More than four years after the landmark debut of Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red’s critically acclaimed anime adaptation, the neon-drenched dystopia of Night City has officially returned to Netflix. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 brings audiences back into the brutal, cybernetically enhanced world with a completely fresh standalone narrative spanning ten episodes. This new chapter introduces an entirely revamped roster of characters, conflicts, and voices. Among the standout additions to the cast is actor, voice artist, and activist Analesa Fisher, who steps into the role of Omi, a resilient and grounded nomadic survivor.
The arrival of a second season comes after the unprecedented global success of the initial 2022 release, which revitalized interest in CD Projekt Red’s video game counterpart and set a new benchmark for video game-to-anime adaptations. Fisher, known for their work across various animation franchises and video games such as Honkai: Star Rail and Monster High, recently sat down to discuss the intense, unconventional casting process, the emotional demands of bringing a Shakespearean-styled nomad to life, and their advocacy work outside the recording booth.
The Unconventional Audition and Joining Night City
The path to securing a role in one of Netflix’s most anticipated animated follow-ups was anything but ordinary for Fisher. Initially, the actor had auditioned for the role of Yupi, a high-energy, upbeat character. When that opportunity did not pan out, Fisher traveled to Portland, Oregon, to visit family. It was during a routine afternoon at a sibling’s house that the trajectory of their career shifted.
Fisher received an urgent call from close friend and fellow cast member Valeria Rodriguez—who voices the character Roman in the new season—while Rodriguez was actively in a recording session. Before Fisher could process the situation, voice director Wendee Lee took over the phone alongside the series’ director to ask if Fisher could pull off a rush audition that very evening.
Confined to a temporary travel microphone and miles away from a professional recording setup in Los Angeles, Fisher had to improvise. Seeking a quiet space away from the open layout of a family home, Fisher retreated to a parked car in a residential parking garage, balancing a laptop on the vehicle’s dashboard. Despite working with less-than-ideal audio equipment and confronting a character whose vocal register was significantly deeper than Fisher’s typical casting range, the actor leaned heavily into the emotional gravity of the audition sides.
The gamble paid off. Following a tense multi-day silence from production, Fisher received confirmation while working in a separate recording studio in Los Angeles. The sudden transition from an impromptu parking garage recording to a major streaming production highlights the rapid, high-stakes nature of modern voiceover work.
Navigating the Duality of Night City and the Nomads
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 pivots away from the specific arc of David Martinez, instead focusing on an ensemble cast dealing with the lingering psychological decay of Night City. The narrative centers on Weak, a former cyberpunk legend struggling to find purpose after losing his cybernetic enhancements, and D, a deadly nomad driven by a destructive pursuit of corporate secrets.
Within this landscape, Fisher’s character, Omi, represents a distinct cultural counterweight to the hyper-technological frenzy of the urban center. Unlike the brain-dances and chrome-addicted citizens of Night City, Omi and her nomadic kin operate under a traditional, almost Shakespearean code of survival. According to Fisher, portraying Omi required maintaining a delicate balance between emotional vulnerability and steadfast resilience.
While characters like D spiral into cycles of vengeance and destruction following tragedies like the betrayal of the Snake Nation, Omi actively rejects this path. Fisher notes that Omi views revenge as a waste of life—a surrender to the very corporate entities that caused their pain. This thematic exploration mirrors broader existential questions within the narrative, contrasting organic humanity against technological assimilation, as similarly emphasized in the emotional dynamic between the characters Roman and Talia.
Production Insights and Characterization Challenges
Entering the production as an established fan of the first season provided Fisher with a foundational understanding of the series’ bleak, high-stakes tone. Having watched the original anime multiple times, Fisher possessed an innate grasp of the world-building, though the specific lore of the Nomads required additional guidance from CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger supervisors.
Production notes emphasized that Nomad dialogue should intentionally diverge from the colloquial slang—such as "chooms"—prevalent among urban Night City residents. Instead, Omi’s dialogue leans toward a more formalized, elevated cadence. For a voice actor accustomed to high-pitched, energetic characters, consciously suppressing their natural vocal register during intense emotional sequences proved to be a persistent technical challenge. Fisher credits the production team and voice directors for their patience as they continuously worked to keep Omi’s grounded, raspy delivery authentic without drifting into cliché anime tropes.
Expanding Horizons: Writing, Activism, and the Entertainment Industry
Beyond their voice acting credits, Fisher maintains an extensive professional footprint as a writer, disability rights advocate, and prominent voice in environmental conservation. As a member of the Environmental Media Association’s Young Hollywood Board for several years, Fisher has been a vocal proponent of shark conservation, actively promoting a vegan lifestyle and public education regarding marine ecosystems. The board’s overarching mission focuses on combating climate nihilism among Generation Z, emphasizing manageable, individualized action over paralyzing perfectionism.
In parallel with their performance career, Fisher is an accomplished screenwriter. Having written dozens of scripts since the age of fifteen, Fisher recently penned a young adult thriller titled Wake Up. The script draws heavily from personal experiences growing up autistic, navigating a coming-out journey, and overcoming teenage substance abuse. After being acquired by United Talent Agency (UTA), the project has gained momentum within the industry, reflecting a broader trend of authentic Gen Z narratives breaking into mainstream cinematic spaces.
As Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 streams worldwide on Netflix, Fisher hopes audiences walk away with a central thematic takeaway: the preservation of humanity amidst relentless technological advancement and the futility of destructive vengeance. Through characters like Omi, the series ultimately champions resilience, survival, and the choice to continue living in the face of systemic adversity.
