Meta Runner Wiki
Meta Runner Wiki
Meta Runner Wiki
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Meta Runner

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Not to be confused with the term.

Meta Runner is an Australian computer-animated drama-mystery science-fiction web series created by Luke and Kevin Lerdwichagul. The series is in a separate canon to SMG4, a machinima series on Luke's YouTube channel of the same name.

The series follows an amnesiac cyborg girl named Tari in a world where video games, speedrunning & esports are everything as she discovers she has the uncanny ability to warp into video games.

The first episode of Meta Runner was released on July 25th, 2019.

Premise

In a futuristic world, society is now centered around video games, serving as not just entertainment, but also jobs in livestreaming and lifestyle. Among the gamers are “Meta Runners”, a group of gaming individuals who replace their limbs with cybernetic arms that allow them to boost their gaming performance.

The series tells the story of Tari, a Meta Runner who was the subject of an experiment called Project Blue led by former scientist, Dr. Sheridan, who was commissioned by the TAS Corp. organization. In a sudden accident causing an explosion, Dr. Sheridan was apparently killed along with a former Meta Runner, Lucinia, inside the laboratory. After waking up in the now abandoned and wrecked establishment, Tari finds herself in Silica City with no memory of what happened except for a few flashbacks. After witnessing a speedrunning tournament of Ultra Jump Mania performed by Belle Fontiere, Tari decides to play the game for herself, but she suddenly gets teleported into the game where she befriends Theo. Intrigued by Tari’s newfound ability, the head of TAS Corp., Lucks plans to use her to benefit his organisation.

Tari and Theo get sucked out of the game and try to escape, but Tari gets captured while Theo escapes and is found by another meta runner, Lamar Williams, who rescues and takes both of them to a hidden base in a ramen restaurant where they meet up with two other meta runners, Sofia Porter and Masa Shimamoto. Together the three are a small undercover group called the MD-5 who've been trying to expose all to TAS Corp. by exposing the organisation's cruel actions to the public, but to no avail. The MD-5 then invites Tari to join them, citing that with her help, they'll finally be able to put an end to Lucks' evil affairs once and for all.

Characters

Main article: Character Guide

Episodes

Main article: Episode Guide

World

Main article: World Guide

Music

Season 1

Season 2

The Final Season (Season 3)

Trivia

  • As confirmed by Luke and Kevin, while Tari is the main character, this series takes place in a different universe, outside of SMG4's continuity.
  • When one of the Meta Runners enters the menu on their prosthetic arm, one of the symbols is the logo for Glitch Productions.
  • One of the billboards has a picture of Saiko on it.
  • The series is animated using both Maya and Unreal Engine which is the first time Glitch Productions is using more complicating animation software, as they just use Garry's Mod for SMG4.
  • Meta Runner was originally known as Project Blue in its development, the same name as the code name for T.A.R.I.
  • Based on the Meta Runner Season 3 Reddit AMA, Glitch Productions stated that they have fleshed out the world and backstories of characters long before the characters even met.
  • Based on the Meta Runner Season 3 Reddit AMA, Glitch Productions stated that they have written and designed three spinoffs where one takes place before the events of Meta Runner, one that takes place five years after Meta Runner, and one that takes place in a Meta Runner school with an all new cast.
  • Based on the Meta Runner Season 3 Reddit AMA, originally Season 2 was going to feature more characters that Tari would pull out of the video games where there was one design of a wolf like character from an FPS style game.
  • Based on the Meta Runner Season 3 Reddit AMA, it is very much confirmed there are LGBTQ+ characters in the show.
  • Based on the Meta Runner Season 3 Reddit AMA, it is confirmed that the world has regular schools but the main curriculum is based around video games.
  • | Season 2 Reddit AMA
  • | Season 3 Reddit AMA

Gallery

Main article: Meta Runner/Gallery

Videos

Sources
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