Anime Shell XG // Anime // Infomation // Akira ->


The definitive classic of Japanese animation, and a cyberpunk classic on top of that. The plot is weird and very confusing (even by anime standards), and it doesn't help any that Akira is based on a long series of comics. If you're a fan of the comics (which have been translated into English), this will probably make a lot more sense than to people coming in cold, but the plot is self-contained enough that even viewers without any background should be able to follow it if they really try. However, where Akira really stands out is the animation. Visually speaking, it simply doesn't get any better than this. Akira is a (if not The) masterpiece of animation. The art is consistent and very slick, the backgrounds are extremely detailed, and the animation itself is of near-Disney quality. That's not to say this is anything like a Disney movie; Akira is extremely violent, and maintains a dark cyberpunk feel that eventually crescendos into a nightmarish scene of power run amok, but the visuals in Akira are so good that, even if you hate the plot, you'll probably have trouble taking your eyes off the screen (or you should, if you're a fan of any kind of animation). Also worth a note is the music, which is very unusual, and quite good; a mix of gutteral vocalizing, Bhuddist chanting, and Noh drama, as well as some modern themes, you're unlikely to hear anything like it elsewhere. One minor complaint, though--the character designs are done by Otomo, and although they are true to the comic, everybody looks the same, regardless of sex (that's a bit of an exaggeration, but only a bit).

In all, the plot is interesting, if weird, only partially explained, rather confusing, and not for everyone, but the animation is second to none--I'm not exaggerating when I say it defines the scale on which all other anime is measured. Akira is such a classic, and the animation is so good, that any anime fan should at least see Akira once, and many will want to watch it a lot more than that.

Very graphic violence; suitable for older teens.


Violence:
4--Plenty of blood and guts, along with a brief attempted rape.

Nudity:
2--One brief scene.

Sex:
1--A bit of making out.

Language:
2--Occasional strong language.