Akira (1988 film)

"Akira (anime)" redirects here. For the franchise, see Akira (franchise). For the original 1982 manga, see Akira (manga).

Akira
In a road, Kaneda is seen walking towards his red motorcycle with is parked in the center facing left. Various stickers are placed in the front sides of the motorcycle. Kaneda's jacket has a pill etched to it.
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Katakanaアキラ
Directed byKatsuhiro Otomo
Screenplay by
Based onAkira
by Katsuhiro Otomo
Produced by
  • Ryōhei Suzuki
  • Shunzō Katō
Starring
CinematographyKatsuji Misawa
Edited byTakeshi Seyama
Music byShōji Yamashiro
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • July 16, 1988 (1988-07-16)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Budget¥700 million / $5.7 million[1][2]
Box office$49 million[3]

Akira (Japanese: アキラ) is a 1988 Japanese adult animated cyberpunk action film[4] 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, the 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 and 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.[5]

Akira has since been cited as a masterpiece and as among one of the greatest films ever made, especially in the field of animation and the action and science fiction genres. A landmark in Japanese animation, and the most influential and iconic anime film ever made,[6][7][8][9][10] it is also considered a pivotal film in the cyberpunk genre, particularly the Japanese cyberpunk subgenre,[11] as well as adult animation.[12] The film had a significant effect 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.[3][12][13]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Crunchyroll was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference currency was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference vice was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference telegraph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Akira: the future-Tokyo story that brought anime west". the Guardian. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Akira as #1 anime movie". Movie Cricket. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  7. ^ "Ten best anime movies of all time". Screen Junkies. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  8. ^ O'Neill, Phelim (October 21, 2010). "Akira: No 22 best sci-fi and fantasy film of all time". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Akira". Top 50 Science Fiction Films. Film4. 2011. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  10. ^ Barone, Matt (June 8, 2011). "27. Akira (1988)". The 50 Best Sci-Fi Movies. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference polygon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference filmschoolrejects was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference O'Neill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).