Akira

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: AKIRA(アキラ)
English: Akira
More titles

Information

Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 16, 1988
Source: Manga
Genres: ActionAction, HorrorHorror, Sci-FiSci-Fi
Themes: GoreGore, MilitaryMilitary, Super PowerSuper Power
Demographic: SeinenSeinen
Duration: 2 hr. 4 min.
Rating: R+ - Mild Nudity

Statistics

Score: 8.161 (scored by 540712540,712 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #4562
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #208
Members: 913,476
Favorites: 14,422

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8.16
Ranked #456Popularity #208Members 913,476
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Episodes: /1

Synopsis

Japan, 1988. An explosion caused by a young boy with psychic powers tears through the city of Tokyo and ignites the fuse that leads to World War III. In order to prevent any further destruction, he is captured and taken into custody, never to be heard from again. Now, in the year 2019, a restored version of the city known as Neo-Tokyo—an area rife with gang violence and terrorism against the current government—stands in its place. Here, Shoutarou Kaneda leads "the Capsules," a group of misfits known for riding large, custom motorcycles and being in constant conflict with their rivals "the Clowns."

During one of these battles, Shoutarou's best friend Tetsuo Shima is caught up in an accident with an esper who finds himself in the streets of Tokyo after escaping confinement from a government institution. Through this encounter, Tetsuo begins to develop his own mysterious abilities, as the government seeks to quarantine this latest psychic in a desperate attempt to prevent him from unleashing the destructive power that could once again bring the city to its knees.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Akira won the Silver Scream Award, the audience award of the Amsterdam-based Imagine Film Festival, in 1992 and was nominated for the American Anime Awards' Best Anime Feature award in 2007.

Characters & Voice Actors

Kai

Supporting
Kusao, Takeshi
Japanese

Yamagata

Supporting
Ookura, Masaaki
Japanese

Kaori

Supporting
Fuchizaki, Yuriko
Japanese

Kiyoko

Supporting
Itou, Fukue
Japanese

Miyako

Supporting
Kitamura, Kouichi
Japanese

Staff

Maseba, Yutaka
Producer
Otomo, Katsuhiro
Director, Script, Original Character Design, Original Creator
Aketagawa, Susumu
Sound Director
Hashimoto, Izou
Script


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Opening Theme

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Ending Theme

"Kaneda" by Geinoh Yamashiro-gumi

Episode Videos




Reviews

May 16, 2025
Akira – 8/10

Is the story unique?
Absolutely. Akira is a landmark in anime history, delivering a groundbreaking cyberpunk narrative filled with political intrigue, psychic powers, and dystopian chaos. Its story blends complex themes of power, identity, and rebellion in a way that still feels fresh and relevant decades later.

Do you think the art style is fitting for the story?
Definitely. The detailed, hand-drawn animation captures the gritty, neon-lit atmosphere of Neo-Tokyo perfectly. The fluid action scenes and meticulous backgrounds bring the chaotic world to life, making the visuals just as memorable as the story itself.

Were the characters well-rounded?
Yes. Characters like Kaneda and Tetsuo are deeply flawed yet ...
Apr 29, 2025
Mixed Feelings
How could a film that emphasizes action and thrill turn out to be so anticlimactic and boring? Action as a genre in general is one where the main focus seems to be the typical macho-defined action, but without the macho guys. Basically, a common pattern rises where tropes take a hold over the aspects of a film which actually make it stand out. Akira falls into the former, because the only difference between it and other films are the character’s defiant biker gang and the additional post-war themeing. This film definitely aligns with said description, because it sufficiently captured what it takes to make an ...
Jan 9, 2024
FunnyFunny
Akira sucks. Overrated.

So many people saying "It's a great piece of art". OK, I didn't see it.

There's many anime movies and animes who work abstract concepts in the same way that akira's art pretend to do, and they did it so much better and with more (of any) sense. So it seems to me that is very, very overrated.

Art to me, like an old classic, it's not that special (There's other with more stetic)

Furthermore, I find the machism and sexist in the movie disgusting and repulsive. I know, I know, is an 80's film... But fuck, there's others anime and 80's film. And they aren't ...

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Akira Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 )
Friendlysoul - Apr 12, 2008
234 repliesby PrimeX »»
May 6, 12:23 AM
Akira is not cyberpunk, it's just a paranormal genre ( 1 2 )
TheRedComment - Jan 22, 2024
54 repliesby SoloNecromancer »»
Feb 5, 11:37 PM
Am i the only one who think that akira is a bad movie? ( 1 2 )
Harley3579 - May 14, 2019
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Dec 16, 2024 11:22 AM
Ending interpretation
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Dec 1, 2024 10:16 PM
Tropes created in Akira
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