AKIRA Review | Why This 1988 "Monster" Still Overwhelms the World Today

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"Call me Mister Kaneda, you little punk!"

Even if you've never heard that line, you've probably seen the image — that iconic red motorcycle streaking through the night. Released in 1988, AKIRA is the landmark film that introduced Japanese anime to the world and essentially defined the cyberpunk genre itself.

A budget of 1.1 billion yen. 150,000 hand-drawn cels. A staff of 1,300 people. Created with obsessive dedication in an era before CG, this film is still called "the pinnacle of animated expression" over 35 years after its release. However, behind that overwhelming visual beauty lurks a critical weakness: the "lack of explanation" that comes from compressing the original manga into just two hours. In this article, I'll honestly discuss both the appeal and the limitations of this monstrous work from Japan that left an indelible mark on anime history.

🎬 Trailer

📖 Story

July 1988. A mysterious explosion devastates Tokyo's Kanto region, triggering World War III. Thirty-one years later, in 2019, "Neo-Tokyo" has risen from the ashes. With the Olympics approaching, the city still seethes with anti-government protests clashing with police — a society in decay beneath its gleaming surface.

In this world, Kaneda leads his motorcycle gang through the neon-lit streets. One night, his friend Tetsuo collides with a mysterious child who has the face of an old man. Tetsuo is taken by the military, where he awakens to psychic powers connected to something called "Akira". As Tetsuo's uncontrollable abilities spiral into destruction, Kaneda tries to stop him. The fate of Neo-Tokyo hangs on the collision between these two young men.

✨ What Makes AKIRA Captivating

150,000 Hand-Drawn Cels Creating a "Living Painting"

The visual quality of this film, even viewed 35+ years later, still deserves to be called "the pinnacle of animated expression". In the opening motorcycle chase, tail lights streak trails of light as they slice through Neo-Tokyo's night. During psychic sequences, invisible forces shatter glass, dent walls, and send debris flying.

What's remarkable is that every piece of debris floating at the edge of the frame was intentionally drawn. In live-action films, things "accidentally appear" in shots. Animation has no such luxury. Every line composing this dense imagery was calculated and drawn by someone. Achieving this level of obsessive detail with the production technology of 1988 can only be called miraculous — a testament to the dedication of Japanese animation craftsmen.

Kaneda's Unique Charisma — A Hero Without Powers

The film is titled AKIRA, but the protagonist is a delinquent teenager named Kaneda. He has no psychic abilities, no special lineage — just a guy on a motorcycle. Yet having this "ordinary human" at the story's center is precisely what makes the film unique.

Kaneda possesses overwhelming charisma and an fierce sense of loyalty. He'll stand against the military and psychics alike for his friends. Because he lacks powers, his actions carry human heat. As Tetsuo gains godlike abilities and spirals out of control, Kaneda is the only one who tries to face him "as a human being". This contrast lends the story profound human drama.

A Rare Film That Overwhelms Even When You Don't Understand It

Let's be honest: the story is complex. "What exactly is Akira?" "Why was Tetsuo chosen?" "What happens at the end?" — many viewers reach the credits without clear answers to these questions.

And yet, the unmistakable sense of having witnessed something extraordinary remains. This is the terrifying power of AKIRA. You may not understand who's fighting whom or why, but the visuals and momentum drag you along until the very end. Art that transcends explanation. Perhaps that's the true essence of this work from Japan.

🎭 Memorable Scenes

"Call me Mister Kaneda, you little punk!"

One of the most famous lines in anime history. Kaneda's defiance and his complicated feelings toward Tetsuo are condensed into this single moment. When this line is delivered, the friendship and tension between them — and their ultimate rupture — is thrust before the audience.

The opening motorcycle chase, the legendary "Akira Slide", must also be mentioned. The shot of Kaneda's bike sliding sideways to a stop has been homaged by animators worldwide for decades. When Spielberg featured Kaneda's motorcycle in Ready Player One, it was a direct tribute to this film's influence.

And at the finale, Kei's whispered words: "It's already begun." Destruction and rebirth, ending and beginning. Accompanied by imagery suggesting cosmic genesis, these words leave an ambiguous resonance — neither quite hope nor despair — as the story closes.

💭 Feelings After Viewing

After watching, your mind may be full of questions. But simultaneously, an overwhelming sense of "I just witnessed something incredible" remains. Understanding and being moved don't always correlate. AKIRA is that rare work proving this truth.

There's something melancholic in watching Kaneda confront Tetsuo's rampage and destruction. Tetsuo, unsatisfied even with his newfound power. Kaneda, trying to save his friend without any powers at all. This contrast reflects both the weakness and strength of humanity.

🤔 Points of Concern

The Cost of Compressing 6 Volumes into 2 Hours

The film's biggest weakness is the lack of explanation that comes from cramming the entire 6-volume manga into 124 minutes. "What exactly is Akira?" "Why did Tetsuo awaken?" "What does the ending mean?" — the film offers no clear answers to these questions.

Information that manga readers can fill in is simply missing for film-only viewers. First-time audiences feeling "I don't understand what's happening" is entirely natural.

The Second Half Becomes Extremely Abstract

Especially from the latter half to the climax, the narrative rapidly becomes more abstract. Cosmic genesis, the Big Bang, beings transcending dimensions... Philosophical and religious themes crash over you in waves, and comprehension can't keep pace even as the imagery races forward. Many viewers finish thinking "So... what was that?" — and this structure is why.

The direction that powers through with visual force is impressive, but viewers seeking narrative completeness may be left unsatisfied.

Female Characters Feel Dated

The portrayal of female characters like Kei and Kaori may feel lacking, even accounting for this being an 80s production. Kaori's treatment in particular may cause discomfort for modern viewers.

This reflects tendencies present in the original manga as well — a product of its era. However, it doesn't diminish the work's fundamental value.

🎬 3 Must-Watch Films If You Loved AKIRA

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Director Mamoru Oshii's sequel to Ghost in the Shell. Like AKIRA, it tackles philosophical themes while overwhelming audiences with stunning visuals. A masterpiece from Japan that poses the question "What does it mean to be human?"

Read our Innocence review

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Released in 1995, this film stands alongside AKIRA as a work that introduced "Japanimation" to the world. The Wachowskis famously said they wanted "to do this in live action" when creating The Matrix. Another pinnacle of cyberpunk anime from Japan.

Streaming: Available on various platforms (check JustWatch for current availability)

Blade Runner (1982)

Ridley Scott's foundational cyberpunk film. Born in the same era as AKIRA, the two influenced each other as twin pillars of the genre. The aesthetics of a decaying future city, the question of what it means to be human — part of AKIRA's DNA was undoubtedly inherited from this masterpiece.

Streaming: Max (HBO Max) / Amazon Prime Video (Rent/Buy)

📺 Where to Watch AKIRA

📊 Streaming Service Comparison

Service	Availability	Notes
Crunchyroll	Streaming	Sub & Dub available
Netflix	Streaming	Region-dependent
Amazon (US)	Rent / Buy	4K Blu-ray available
Hulu	Check availability	—

📝 Summary

AKIRA is the foundational work that defined cyberpunk and continues to influence creators worldwide. The visual beauty born from 150,000 hand-drawn cels, Geinoh Yamashirogumi's one-of-a-kind score, and the human drama of Kaneda and Tetsuo's relationship — these elements remain untarnished over 35 years after release.

On the other hand, the story's lack of explanation from compressing the manga into two hours is undeniable. Trying to fully understand the film on its own is difficult; the structure almost assumes you've read the source material. Personally, I wish they had animated the complete manga, even if it meant splitting it into multiple films.

Even so, the rare experience of being overwhelmed even without complete understanding is something only AKIRA can provide. An essential work when discussing the history of Japanese anime. If you haven't seen it yet, confront this "monster" from Japan at least once.

⭐ Title Highlights

Category	Assessment
Visuals/Animation	★★★★★ Still the pinnacle 35+ years later
Music/Sound	★★★★★ Geinoh Yamashirogumi's unique sound
Story	★★☆☆☆ Under-explained and complex
Characters	★★★★☆ Kaneda's charisma is exceptional
Historical Significance	★★★★★ The origin of cyberpunk anime