Akira (1988)

Release Date: Jul 16, 1988


Number of Media: Adapted from a manga (1982-1990)


What's It About: In 1988, Tokyo is annihilated by a mysterious explosion when the psionic powers fostered within a human test subject go out of control. 31 years later, Tokyo is rebuilt as the megacity Neo-Tokyo and is gripped within a dystopian limbo where motorcycle gangs rule the streets and political corruption is rampant. The story follows two members of one gang, Kaneda and Tetsuo, who cross paths with other individuals of the psychic experiments.


The Good: Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira was made in an age before digital animation, but the quality could easily stand up today. The animation is simply stunning on all fronts. The action is very high-octane and there's a wide variety of it too - from bare knuckle fistfights to military weapons to psychically-powered duels to orbital space cannons and beyond, Akira has all kinds of action to offer. The worldbuilding is absolutely phenomenal, and every inch of Neo-Tokyo is rich with detail. A great deal of time has gone into the depiction of the world Akira is set in. The thematic content is mature and heavy, and requires multiple viewings to notice and understand it all, but is worth the time.


The Bad: The film has received negative reviews in the past for its violence, which some consider gratuitous. There's also a deceptively thin storyline, but this is hidden by the extraordinarily rich world the story is set in, so the story isn't so much purely about the primary characters but of the Tokyo that Otomo has envisioned. On that point, character development is thin, and only Kaneda and Tetsuo get any meaningful screentime. You may also be turned off the music, which is more often than not comprised of sparse tribal chants and instruments.


Best Character: Tetsuo Shima. Whilst he's one of only two properly-developed characters of the film, Tetsuo has the stronger characterization and his backstory is the most explored. Living in the shadow of the naturally-gifted and charismatic Kaneda, Tetsuo is starved of the respect he is seeking and this manifests in his powers. He uses them recklessly and without restriction, causing widespread damage to vehicles, structures and people.


Should I Watch It: Akira showed the west what Japanese anime was capable of. Before then, anime wasn't well-known outside of Japan and what was known were closer to children's cartoons than serious film projects. For example, Akira had cinematography wherein the camera would pan and zoom as if it were a live-action film. It moved with action rather than stayed still. The themes were very mature and adult, dealing with cyberpunk and dystopian themes, corruption, military and heavy science fiction. It opened the door to adult-oriented anime that we have today. If you're interested in anime and haven't already yet seen it, Akira is a must-see.


Similar Shows: Evangelion (1995), Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1998), Blade Runner (1982)


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