Akudama Drive (2020)

About Akudama Drive

Akudama Drive is an anime series released in 2020 by Studio Pierrot. The series is set in a dystopian future where the war between Kanto and Kansai has divided Japan. In the cultural and technological decay of Kansai, an organization known as Akudama begins to rise, involving a group of criminals with different specializations.

Making / Production

The production of Akudama Drive was a massive effort by Studio Pierrot. The series features stunning visual illustrations and meticulous animation. It was directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, with the scripts written by Norimitsu Kaihō and the original character design by Rui Komatsuzaki.

Actors

• Ordinary Person (Courtesy Name)- One of the protagonists who gets involved in the Akudama world by accident. Morohoshi Sumire does a commendable job in voicing this innocent character who gradually evolves as she navigates through the world of Akudama.
• Courier (Jun Fukuyama) - A quiet and unyielding character, Jun gives life to Courier with his deep voice, perfect for the character's stoic personality.
• Brawler (Yuichiro Umehara) - Voiced by Yuichiro Umehara, Brawler is a hot-headed and aggressive character who loves to fight more than anything.
• Hacker (Shunsuke Takeuchi) - Seen as the intellectual, Hacker is a genius hacker who can hack anything. Shunsuke does a great job of giving a smooth and nonchalant voice to the character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title "Akudama Drive" might be a pun on the phrase “aku damashi," which means "to trick someone into thinking they have the advantage, then turn the tables when they least expect it".
• The seven main characters are all named after their respective roles in the society.
• Akudama Drive is inspired by various Tarantino's movies, cyberpunk and pop culture references can be found throughout the series.

Awards

As of the current data, there have not been any awards recorded for Akudama Drive.

Quotes

• "It's not the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong." - Doctor
• "When you're at rock bottom, the only way to go is up!" - Brawler
• "There's no point in regretting the past. That's why I'll move forward." - Courier

Music, Soundtrack

• Opening Theme - "STEAL!!" by SPARK!!SOUND!!SHOW!!
• Ending Theme - "Ready" by Urashimasakatasen