Akira

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Akira

R

1988

2h 4m

Sci-Fi

Anime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

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

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Critics Consensus

Akira is strikingly bloody and violent, but its phenomenal animation and sheer kinetic energy helped set the standard for modern anime.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Apr 20

4/5

This is ideologically bleak, incessantly violent and astonishing.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

01/25/2021

A

The opening motorbike chase is still thrilling, but the dedication to the backgrounds as well as crowds of people filling the screen, explosions happening in the distance, and a jaw-dropping sense of scope make Akira the classic that it is.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

10/08/2020

4/5

Akira's strangeness is very startling and sometimes bewildering. But there is a thanatonic rapture to its vision of a whole world ending and being reborn as something else.

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Kayleigh Donaldson

Pajiba

May 12

The astonishing level of detail you’re overwhelmed with, right down to each individually painted skyscraper window, immerses you in the neon hellscape of Neo-Tokyo... This is a film that feels alive.

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Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

Apr 15

5/5

There are several reasons why Akira is frequently considered to be a masterpiece. Not only is it visually spectacular, but it’s uncompromising in its vision.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Sep 17

4/5

It's a classic for a reason! This seminal anime film is filled with incredible visuals, dense themes, and (it turns out) a bunch of content missing from the comics. It's exciting, but occasionally overwhelming.

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Joshua

10/17/2022

Neo Tokyo really blew up

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SomethingElemental T

@RT44776589 4d

One of my all-time favs. I am partial to the older anime. There just seemed to be so much more substance and effort put into the quality of the movie.

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Wendel L

@BRZRKR Jul 26

Direção: Bom Animação: Bom Roteiro: Ruim Visual: Bom Soundtrack: OK

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Enzo Fabrizio A

@RT31102923 Jun 13

Para mi es perfecta esta en mi top de animes -Muy buena historia -Buen dibujado

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Sultan A

@RT18690263 May 31

Great character great visuals great soundtracks and very cinematic cyberpunk anime movie 👍

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Jamal P

@RT39995825 May 14

Was really good, but the ending got a little crazy. OTHER THAN THAT, AMAZING MOVIE

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Katsuhiro Ohtomo

Director

Mitsuo Iwata

Shôtarô Kaneda

Nozomu Sasaki

Tetsuo Shima

Mami Koyama

Kei

Tessho Genda

Ryûsaku

Hiroshi Otake

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Akira: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

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

Director: Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Producer: Shunzo Kato, Ryôhei Suzuki
Screenwriter: Izou Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Distributor: Streamline Pictures
Production Co: Akira Committee Company, Ltd.
Rating: R (Graphic Violence|Brief Nudity)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1988, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 2001
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 12, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $390.0K
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)