Reviews for Akira

In a nightmarish Tokyo futurescape, society has crumbled to the point of anarchy and perpetual violent conflict is a way of life. One night, the youngest member of a rowdy motorcycle gang, Tetsuo, comes across a strange runaway from a government lab, and is nabbed by the pursuing scientists. His friends, led by the daredevil Kaneda, set out to rescue him. Kaneda gets some help from a revolution-seeking girl named Kei and her fellow rebels in infiltrating the lab, but finding Tetsuo is going to be the least of their worries. It seems the scientists have been working on a little biological experiment intended to resurrect an incredibly powerful psychic power referred to only as "Akira." And Tetsuo's gone through a few little changes as a result. . .

Anyone who hears the words "animated film" and immediately conjures images of singing bluebirds and dancing teacups obviously hasn't seen any Japanese anime and certainly not Katsuhiro Otomo's dystopian science-fiction epic, "Akira." Unapologetically mature and undeniably powerful, "Akira" is the notorious film that first popularized anime in the U.S. in the mid-'80s. Since then, it has continually been characterized as a gory bloodbath, which is in some ways very true and in others completely wrong. If you watch the movie to see a lot of blood and guts, you're not going to be disappointed. A lot of people are offed in a lot of very graphic ways throughout, but in the midst of the chaos there's a complex, convoluted story about society, power, and morality that makes the film far more than just a mindless animated killing spree.

The film's animation was revolutionary for its time, especially the intense adrenaline-rush action sequences and gritty, urban design work. None of the characters are particularly appealing, but all of them demand attention. Tetsuo's transformation from a resentful weakling into a psychic demi-god gets particularly hard to watch, and yet becomes more engrossing, as he slowly loses his sanity and self-control. Other characters include various politicians, scientists, and military personnel, who provide much of the exposition and clarification to the plot in pursuing their own agendas. My favorite scenes were the disturbing nightmare sequence involving some ferocious giant toys, and the jaw-dropping climax, which will no doubt imprint itself on even the most jaded brain for weeks.

"Akira" is not for the faint of heart, the close-minded, or those who think of animation as strictly family fare. It's a challenging, relentless film that refuses to hold back in its portrayal of a future that could very well be our own someday. It's as brutally effective now as ever and certainly holds its own as one of the greatest animated films ever produced.