Akira (1988)

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psionic psychopath that only two kids and a group of psionics can stop.

Director:

Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Writers:

Katsuhiro Ôtomo (screenplay), Izô Hashimoto (screenplay),

Stars:

Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mitsuo Iwata	...	Shôtarô Kaneda (voice)
Nozomu Sasaki	...	Tetsuo Shima (voice)
Mami Koyama	...	Kei (voice)
Tesshô Genda	...	Ryûsaku (voice) (as Tetsusho Genda)
Hiroshi Ôtake	...	Nezu (voice) (as Hiroshi Otake)
Kôichi Kitamura	...	Priestess Miyako (voice)
Michihiro Ikemizu	...	Inspector (voice)
Yuriko Fuchizaki	...	Kaori (voice)
Masaaki Ôkura	...	Yamagata (voice)
Tarô Arakawa	...	Eiichi Watanabe (voice)
Takeshi Kusao	...	Kai (voice)
Kazumi Tanaka	...	Army (voice)
Masayuki Katô	...	Engineer Sakiyama (voice)
Yôsuke Akimoto	...	Harukiya Bartender (voice)
Masato Hirano	...	Yûji Takeyama (voice)

Storyline

Kaneda is a bike gang leader whose close friend Tetsuo gets involved in a government secret project known as Akira. On his way to save Tetsuo, Kaneda runs into a group of anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader. The confrontation sparks off Tetsuo's supernatural power leading to bloody death, a coup attempt and the final battle in Tokyo Olympiad where Akira's secrets were buried 30 years ago.

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Plot Keywords:

secret | gang | friend | government | scientist | 

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Taglines:

Neo-Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E.

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Genres:

Animation | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic violence and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Bandai Visual [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

24 July 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akira: The Special Edition

Box Office

Budget:

JPY 1,100,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$439,162 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TMS Entertainment, Akira Committee Company Ltd., Bandai

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) DTS (re-release) Dolby (35 mm prints) Dolby Digital (2001 re-issue)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally released in the U.S. by Streamline Pictures in 1990. A decade later, Pioneer Entertainment (now Geneon Entertainment) obtained the license to AKIRA and spent roughly $1 million in restoring the film's audio and video quality, as well as recording an all-new, more accurate English dub.

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Goofs

When Kanada and his crew are walking from school, Kanada's shoes change color in the same shot.

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Quotes

Tetsuo: [after killing a clown] How'd ya like that?

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Crazy Credits

Credits roll with Big Bang-like footage of stars and galaxies, in the background.

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Connections

References Sleeping Beauty (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Tokyo Shoeshine Boy"
Performed by Teruko Akatsuki

User Reviews

Great Animation Film

I only recently watched Akira (though I have heard a lot about it) and I must say I am impressed (so much that I bought the DVD). This is, beyond any doubt, one of the best animated films in existence. Visually impressive, solid direction, with a compelling story (if a little complicated), just the right amount of character development, good and very appropriate soundtrack and an extensively detailed New Tokyo, Akira manages to be as groundbreaking as it was when it was first released.

It's only drawback is that most people (including me) will probably have to watch it again (and again maybe) to completely understand the full story. Highly recommended (especially to anime fans). I give it 8 out of 10.