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Akira

  • 1988
  • 16
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,894
51
Akira (1988)
Trailer for Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition
Play trailer1:03
2 Videos
99+ Photos
AnimationActionDrama

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a gro... Read allA secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.

  • Director
    • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
  • Writers
    • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
    • Izô Hashimoto
  • Stars
    • Mitsuo Iwata
    • Nozomu Sasaki
    • Mami Koyama
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    203K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,894
    51
    • Director
      • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
    • Writers
      • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
      • Izô Hashimoto
    • Stars
      • Mitsuo Iwata
      • Nozomu Sasaki
      • Mami Koyama
    • 609User reviews
    • 130Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

    Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Trailer 1:03
    Watch Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Akira
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch Akira

    Photos170

    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Akira (1988)
    Joshua Seth, Jan Rabson, and Nozomu Sasaki in Akira (1988)
    Joshua Seth, Jan Rabson, and Nozomu Sasaki in Akira (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mitsuo Iwata
    Mitsuo Iwata
    • Shôtarô Kaneda
    • (voice)
    Nozomu Sasaki
    Nozomu Sasaki
    • Tetsuo Shima
    • (voice)
    Mami Koyama
    Mami Koyama
    • Kei
    • (voice)
    Tesshô Genda
    Tesshô Genda
    • Ryû
    • (voice)
    Hiroshi Ôtake
    • Nezu
    • (voice)
    Kôichi Kitamura
    • Lady Miyako
    • (voice)
    • …
    Michihiro Ikemizu
    • Inspector
    • (voice)
    • …
    Yuriko Fuchizaki
    • Kaori
    • (voice)
    Masaaki Ôkura
    • Yamagata
    • (voice)
    Tarô Arakawa
    • Eiichi Watanabe
    • (voice)
    • …
    Takeshi Kusao
    Takeshi Kusao
    • Kai
    • (voice)
    Kazumi Tanaka
    • Army
    • (voice)
    Masayuki Katô
    • Engineer Sakiyama
    • (voice)
    • …
    Yôsuke Akimoto
    • Harukiya Bartender
    • (voice)
    Masato Hirano
    • Yûji Takeyama
    • (voice)
    • …
    Yukimasa Kishino
    • Mitsuru Kuwata
    • (voice)
    • …
    Kazuhiro Kandô
    • Masaru (No. 27)
    • (voice)
    Tatsuhiko Nakamura
    • Takashi (No. 26)
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
    • Writers
      • Katsuhiro Ôtomo
      • Izô Hashimoto
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was one of the first Japanese anime films to have the characters' voices recorded before they were animated. While this is the typical practice in U.S. animation, in Japan the animation is generally produced first.
    • Goofs
      After the unnamed man escorting Takashi uses himself as a shield to protect him, Takashi apparently has spots of blood on his head, but as he gets up we see that blood was on the pavement and overlapped Takashi's head due to an animation error.
    • Quotes

      Kiyoko: The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves.

    • Crazy credits
      The date of the first coming of Akira is the exact same date as it was released originally in Japan.
    • Alternate versions
      2001 re-release of the English language includes a new English dub script and voice cast.
    • Connections
      Featured in Akira: Production Report (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Tokyo Shoeshine Boy
      Performed by Teruko Akatsuki

    User reviews609

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Be careful with this film.
    *Stereotype: Akira is a gratuitous bloodbath.

    Maybe, but it's also a hard-nosed societal critique. Gore fans get what they want, but they have some morality shoved down their throats, as well. Most people who hate this movie watch it with a predetermined mindset. . . It takes thought and patience to piece together its sophisticated story.

    *Stereotype: Akira rocks!!

    The animation equals or exceeds Disney's best, the music is awesome, and the characters are complex, but "Akira" has its flaws. Chunked together from a long pre-existing storyline and filled with gritty violence, "Akira" draws fanatics too bloodthirsty to appreciate its message, and scares away critics intelligent enough to understand it. It takes a very open mind to enjoy this movie.

    All in all, be careful with this movie; it's not for everyone. Just ignore the hype on BOTH sides and judge for yourself. I recommend the subtitled version; the dub's voice actors suck and anyone who'll understand this movie is obviously smart enough to read.
    helpful•286
    124
    • Ryuji-2
    • Jan 16, 1999

    Top picks

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    FAQ9

    • What is 'Akira' about?
    • Is 'Akira' based on a book?
    • So just who, in fact, was Akira?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 16, 1988 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official sites
      • Bandai Visual (Japan)
      • Official Site (United States)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Akira: The Special Edition
    • Filming locations
      • Tokyo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Akira Committee Company Ltd.
      • Akira Studio
      • TMS Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ¥1,100,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $553,171
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,263
      • Jan 1, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,280,404
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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