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Cameron Clarke, Mitsuo Iwara, Jan Rabson, Nozomu Sasaki, Lara Cody ... see more see more... , Mami Koyama , Tarô Ishida , Masaaki Ohkura , Tony Pope , Barbara Goodson , Yuriko Fuchizaki , Yosuke Akimoto , Yasuko Ohno , Takeshi Kusao , Bob Bergen , Drew Thomas , Sandra Fox , Barbara Larsen , Jimmy Flanders , Lewis Lemay , Stanley Gurd Jr. , Simon Prescott , Mitsuo Iwata , Tesshô Genda , Hiroshi Otake , Leo Lee , Masaaki Okura , Michihiro Ikemizu

One of the most influential examples of anime, Akira is based on the manga (comic book) by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story is set in the post-apocalyptic community of Neo-Tokyo. Tetsuo is a fiercely indivi... read more read more...dualistic member of a scroungy motorcycle gang. The despotic authorities, the robot-like police, and even the cycle gang pursue Tetsuo when he's bombarded with a new, insidious energy source that has rendered him telekinetic. Budgeted at eight million dollars, Akira has become a cult favorite in the States thanks to generous midnight-movie exposure and its availibilty on video and cable TV. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

89% liked it

134,100 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

41 critics

R, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Katsuhiro Ôtomo, Ruairi Robinson

Release Date: March 30, 2001

Keywords: action, anime, animation, sci-fi

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DVD Release Date: July 17, 2001

Stats: 9,725 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,725)

  • garyX
    April 11, 2012
    garyX
    After the reconstruction of Tokyo after nuclear decimation, a young biker punk is kidnapped by a shadowy government experiment to engineer a "doomsday weapon" in the form of children with the power of telekenesis. Akira was the Japanese Anime that broke the genre into the global ... read moremainstream and is still hugely influential. It's essentially Godzilla for the cyber-punk generation as an insecure young boy is suddenly gifted the power of a god with the inevitable consequence of absolute power corrupting absolutely. The artwork is amazing in its detail, especially since it pre-dates CGI and is therefore hand drawn in its entirety. Some of the imagery is stunning, the finale owing a debt to 2001: A Space Odyssey and its hard to imagine The Matrix ever coming to existence without it. The plot is a little existential and "out there" which may baffle those looking for light entertainment, but all can revel in its visual invention. Although it may have lost some of its impact over time now Manga and Anime are so ubiquitous but it's still a cornerstone of the genre and an important stepping stone in the evolution of modern sci-fi.
  • paulkoh110
    February 18, 2012
    paulkoh110
    Fantastic, Original, and Brilliant! The music is awesome, the visuals are eye candy, and the story is super imaginative. Amazing Film!
  • fb100002384654145
    November 23, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    My favorite anime movie and one of my favorite movies of all time. The film is densely packed with kinetic action, drama, spectacle, and intrigue. The first twenty minutes involves Kaneda and his gang fighting a rival biker gang. It is one of the greatest opening scenes in cin... read moreema because it starts the film off with plenty of momentum and gives the viewer an insight into the chaos that is Neo-Tokyo. Kaneda and Tetsuo are two of the greatest characters in anime history. Kaneda's red bike has become an icon in which its design has been copied many times in other animes. Tetsuo is also one of the greatest anime villains of all time, you do not want to piss him off. The animation is absolutely breath-taking, every single frame was hand drawn. The animation is so detailed that at times I forget I'm watching an animated movie. The story may seem a bit rushed at times, but the movie does a good job at condensing a 2000 pages manga. The music is also memorable. This movie is not for the faint at heart, the violence is bloody and their is some swearing. However, if you can get passed that, the film holds a very good story that is emotionally charged and thought-provoking.
  • fb1341085175
    October 29, 2011
    fb1341085175
    One of those rare films which makes use of animation in its full potential, in ways only rarely accomplished by American animation studios and the kind of which can only be dreamed of nowadays. Makes me fear how tonned down, sanitized and simplified the future live-action remake ... read moreis probably going to be.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    September 12, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    KANEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
  • sergioogarcia
    July 8, 2011
    sergioogarcia
    I love anime. And form all of them there is ABSOLUTE no question about the best movie ever. Akira. Strange, fantastic, almost poetic. Really! What a great movie!
  • fb100001493964409
    April 23, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    This is a very interesting film to say the least. It was one of the first major animes to receive release in America and became such a cult hit that many people credit this film (along with its source material manga) with making anime and manga so popular in the west. But is it t... read morehat good? The answer is yes. The violence might leave some disturbed, but it's worth sitting through. The story involves a futuristic Tokyo where politics are a mess and stability is pretty much non-existent as revolutionary factions begin to cause chaos. But amongst all of this is a boy named Tetsuo, part of one of many biker gangs in Neo-Tokyo. But after an accident involving a small boy, he is taken in by government researchers when he begins to develop psychic powers. The story is pretty intricate and the animation (all hand drawn) is insanely detailed. The ending doesn't make much sense, but you'll think about it for a little while to say the least.
  • Deano78
    April 6, 2011
    Deano78
    A great Anime film, very cool and stylised.
  • ajv2688
    February 20, 2011
    ajv2688
    I really wanted to like this movie, it's a very gritty, dark, violent, action packed, and intense anime film. The problem was that the story isn't explained well enough to understand in the end, and that disappoints me because I wanted to be able to know what in the world I'd be... read moreen watching for 2 hours! If anyone knows, please tell me.
  • SirPant
    November 2, 2010
    SirPant
    I'm not a huge Manga/Anime fan, I like some but only if they're really good. Akira is really good, after Paprika it is probably my favourite. Apparently it's going to be made into a real-life movie. Good luck on that one!

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Critic Reviews

Jay Cocks
September 7, 2008
Jay Cocks, TIME Magazine

The movie, even at 124 minutes, has the densely packed sweep and go-for-it pep of a pop epic. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
April 16, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Grade-school violence freaks may find a few kicks here, but even they may have trouble coping with this ugly movie's ending about eight separate times. Full Review

April 16, 2007
Variety

A lavish animation extravaganza produced at a cost of $8 million, this futuristic exploration is a followup by author-director Katsuhiro Otomo to his tremendously popular comic books. Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A phenomenal work of animation with all the hallmarks of an instant cult classic. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
March 27, 2001
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Easily the most breathtaking and kinetic anime ever made. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

The most expensive animated feature ever made in Japan... and it's easily the most impressive, as well. Full Review

Brian Gibson
January 12, 2012
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

Moments that can only be captured as animation make Akira still worth watching: gusts of wind from chopper blades, ka-tooming bursts of fiery explosions, Tetsuo's visions. Full Review

Robbie Collin
June 25, 2011
Robbie Collin, News of the World

Plenty of superb recent blockbusters, including The Matrix, The Dark Knight, Minority Report, Dark City and Inception, are all in its debt - not to mention a fair number of shockers, like Star Wars Ep... Full Review

Derek Malcolm
June 24, 2011
Derek Malcolm, This is London

Put it up there with the most astonishing animated features ever made. Full Review

Phelim O'Neill
June 23, 2011
Phelim O'Neill, Guardian [UK]

Style and substance run neck and neck in this thrilling, bold landmark film that just refuses to become dated. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Yamagata (Japanese Version): Yeah Right! Drink your dog piss?
    • Tetsuo (Japanese Version): A fish out of water dies, huh.
    • Tetsuo (Japanese Version): A fish out of water dies, huh.
    • Kaneda (Japanese Version): Maybe it's a trap.
    • Kei (Japanese Version): So go back.
    • Kaneda (Japanese Version): No way, I want to see how much of a trap it is.
    • Kei (Japanese Version): What if there wee some mistake and the progression went wrong and someting like an amoeba wre given power like a human's?
    • Kaneda (Japanese Version): Akira is an amoeba?
    • Kei (Japanese Version): Amoebas don't build there own houses and brigdes do they? They just devour all the food around them.
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Akira Trivia

  • Who is the acclaimed director of such masterpieces as "Seven Samurai" and "Yojimbo"?  Answer »
  • Akira Kurosawa's film "Seven Samurai" was the inspiration for which famous western movie?  Answer »
  • Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' was based on William Shakespeare's play 'King Lear'.  Answer »
  • The Japanese animated blockbuster, Akira, was directed by the world renown Japanese director Akira Kursoawa, the director of such greats as the Seven Samurai, Rashomon and the Hidden Fortress.  Answer »
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