Review of Akira (1988) by Chris T — 28 Dec 2011

After Ghost in the Shell last week I decided to dip my toe back in the anime pool again with another one of the genre's most iconic films Akira. Like Ghost this film also had a massive influence on the Wachowski brothers so a lot of it's style was subsequently aped by the Matrix. Final Fantasy VII was also heavily influenced by Akira especially it's futuristic setting and lead antagonist.

I first saw Akira when I was a child and it fried my then 10 year old brain. Quite simply I had never seen anything like it and it freaked me out as much as I enjoyed it. I have seen it several times over the years but this was the first time I had the opportunity in high definition and quite simply the film never gets old.

The film starts with boldly with a nuclear exposure wiping out a great deal of 1989 era Tokyo and triggering a third world war. The story then fast forwards 25 years when we are introduced to the new post apocalyptic Neo Tokyo. A place that has largely been rebuilt but where youthful rebellion and violence rules the streets.

Amongst this choas two best friends Tetsuo and Kaneada and a group of other teenagers, race and fight rival motor cycle gangs. One night during a battle with the clown's gang, Tetsuo encounters a strange boy who causes the power that destroyed Tokyo 25 years ago to begin to awaken within in him, the mysterious power of Akira. Can Kaneda prevent his friend from causing a second apocalypse and avert the start of a forth world war?

At the time of release Akira cost $8 million dollars to make and despite the fact that it's now over 20 years old it still looks absolutely superb. The hand drawn animation is still breathtaking in places and some of the iconic imagery will stay with you long after the film has finished. Disturbing, mind boggling and stunning in equal measure, Akira is never boring and still remains a classic of not just Anime but also Sci-fi cinema.