Akira (Signature Series)

The movie is hard to describe. Apart from the mixing surface plots involving the biker gangs and "blue kids," there's plenty of material to play with for the philosophically inclined. Themes like existance and the nature of humanity show up beneath the main storyline.

I gave the movie 4 stars because I feel it deserves it from a story and intellectual stand point. The animation, although plain by current standards, is smooth and detailed. The storyline can be confusing and most people I know needed to watch it through a couple times but for me the big shortcoming of this edition was the new dialogue. I felt that the original recording was sharper and fit the movie better. It feels like they dumbed it down for the new one.


Old but a great intro to Anime   September 8, 2005
 4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Well for starters, I have to explain this, Akira was originally released in 1985 and you can really see the dating in the movie. However, this doesn't stop this cult classic from being the amazing anime that it is. For anyone who is into anime, the name Akira should stand clearly in their heads, as it was the first true anime to explode into western civilization. The movie starts off with an introduction to the characters, Kaneda, Tetsuo and the rest of their gang who fall into a fight with the Clown gang, a rival motorcycle gang. The introduction jumps back and forth between the gang war and a man trying to save what looks like a young boy with blue skin. Then the two connect and the story really gets good. Tetsuo has an accident while trying to avoid hitting this blue kid and is taken away by the military for observation. The story revolves around an almost apocalyptic event caused by a child named Akira, after his accident Tetsuo has an incredulous transformation into Akira and becomes hell bent on making Akira a part of him. To say anymore would tell the story of the movie and I couldn't ruin it for anyone who really wants to watch it, however I can say this, for anyone who thinks that they would like to get into anime features, this movie is a gateway to the anime world.
If you like the style and flow of this movie make sure to check out also, Ninja Scroll, Princess Mononoke, and Ghost in the Shell. There are of course several other animes to watch after this but, as said before, Akira is the door to the anime realm.


Old doesn't make it a classic   August 5, 2005
 0 out of 36 found this review helpful

It just makes it old, and retarded looking. Ok when I first got into Neon Genesis Evangelion half a year ago, I wanted to buy the best anime on par with Neon genesis and I heard this was an classic movie and was great. So I bought it and watched it and I was embarassed. The age of the movie shows so bad in this one. Like Nausicaa and the valley of the wind was a 1980s movie, but it took place in a fantasy world so It didn't look old. but this movie takes place in the city so it looks too crappy. Let me explain what I mean. Ok those little kids with the blue skin look like something from a 1980 animated show like thundercats or something. It's not the anime I know and love. just look at the anime in Neon Genesis or Elfen Lied. It's bright and the girls are hot and it just looks plain cool! but this animation looks retarded in my oppinion. like come on the girl in this movie, Kai, looks like a guy. There is just something I can't stand. like how the main character has a big picture of a capsule on the back of his jacket. like why would you wear something like that?? Is he like 3 years old?? Stuff like that just bugs me to no end. like Tetsuo looked AWESOME with his red cape on and his metal arm, fighting the army. but that was the only thing I liked in the movie. The story also, is very confusing. Neon Genesis is just as confusing but NOT this bad! I am so lost at the end of this movie! I don't even know why this movie is called anime, it doesn't look like anime. It looks like crappy 1980 american crap animation. Go watch Neon Genesis or Excel Saga or Ghost in the shell or Elfen Lied to see what anime (adult animation) should look like. Not this kiddy looking animation. I bought this movie, like I said, and I actually threw it in my garbage. Maybe someone who likes bad movies will find it at the dump and love it.


Great film   July 8, 2004
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is one of the best anime films i've ever seen. The animation is good. Even in the original film the animation is great for a 1988 movie. It is violent and has plenty of language. The dubbing was horrible, not the voice acting but how the characters mouths moved with the words (for those of you who really care about that sort of thing.) I actually liked the voices. If you've ever seen the series Trigun or Dual Parallel - Trouble - Adventure you will probably recognize the voice talents of Johnny Yong Bosch (sp?) who was Vash in Trigun and the dude who played Kasuke in Dual. The story is also pretty cool. The only really downside to the movie (for some people only) is that the movie seems to go on for a really long time. I kept thinking it was about to end and then something else would begin and that got kinda annoying. Overall I really enjoyed this movie and would definately reccomend it especially for fans of the Armitage movies.