Akira
Oshimeter
Synopsis
Set around 2019, the rebuilt metropolis of Neo-Tokyo, raised from the ashes after a mysterious explosion leveled the old one, is not doing great: gang wars, political corruption, protests everywhere. Shōtarō Kaneda runs a biker gang called the Capsules, spending his nights tearing through neon-lit streets and getting into fights with rival crews. Pretty standard stuff until his best friend Tetsuo crashes into a strange child with psychic powers, and something inside Tetsuo wakes up. Suddenly the military is involved, government scientists are circling, and Kaneda's trying to figure out what the hell is happening to the person he's known his whole life, while also getting tangled up with an underground resistance and a woman named Kei. The real tension here is watching Tetsuo change. He's always been the weaker one, the guy Kaneda had to protect, and now he's got power he can't control and a chip on his shoulder about all those years of feeling small. It's a story about what unchecked power does to someone who never had any. This is a 1988 movie and the animation still holds up in ways that feel almost unfair to modern productions: hand-drawn with an insane level of detail, backed by a soundtrack that mixes taiko drums with synth in a way that gets under your skin. If you liked the philosophical weight of Ghost in the Shell or the apocalyptic dread of Neon Genesis Evangelion, this is the film that helped set the template. It's dark, it's violent, and it earns every bit of it.
Episode Guide
Characters
Shoutarou Kaneda
Kaneda: a brash, motorcycle-riding gang leader, fiercely loyal to his friend Tetsuo, and involved with anti-government rebels.
Bosch Johnny Yong
Tetsuo Shima
Inferiority-complexed biker Tetsuo, after discovering psychic powers, becomes Kaneda's rival, craving power and dominance.
Seth Joshua
Kei
Kei, a strong-willed resistance fighter, aids Kaneda, discovers psychic abilities, and is crucial to the plot.
Lee Wendee
Shikishima
Ambitious military officer, Shikishima seeks to control Tetsuo's powers, overthrowing Neo-Tokyo's corrupt government.
Price Jamieson
MANGA BRIDGE
This season covers Chapters 1-6 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 7.
Community Feed
Loading…
Obviously an undisputed classic of cyberpunk anime. Dystopian city,motorcycle warfare,and kids with psychic powers what's not to like? Plus the animation is about as top quality as it gets for hand drawn animation. First saw this at a really young age but it's more suitable for young adults. It's story carries a lot of very real emotional depth and like most good cyberpunk serves as a warning for what the future could bring.
Akira es puro arte visual 🎨🔥 Es una locura pensar que esos niveles de detalle en la animación se lograron hace décad sin la ayuda del CGI moderno. 🏙️ Aunque la historia se siente un poco apretada y el inicio es cómo un puñetazo en la cara, después te acoplas al ritmo. ✨
I know absolutely nothing about Akira (except for that one meme) and I went into this show completely blind, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, this movie wasn't that bad! It didn't blow my mind or anything and I'll admit I was a little lost about the storytelling but for an older anime, it was a good watch. The animations are great and I can see why this movie is a classic
Truly one of the classic, the visuals was ahead of its time, a masterpiece. Every scene is a climax, this anime surely sets the standards.
Honestly, the visuals are really good, phenomenal, like the effect of the city's destruction. Narratively, there are political elements too! This is perfect for those who really like politics.
Even though some people don't like it because it’s a bit slow, Akira is a masterpiece. It's a classic that you definitely have to experience before you die. If you like deep and complex stories, this one is a must-watch.
Visually, a masterpiece, and it will always be a touchstone of the genre, but perhaps a little overblown. The story is jarring and a little weird with more emphasis on movement than plot. Things feel like they're rapidly moving along always. Characters are boring but believable.
Akira
10More DetailsRadar5
Choose what you want to review:
a single episode or the full anime.
