---
title: "Akudama Drive"
year: 2020
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/akudama-drive-2020"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 100436
imdb_id: "tt12331342"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 1
episodes_count: 12
runtime_minutes: 24
community_rating: 7.5
vote_count: 178
content_rating: "TV-MA"
---

# Akudama Drive (2020) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/akudama-drive-2020

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Akudama Drive is a Japanese cyberpunk anime television series that premiered in 2020. The series was conceptualized by Kazutaka Kodaka and produced by Pierrot and Too Kyo Games. It is set in a world where a Great Civil War has ravaged Japan, leaving the country fragmented between two regions: Kansai and Kanto. In Kansai, a group of six Akudama carry out missions given to them by a mysterious black cat, while evading the police. The series features a mix of science fiction and action elements, with a focus on the criminal underbelly of the city. The anime was directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and written by Kazutaka Kodaka, who aimed to create a series consisting of rebellious themed characters. The series was released in Japanese from October 8, 2020, to December 24, 2020, and in English from December 3, 2020, to March 11, 2021.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A civilian is pulled into a high-stakes criminal underworld following a war between two Japanese regions."

### Why Watch
- dynamic criminal ensemble
- intense action sequences

### Caveats & Content Note
- high-intensity pacing
- violent subject matter
- Tone & Suitability: The series features intense violence and depictions of criminal activity throughout its narrative.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: chaotic, gritty, fast-paced, dystopian

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, Crunchyroll | None | Apple TV Store |
| **Australia (AU)** | Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | None | None |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (12 Episodes)
Akudama Drive is a Japanese cyberpunk anime television series conceptualized by Kazutaka Kodaka. The series is set in a dystopian future Japan where a devastating conflict has split the nation into two main regions: Kansai and Kantō. Kansai is under heavy governmental control and is rife with criminal activity. The most notorious criminals in this region are known as "Akudama," high-profile illegal operatives who carry out dangerous missions. A clandestine figure known as the "Black Cat" summons a group of elite Akudama to break into a high-security execution facility in Kansai and rescue a legendary criminal. An ordinary young woman, later known as the "Swindler," gets inadvertently pulled into their mission after being arrested and labeled as a criminal. The series is a blend of animation, mystery, action, adventure, science fiction, and crime genres.

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 12
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 3 (25%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 9 (75%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Tomoyo Kurosawa** as *Ordinary Person (voice)*
- **Yuuichirou Umehara** as *Courier (voice)*
- **Shunsuke Takeuchi** as *Brawler (voice)*
- **Shun Horie** as *Hacker (voice)*
- **Megumi Ogata** as *Doctor (voice)*
- **Subaru Kimura** as *Hoodlum (voice)*
- **Takahiro Sakurai** as *Cutthroat (voice)*
- **Maaya Uchida** as *Brother (voice)*
- **Yumiri Hanamori** as *Execution Division Pupil (voice)*
- **Kurumi Mamiya** as *Bunny (voice)*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is the setting of the series?
The story takes place in Kansai, a region separated from Kanto following a Great Civil War.

### Q: Who are the main characters?
The protagonists include a group of six criminals known as Akudama and an ordinary civilian girl.

### Q: What is the role of the black cat?
The black cat provides the Akudama with their mission assignments.

### Q: What kind of conflict drives the plot?
The plot centers on the Akudama evading the police while completing missions and the civilian girl being forced into their lifestyle.

### Q: Is this a historical series?
No, the series is set in a fictionalized future following a past Great Civil War.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Choosing Countertops - Everyone Says Something Different!!](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/17dkjwe/choosing_countertops_everyone_says_something/)
- [Akudama Drive (TV Mini Series 2020) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12331342/)
- [Akudama Drive - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akudama_Drive)
- [Akudama Drive (2020 TV Show) - Behind The Voice Actors](https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Akudama-Drive/)
- [Akudama Drive (TV 2020) - MyAnimeList.net](https://myanimelist.net/anime/41433/Akudama_Drive)
- [Akudama Drive (Anime) - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/AkudamaDrive)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*