Cyberpunk Edgerunners II / Episode 5 SB/ED - Nobuhide Kariya I was super excited to see Nobuhide Kariya handle both the storyboards and episode direction for a Trigger episode, and my god, this absolutely lived up to all my expectations. With the way things have been going so far, this is easily my favourite episode of the season. In terms of similarities to the first season, besides the appearance of the name David Martinez, this feels completely different and bears little resemblance to the same story beats from Season 1. Honestly, I think that's exactly why I'm enjoying this season so much. It's willing to explore its own identity rather than simply repeating what came before, and the result has been incredibly refreshing. Nobuhide Kariya delivers a SOLO storyboard and episode direction contribution, and he absolutely nails it in practically every department. This is easily one of my favourite episodes thus far. The situation surrounding Talia genuinely upset me, while D's increasingly relentless pursuit of revenge gave the episode a much darker emotional weight. Meanwhile, Kingsley finding his own purpose in saving Talia, even if it means dying alongside her so that he can finally find closure, was genuinely heartbreaking. These character motivations come together beautifully, giving the episode an emotional core that hits much harder than I expected. The incredibly gory set pieces are another major highlight, with some seriously detailed and disturbing imagery further elevated by Ichigo Kanno's CAD work. The Talia backstory was particularly impressive, featuring some unique and inventive storyboarding ideas that came together wonderfully. There are some interesting parallels with D's own backstory, but the execution takes things in a different direction, giving Talia's story its own distinct identity and emotional impact. Of course, the staff lineup is absolutely stacked with talent. Some of the names I recognised include Toshiyuki Sato, Sushio, Akira Amemiya, Hirotaka Nii, Takafumi Chida, and Shunpei Gunyasu. The animation power remains incredibly strong even at this point in the season, and the production shows no signs of losing its momentum. If anything, I feel like things could go up another notch from here. What's especially impressive is how well the storytelling is keeping pace with the animation. The spectacle is fantastic, but there's genuine emotional substance behind it all, and the character arcs are becoming increasingly compelling as the season progresses. We're now halfway through the season, and I'm already completely hooked. If the series can maintain this level of direction, animation, and storytelling for the remainder of its run, we're in for something truly special. RATING: 9.4/10 #CyberpunkEdgerunners #イバーパンクエッジランナーズ