Akira

Name: Akira
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: December 25, 1989
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Hiroshi Ôtake, Kôichi Kitamura, Mami Koyama, Masaaki Ôkura, Michihiro Ikemizu

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 142 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 142 Ratings

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Akira

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Movie Details & Credits

Toho Company | Release Date: December 25, 1989 | R

Starring: Hiroshi Ôtake, Kôichi Kitamura, Mami Koyama, Masaaki Ôkura, Michihiro Ikemizu, Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Tarô Arakawa, Tesshô Genda, Yuriko Fuchizaki

Summary: Based on Katsuhiro Otomo's 2,000 page manga, Akira begins on July 16, 1988, when what was believed to be an atomic bomb was dropped on Tokyo, completely destroying the city and marking the beginning of WWIII.

Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Animation

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

New Times (L.A.) Luke Y. Thompson

One of the few unanimously acclaimed classics of Japanese animation. Read full review

100

Richard Whittaker

Adapted by Katsuhiro Otomo from his sprawling, post-apocalyptic cyberpunk tale of government conspiracies, street gangs, and psychic powers that can save or destroy the world, it's still an all-time classic, and has never looked better. Read full review

Russell Stamets

Otomo's masterwork uses its brilliantly detailed images to illustrate an epic commentary on the choices that face society and the possibilities for destruction in the near future. [15 Jun 1990, p.7]

David Jenkins

It’s a towering achievement of imagination and the detail of each frame is a miracle of film artistry. Read full review

Michael Upchurch

Akira offers moments as eerily powerful as anything I've seen in animation. (Highlights include the kiddies bringing toy animals to sinister marauding life, and Tetsuo's nightmares of disintegration.) Unfortunately, those moments are badly undermined by a weak script, a facile scenario and some wretchedly screechy voice-acting. [11 Jan 1990, p.G4]

Ted Mahar

All this pain and growth occurs in a story whose plot elements turn over so rapidly that it's hard to track them. One furiously violent episode follows another, each seeming to step on the heels of the one ahead. [29 Dec 1989, p.F09]

Charles Solomon

Akira is a jumble of high-tech visuals that will appeal only to hard-core Japanese animation fans. Viewers in search of a coherent narrative or polished animation should look elsewhere. [14 Mar 1990, p.F3]

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User Reviews

Juno_Gin

Mar 23, 2023

The meta score for this movie is insanely low. Should be around a 90 instead of being a 67.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

talisencrw

Jan 20, 2014

Outstanding film. The best anime, still, that I have ever seen. Had the good fortune of seeing it on the big screen, back in the day, upon its theatrical release.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SeanS.

Aug 24, 2006

Though it may not have the saame scope as the manga, the film AKIRA is still head and shoulders above any other animated film ever. Using some 160,000 animation cels, AKIRA is brought to life by highly detailed, fluid animation. This backed by a phenomenal plotline with nearly a dozen Though it may not have the saame scope as the manga, the film AKIRA is still head and shoulders above any other animated film ever. Using some 160,000 animation cels, AKIRA is brought to life by highly detailed, fluid animation. This backed by a phenomenal plotline with nearly a dozen themes ranging from juvenile deliquence to the birth of the universe, AKIRA is not a film you will soon forget. Many aspects of the film, such as the outraged youth, which may be commonplace in modern film, were prototyped in AKIRA. No AKIRA, no Matrix, it's that important. AKIRA is one of the few animes that will appeal to non-anime fans, even anime haters because of it's exceptional quality. Even despite it's age, it still is one of the best looking animated films ever, and the story is easier to understand thanks to the new 2001 dub. Regardless of your personal taste, AKIRA is a film nobody should miss, it's that good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

siggi104

Jul 8, 2022

Masterpiece! Should have been at least 20min longer. That's how well built out the setting is.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Roachramirez

May 12, 2014

Muy buena animacion , gran actitud del personaje. con tiene de todo para si no eres fan de las animaciones te lleve a una forma de disfrutrar este genero ,

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alejandro970

Apr 24, 2022

In 1988 there were three Japanese animated films that left a permanent mark on the genre: Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbor Totoro and Akira, inspired by the homonymous manga. The graphics and the story that applies to the cyberpunk current of science fiction never cease to be impressive,In 1988 there were three Japanese animated films that left a permanent mark on the genre: Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbor Totoro and Akira, inspired by the homonymous manga. The graphics and the story that applies to the cyberpunk current of science fiction never cease to be impressive, especially because of the hospital sequence. On warning: it is not for children. An ideal complement would be a Black Sabbath OST.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an animated action sci-fi film. It may be an animated film but its definitely not for younger viewers, due to the violence and strong language present. I liked the sudden flashbacks which took me by surprise and the way they were animated made it quite engrossing for me. There are a variety of characters, mostly rebellious adolescents and I think it'd be fairly difficult to not feel the confusion and anger they feel. Themes present include youth gangs, greed, nuclear science, political corruption and supernatural abilities.

The animation is 2D and fairly basic in style, although during some of the more bloody scenes you may be glad of this. It is an example of manga animation, given that its tone is somewhat dark and it is, more obviously, a Japanese animated film.

I thought it isn't, to me anyway, as visually pleasing to watch as some other styles of animation - I suppose it looked perhaps a little bland but then again this is very much a gritty film and not a Disney type family watch. I thought it seemed quite gritty and urban, unsurprisingly given the plot. To me it seemed pretty realistic, in terms of the depiction of a slightly run down city, with disaffected youth among it. Plot pace wise, at first I thought it was really quite fast paced but the main storyline did take a while to come to fruition, it could be said. I didn't think it was either overly bland or boring at any particular time though, so it could definitely be worse. There's something spooky and unsettling about the way certain plot developments are shown visually, via the more bland, dated animation style present. Perhaps rather than using the term bland to describe the animation style visually, but instead perhaps bare would be more appropriate. Its no especially bad thing overall I think.

The music present is quite spooky in tone and adds to the general feeling of mystery and alienation which is present. There isn't really any obvious chart based music (not with vocals anyway) played during the film, just the ocassional piece of eastern sounding instrumentals and the like.

Some aspects of the plot I felt were a bit too far fetched and I struggled to entirely follow all the intricacies, although I mostly enjoyed watching it regardless. Its a relatively easy watch overall.

Cast wise, of course its all voice performances, with it being an animated film. Voices are provied by Mitsuo Iwata as Kaneda, Nozomu Sasaki as Tetsuo and Mami Koyama as Kei, plus Takeshi Kusao as Kai. I did like that the voices sounded particularly honest and realistic to me.

Content wise, as mentioned earlier the film contains some strong language and violence, including relatively bloody violence (although it is an animated film, it does show various facial and other body injuries in some amount of detail and may seem gory and upsetting/frightening to younger viewers). The film also contains some mild sex references and very brief partial nudity, plus the flashback scenes could also be frightening to younger viewers, that and certainly the climax to the finale of the film, which contains some gross out visuals (think large masses of skin spouting out here, there and everywhere). The film is rated 15 due to this content.

I felt this film did relatively well at creating a spooky, gritty and mysterious feel for the most part and it features some good characterisations. It won't appeal to all and it isn't the best ever example of animation I suppose but for what it is, I felt it was a relatively decent film, although it isn't one that I can imagine myself wanting to watch again. I also felt that, at the end, there had been unanswered questions, which frustrated me a bit.

To summarise, for me, it was ok - good in some respects, ok in others and not so good in a few but thats about it. I suppose I probably would recommend it, if you were looking for a good, gritty animated film for teenagers. It features relatively decent characterisation, an interesting, if not a bit far fetched and partially (in my humble opinion) barmy plot and a decent use of music/sound. However, it didn't seem to be a particularly memorable film, its a bit dark and depressing and some of the plot aspects seemed a bit far fetched, so for me I'd say its pretty middle of the road, although others may enjoy it more. If this really appeals to you, then its probably worth seeing but if your not sure then it may be better to look elsewhere.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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