Akira (1988)
Katsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk masterpiece that redefined animation and brought Neo-Tokyo's explosive psychic chaos to the world.
Akira - Movie Information
- Original Title: AKIRA
- Release Year: 1988
- Directed by: Katsuhiro Otomo
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation, Sci-Fi, Action
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 4m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 10, 1988 (Italy - T), October 19, 1988 (United States - R), January 25, 1991 (United Kingdom - 12), May 9, 1991 (Germany - 16), August 19, 2020 (France), July 11, 1991 (New Zealand - M), October 16, 1990 (Australia - M), August 9, 1991 (Brazil), December 11, 2020 (Spain - 12), August 31, 2017 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: אקירא (IL), อากีรา ไม่เหมือนคน (TH), АКИРА (RU), 아키라 (KR), 光明战士阿基拉 (CN), Акира (BG), അകിര (IN), AKIRA：1988 (JP)
- Production Companies: MBS, Sumitomo Corporation, TOHO, Kodansha, Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Bandai, Hakuhodo, LaserDisc Corporation
- Production Countries: Japan
Akira - Plot
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.
Akira - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Neo-Tokyo's psychic nightmare unfold:
Neo-Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E.
Where to Watch Akira
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Akira - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Katsuhiro Otomo
Main Cast
- Mitsuo Iwata
- Nozomu Sasaki
- Mami Koyama
- Taro Ishida
- Mizuho Suzuki
- Tessyo Genda
- Koichi Kitamura
- Yuriko Fuchizaki
- Masaaki Okura
- Takeshi Kusao
Writers
- Izo Hashimoto
- Katsuhiro Otomo
Producers
- Shunzo Kato
- Ryohei Suzuki
Akira - FAQs
What is Akira about?
Akira is set in a dystopian Neo-Tokyo and follows Shotaro Kaneda, a biker gang leader, as he tries to stop his childhood friend Tetsuo from unleashing catastrophic psychic powers. A secret military experiment triggered Tetsuo's transformation, and the fate of the entire city hangs in the balance.
What does the ending of Akira actually mean?
The ending sees Tetsuo's body consumed by an uncontrollable psychic explosion before Akira's dormant energy intervenes, pulling him into a new dimension. It's widely interpreted as a metaphor for nuclear annihilation and rebirth — echoing Japan's post-Hiroshima trauma — with the final light suggesting a new universe beginning.
Where can you stream Akira right now?
You can stream Akira on Crunchyroll or through the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel with a subscription. If you'd rather own it, it's available to buy or rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.
Is Akira based on a manga?
Yes — Akira is adapted from Katsuhiro Otomo's own landmark manga series, which ran from 1982 to 1990. The film was actually produced while the manga was still being published, so it condenses and reimagines much of the source material, giving the story a different but equally powerful conclusion.
Who are the main voice actors in Akira?
The film features Mitsuo Iwata as the fearless biker Shotaro Kaneda and Nozomu Sasaki as the tormented Tetsuo Shima. Mami Koyama voices Kei, while Taro Ishida plays the conflicted Colonel Shikishima. All performances were recorded before animation — a rare and ambitious production choice.
Why is Akira rated R?
Akira carries an R rating for its intense and graphic content — including brutal violence, disturbing body-horror sequences, and dark themes around government experimentation and societal collapse. It's a film that earns its rating, and definitely not one for younger audiences despite being animated.
Did Akira influence Western film and pop culture?
Akira's influence on Western cinema and culture is enormous. Directors like the Wachowskis, James Cameron, and Darren Aronofsky have cited it as a key inspiration. Its visual language shaped The Matrix, Chronicle, and countless music videos. It's widely credited with bringing anime to mainstream Western audiences in the late 1980s and 1990s.
How was Akira made, and what made it groundbreaking?
Akira was produced with a then-unprecedented budget of around $5.7 million and used approximately 160,000 animation cels — far more than any anime before it. Katsuhiro Otomo insisted on recording dialogue before animation, allowing lip-sync precision. Composer Shoji Yamashiro's score blended traditional Japanese music with electronic textures, creating an iconic soundscape.
More About Akira
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