Definition
Akira is a 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on his own manga. It is widely considered one of the most important anime films ever made and the project that introduced anime to mainstream Western audiences. Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo in 2019, the film follows a biker gang member named Kaneda whose childhood friend Tetsuo gains psychic powers that spiral out of control. The film is famous for its stunning animation, complex political themes, and a budget that was unprecedented for anime at the time.
Why It Matters
Akira changed the perception of animation worldwide. Before Akira, Western audiences mostly saw animation as children’s entertainment. Akira proved that animated films could be violent, philosophical, politically complex, and visually breathtaking. It influenced an entire generation of filmmakers: The Matrix, Stranger Things, and Chronicle all borrow from Akira. The film’s iconic shot of Kaneda’s motorcycle slide has been referenced and parodied countless times. The red motorcycle itself is one of the most recognizable vehicles in cinema. And the film’s prediction of a corrupt, militarized Tokyo facing social collapse in 2019 feels eerily prescient.
Example
“He watched Akira for the first time in 1995. He was 14. He had never seen animation like this — blood, politics, body horror, and a soundtrack that sounded like a city screaming. He didn’t understand all of it. He didn’t need to. Akira wasn’t a movie you understood; it was a movie you experienced.”
Related Terms
- Cyberpunk — The genre Akira defined for anime
- Katsuhiro Otomo — The creator of Akira
- Neo-Tokyo — The fictional city where Akira takes place
- Kaneda’s Bike — The iconic red motorcycle from the film
- Anime — The medium Akira revolutionized