-only takoyaki stall despite having a 500 yen coin in her possession at the time (the Courier dropped it and she was trying to return it). And then there’s “Cutthroat” aka “jerk at your D&D circle who plays a Chaotic Neutral bard”: a deranged knife-wielding murderer of over 1,000 people (by episode one, anyway) who’s obsessed with red things and has the maturity of an elementary schooler. “Hoodlum” is a small-time yakuza who makes outrageous false claims (which Brawler believes all of). “Doctor” is a pink-haired bombshell who can almost instantly kill or resurrect anybody in proximity, including herself, thanks to near-omniscient surgery and biochemistry knowledge. “Hacker” is a one-eyed extremely online sort who can control electronic systems. “Brawler” is a muscular gullible himbo whose solution to everything is to punch it. “Courier” is your traditional taciturn “all business” cyberpunk hero: high-tech motorcycle, metal hand, giant pistol. We never learn anybody’s given names, just codenames. A mysterious fixer with incredible wealth has assembled seven of the worst of the worst Akudama for one mega-heist. In a futuristic Dotonbori (Yakuza fans will recognize that bridge), the most heinous criminals are declared “Akudama” (which basically means “bad people” but it’s left untranslated since “akudama” sounds cooler) and are subject to summary execution. Such is the general premise of Akudama Drive, the best action anime overall of 2020. For as Cyber City Oedo 808 established decades ago, the absolute highest form of narrative is “cyberpunk super-criminals with bomb collars on their necks forced to undertake a suicide mission.” The “cyberpunk” part is key, otherwise you end up with the wrong Jared Leto. The combination of the long-esteemed pedigree of anime Studio Pierrot and Too Kyo Games (its founders created the Danganronpa series) resulted in exactly what I want anime to be.