Akudama Drive

The bustling metropolis of Kansai, where cybernetic screens litter the neon landscape, may seem like a technological utopia at first glance. But in the dark alleys around the brightly-lit buildings, an unforgiving criminal underbelly still exists in the form of fugitives known as "Akudama."

No stranger to these individuals, Kansai police begin the countdown to the public execution of an infamous Akudama "Cutthroat," guilty of killing 999 people. However, a mysterious message is sent to several elite Akudama, enlisting them to free Cutthroat for a substantial amount of money. An invisible hand seeks to gather these dangerous personas in one place, ensuring that the execution is well underway to becoming a full-blown bloodbath.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Cutthroat Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Ordinary Person Main

Kurosawa, Tomoyo Japanese

Courier Main

Umehara, Yuuichirou Japanese

Hacker Main

Horie, Shun Japanese

Brawler Main

Takeuchi, Shunsuke Japanese

Doctor Main

Ogata, Megumi Japanese

Hoodlum Main

Kimura, Subaru Japanese

Execution Division Master Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Execution Division Apprentice Supporting

Hanamori, Yumiri Japanese

Black Cat Supporting

Uchida, Maaya Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Tominaga, Yoshihiko Producer

Takahashi, Kazuaki Producer

Danno, Yoshito Producer

Reviews

Mar 23, 2025

Spzct

Recommended

Akudama Drive

Animation – 9/10
The animation in Akudama Drive is impressive, with fluid action sequences and vibrant, futuristic cityscapes. The character designs are sharp, and the overall visual style enhances the high-energy, cyberpunk tone of the series. The use of color and visual effects adds a lot to the immersion, making it one of the standout features of the anime.

Storyline – 6/10
While the concept of the show—about criminals on a mission with high stakes—is exciting, the execution feels uneven. The story sometimes falls into typical action tropes, and while it keeps things moving quickly, it lacks depth in certain areas. The pacing also feels rushed, leading ... to moments that could have been explored more thoroughly.

Characters – 8/10
The characters are one of the stronger elements of the series, with distinct personalities and clear motivations. The Akudama (criminals) are all morally grey, and the dynamics between them are engaging. However, while the characters are interesting, their development is not as robust as it could have been, especially considering the high-stakes setting.

Music & Sound Design – 6/10
The soundtrack fits well with the overall tone of the series, but it doesn’t stand out in any significant way. The music does its job of enhancing the action, but it's not memorable enough to leave a lasting impact. Sound design also supports the chaotic nature of the world, but again, it’s functional rather than exceptional.

Emotion & Impact – 3/10
While the series is high-energy and visually engaging, it doesn’t evoke strong emotional responses. The characters and their fates don’t feel as deeply impactful as they should, given the intense situations they face. The lack of emotional depth makes it hard for the viewer to form a strong connection with the story or characters.

Worldbuilding – 5/10
The world of Akudama Drive presents a cyberpunk dystopia, but it feels underdeveloped. The setting is stylish, but we don’t get enough information about the socio-political structures, the motivations of the different factions, or the world beyond the main plot. This leaves the world feeling more like a backdrop than a fully realized part of the story.

Entertainment – 8/10
Despite its shortcomings in storytelling and emotional depth, Akudama Drive is highly entertaining. The action is fast-paced, the animation is eye-catching, and the characters provide a lot of fun moments. It's a series that keeps you engaged, even if it doesn’t always deliver on a deeper level.

Innovation – 6/10
The show doesn’t push boundaries in terms of storytelling or thematic exploration. While the cyberpunk setting and the concept of criminal protagonists are interesting, they’re not executed in a way that feels particularly groundbreaking. It draws from familiar tropes without adding much new or innovative to the genre.

Rewatch Value – Yes
Despite the lack of emotional weight, Akudama Drive has enough visual flair and action to make it enjoyable for a rewatch. Fans of the action and animation may find value in revisiting the series, especially to catch details that they might have missed the first time around.

Overall Score – 6.85/10
Akudama Drive is a visually stunning series with strong action and character design. However, it falters in areas like emotional depth, worldbuilding, and story development. It’s an entertaining ride with a lot of style, but it lacks the substance to make it truly memorable. For fans of action-packed, cyberpunk anime, it’s worth a watch, but don’t expect it to leave a lasting emotional impact.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Aug 26, 2024

AikoNeko7

Mixed Feelings

Akudama Drive takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride through a futuristic sci-fi world, where each episode unfolds with surprising twists. While I was initially hesitant about its scattered storyline, I found the ending particularly touching, leaving a lasting impact despite the ups and downs of the journey.

Story in unique in term of it sets in a future where everything is controlled by computers and the most powerful is the "Executioners" who are the police of this town whose only job is to safeguad the city against the 'Akudama". I liked the set up but I found the story too be too scatter poltted. Though the ... story does have unique flavour, the ending had me smile more. The visual art was very much stunning.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jan 26, 2023

Sukamii

Not Recommended

For lack of a better simile, Akudama drive is like eating rock candy- at first seeming incredibly interesting, an interesting appearance with an enticing texture, it tastes sweet but isn't much more. Like liquid sugar, Akudama Drive doesn't really make for much more than a temporary sugar rush.
Like flashes of lightning, the series always presents something that is enticing, ideas that come off as interesting, characters that you *could* grow attached to- but they exist within their boxes of tropes and don't become more than characters on the screen. For their initial presentations, most of the characters exist as incredibly edgy and egotistical characters ... that I could easily become interested in as the story unfolds (barring Doctor, as I dislike near everything about her character, except her VAs performance)- but they don't exist as anything more. They have predictable fates, stories that unfold in a blase manner. It's really a shame.
For the first five episodes it feels exceedingly generic, the "plot twists" and advancement of the story don't feel like anything special, and after getting past the fifth episode; I felt as if it had wasted my time telling a story that could easily be condensed. Even after the halfway marker and the show becomes "interesting", it's only due to clever moments of design where before you flashes entertainment. But its embedded in a genre (and medium) that does it but better in every way. The characters are by far the worst offenders of this, I don't think there was a single one I came away from thinking they told an exciting story worth remembering. The tropes are solid, the animation is good, and the plot is exceedingly average. It's going to be forgotten to time, created to sell and nothing more.
I won't waste my breath doing an in depth analysis of the themes, ideas, or story on the whole of the series. What you see the the first episode is what you get the entire run time, sometimes a little bit more- but by and large its exactly what it is. Defying its own sense of logic and reason, stretching suspension of disbelief so far that it frays and snaps under its own existence.
I usually don't continue to watch series I actively dislike, but even more than that I hate dropping something unless it's so painfully egregious that I feel like my life force is being siphoned away as I watch. At times, Akudama Drive felt like an art vampire- but what's even worse is that I definitely enjoyed it. After all, I wouldn't have picked it up and watched all the way through if I wasn't at least having fun. Its not so terrible that you'll feel your eyes roll into the back of your skull during viewing, but it gets close. Just when your souls close to its desperate escape from your flesh it'll do something clever- a nice use of doubles, an enticing action sequence, or a genuinely heartfelt moment that convinces me to watch another episode.
I wouldn't recommend Akudama Drive for any reason other than understanding what makes Anime tick, in good ways and bad; to experience how good tropes can go to die when the characters they inhabit become nothing more than the tropes themselves, and when the story gives up on being worth your time. There are plenty of anime that are genuinely worth your time, exploring ideas in genuinely meaningful and artistic ways. I'm absolutely against saying "go watch this show instead of x", but with very little effort you'll be able to find works in this genre that do everything Akudama Drive wants to do with some fraction of grace and fidelity.

But if you REALLY want to watch this mess, nothing in this world should stop you. It's not a good time, but at the very least its a fun ride.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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