Akira (1988)

16 July 1988

Akira (アキラ, Akira) is a 1988 Japanese adult animated cyberpunk action film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, produced by Ryōhei Suzuki and Shunzō Katō, and written by Otomo and Izo Hashimoto, based on Otomo's 1982 manga of the same name. Set in a dystopian 2019, it tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amid chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo.

While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga, which continued publication for two years after the film's release. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

Akira was released in Japan on July 16, 1988, by Toho; it was released the following year in the United States by Streamline Pictures. It garnered an international cult following after various theatrical and VHS releases, eventually earning over $80 million worldwide in home video sales. It is widely regarded by critics as one of the greatest films ever made, especially in the animation, action and science fiction genres, as well as a landmark in Japanese animation. It is also a pivotal film in the cyberpunk genre, particularly the Japanese cyberpunk subgenre, as well as adult animation. The film had a significant impact on popular culture worldwide, paving the way for the growth of anime and Japanese popular culture in the Western world as well as influencing numerous works in animation, comics, film, music, television and video games. An iconic scene from the film, known as the "Akira slide" scene, has been widely referenced and homaged in many works of animation, film and television.

Storyline

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after the nuking of the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural powers suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

Sound Effects Used

Japanese Version

• Anime Explosion Sound 6
• Anime Punch Sound 2
• CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 2
• Hollywoodedge, Puma Cougar Roar Clas AT016801
• Space Lightning 01

Pioneer Dub

• Hollywoodedge, Crash Metal Shatter PE110201
• Hollywoodedge, Crash Metal Shatter PE110301
• Hollywoodedge, Electricity Arcing 3 PE200301
• Hollywoodedge, Helicopter Close Per PE062901
• Hollywoodedge, Punch Face Hit 1 Sharp PE100101
• Hollywoodedge, Punch Face Hit 4 Sharp PE100401
• Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - LARGE EXPLOSION 06/07/08
• Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - MEDIUM EXPLOSION 01

Special Edition

• Sound Ideas, ELECTRONIC - MAGICAL ZAP 03