Akira
| Akira | |
|---|---|
 Scene from the manga | |
| Original Manga | Katsuhiro Otomo |
| Director/Artist | Katsuhiro Otomo |
| Format | Anime (Movie) |
| Made By | *See Main Description |
| Episode Length | 124 minutes |
| # of Eps/Volumes | NA |
Contents
Genre
Sum it up in a Sentence:
Motorcycle gang gets caught up in futuristic military psychic experiements.
Main Description
In the year 2019, thirty-one years after World War III, the Neo-Tokyo goverment is waging a never-ending struggle against the criminals that virtually rules the shattered city. A top-secret child with amazing powers of the minds breaks free from custody and accidentally gets a motorcycle gang involved in the project. The incident triggers psychic powers within one of the members, Tetsuo, and he is taken by the army and experimented on. His mind has been warped and is now on the path of war, exacting revenge on the society that once called him weak.
The Akira movie was such an ambitious project that no one studio had the money or resources to complete it alone. The committee of companies that was assembled to complete the project are publisher Kodansha, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Bandai, Hakuhodo Incorporated, distributor Toho, Laserdisc Corporation, Sumitomo, and animation producer Tokyo Movie Shinsha.
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Personal Opinions
NeverRamza
Akira is from a time when anime was more well known as being select hardcore action anime flicks “absolutely not for children” rather than the fluffy big-eyed kawaii that makes anime such an easy target for ridicule now. While more of that “hardcore” nonsense was throw-away entertainment at best, Akira is rather awesome.
The level of detail to backgrounds and character movement and animation is just amazing. Akira looks and feels so much better than many other animated works despite its proportionately lower budget. This anime was definitely a work of art.
Yes, Akira is serious business and a little bit convoluted upon the first viewing but it’s still worth watching if you enjoy your anime peppered with sci-fi and post-apocalyptic action. It’s a classic for a reason.
Hexinet
This anime is the hallmark separator between the kawaii neko-tan junior highschool anime fan and the serious business anime affectionado. Some of the older "veteran" anime fans will judge you based on wether or not you've seen this anime. Akira was arguably the first anime to be really popularized in the United States. Some would say it was the driving force behind the underground VHS fan sub movement during the early 90's, and was shown over and over again at universities by baffled film professors who were in awe of its violent, intense, imagery and provocative undertones. It rocked their world.
This is an absolute must see anime. It is a masterpiece that is written into the record books of anime.
Dan a man
Akira is well worth watching. It is not only an important anime but also an important work of sci-fi. It is so good that it over the years it has attracted many people to watch it who hadn't previously enjoyed anime. Although it seems for each person it converts into an anime fan, it also creates an annoying I-hate-all-anime-except-for-Akira-HURRR fan. (But you shouldn't hold that against the movie.) The story it tells manages to be abstract enough to make you think, yet have enough concrete elements so that you're not completely confused. Everything is so detailed and beautifully drawn that you'll forget you're watching something that was made 20 years ago. Also worth watching if you want to see where Invader Zim most likely got its inspiration for Old Kid, Plague of Babies, and Zim's Santa suit.
iddqd
To me, personally, Akira is …an experience more than anything else; transcending the boundaries of science fiction, anime and even mere storytelling. It raises a plethora of questions, yet makes no attempt to answer any of them – it merely provides the viewer a few fleeting glimpses into the intoxicating neon-lit world of Neo-Tokyo. It is at times, exciting, boring, clever, stupid, simple and infinitely complex. It haunts me to this day.
