Akira is a classic anime movie. Known by some as the Mother of anime, it's a movie that every anime fan has probably seen at least once.
Akira begins with two biker gangs. Our focus gang, lead by our main character Kaneda and his younger friend Tetsuo; and "The Clowns," a group of older, violent boys that run amuck in the city. Kaneda takes his gang out onto the highway to meet The Clowns in a head to head battle. During the battle...Tetsuo runs straight into a very small blue skinned child. His bike blows up and both he and the child (later known as Takashi) are helicoptered off to a research facility by The Colonel.
Obviously Kaneda wants to know where his friend was taken and meets up with a girl name Kay in the police station. Kaneda and his gang were arested for gang participation and fighting but were let go on the lie that they were off to see Kaneda's grandmother and ran into The Clowns on accident. Kaneda learns that Kay is a member of an underground spy network that's trying to break into the very research facility where Tetsuo is being held. Kay and her team are trying to stop something called Project Akira.
Project Akira we learn is the research of telepathic powers. Everyone has them but in a very few people these powers are enhanced to the point where they can be controled to a point. This research began with the most powerful child Akira, who they now believe was the cause of a giant explosion that led to World War III. Akira was destroyed but his brain and organs remain in a special vault deep beneath the city. Takashi, Masaru, and Kiyoko were allies of Akira before he was destroyed. The three of them also have such powers, but nothing to compare with that of Akira.
Tetsuo in the meantime has awoken to find that he too has strange psychic abilities now. He goes on a rampage with his new found talent and destroys much of the city. Kay and Kaneda try to stop him from doing irreversible harm. Will their hard work calm the now ferocious Tetsuo? Or is the city due to be devoured by his rapidly growing destructiveness. Only Akira knows.
Akira is also a widely popular Manga split into 6 monstrous books. The Manga is much better at explaining this very complicated story, and also much more action packed. For the best Akira experiance, watch the movie and read the manga afterwards. (or vice versa...whichever you prefer)
Reader be warned: Parents strongly cautioned, this movie is intended for mature audiences over the age of eighteen. This movie has material not suitable for children, which includes intense violence, coarse language, and suggestive dialouge.
Basic Information
Total Episodes: 1 (Movie)
Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror, Science-Fiction
Year Published: 1988
Studio: Toho / Tokyo Movie Shinsha
US Distribution: Streamline Pictures
Characters
Kaneda
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Gang Leader.
The couragious gang leader, Kaneda sets out to find Tetsuo after the biking accident. He ends up as Tetsuo's enemy as he tries to stop him from wreaking too much havoc. Kaneda was always by Tetsuo's side as children. They were both orphaned and Kaneda stood up for Tetsuo more than Tetsuo wanted.
Tetsuo
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Evil One
After being hospitalized from a motorcycle accident, Tetsuo woke up with amazing psychic abilities and no explanation for them. He decided it would be fun to use his new found powers for evil and promptly begins getting revenge on everyone and everything for the rough childhood he had.
Kay
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Spy
Kay's a member of a spy team trying to corrupt the Akira Project and anything having to do with it. She meets Kaneda at the police station and they help each other for personall reasons.
Kai
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Friend
Kai doesn't do much for the story, he's just one of Kaneda's gang members. He is pretty funny at times though.
Kaori
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Girlfriend
Tetsuo's girlfriend. The Clowns get ahold of her and try to rape her, but Tetsuo steals Kaneda's bike and attempts to save her.
The Doctor
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Project Head
The Doctor is in charge of Project Akira and the three blue children. He does all the research on the children and Tetsuo.
The Colonel
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Military Man
Colonel is in charge of getting funding for the Akira Project. He also takes alot of military measures in order to stop Tetsuo's rampage.
Takashi
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Trouble Maker
Takashi is the one who started everything, Had Tetsuo not swerved to avoid hitting him on the road and been taken to the research facility everything would have remained normal. Tetsuo wouldn't be an insane evile being and Kaneda wouldn't be trying to kill him.
Masaru
Japanese seiyuu: NA
GenThe Wise One
Masaru is probably the smartest of the three children. He's always telling the others and Tetsuo that the outside world isn't meant for them.
Kiyoko
Japanese seiyuu: NA
The Precognate
Kiyoko can sort of tell whats going to happen in the futre through her dreams. The Doctor spends alot of time trying to decipher her dreams.
