Akira! Leave me alone! Ahh!

This review was first published at HiLite News on Dec. 22, 2021.

Many consider “Akira” the birth of the Japanese cyberpunk subgenre. “Akira” inspired a wave of Japanese cyberpunk works, including “Ghost in the Shell,” “Battle Angel Alita” and “Cowboy Bebop.” However, “Akira” didn’t just revolutionize the Japanese film industry. “Akira” has also been cited as a major influence on western films like “The Matrix,” “Inception,” and “Star Wars.”

Set in 2019, “Akira” follows a teenage boy, Tetsuo, as he discovers latent psychic abilities, eventually threatening an entire military complex and the city of Neo-Tokyo. Like many cyberpunk films, the plot includes a corrupt government, heroic teenagers, a burgeoning romance, and a mysterious hope. But perhaps the most interesting parts of the film are its ability to defy traditional tropes while creating an entire genre, and its terrifying predictions for our future.

“Akira” starts with very predictable characters—which makes sense, it is the original cyberpunk film. Tetsuo begins as the hot-headed protagonist, desperate to prove himself. Kaneda, Tetsuo’s best friend and almost brother, is the cool one, getting into trouble to protect his friends. The film follows their story while providing insight into the political atmosphere of Neo-Tokyo. But as the film progresses, the story becomes less traditional. Tetsuo is consumed by his desire to be better than Kaneda and turns against everyone, killing indiscriminately while showing off his new power. Kaneda becomes the protagonist, Tetsuo’s rival, and the pinnacle of anarchist justice. 

The two main characters aren’t the only ones that defy common tropes. At the beginning of the film, we see Takashi and an anti-government activist running away from the army. Takashi is caught by his friend and fellow psychic, Masaru. This paints the picture of the terrifying government conducting experiments on children—which to a certain extent is true. But the film stops following that trend. Kiyoko, Masaru, and Takashi help Colonel Shikishima, the paragon of the military and authoritarianism, and at the end of the film, save him. While the government’s forces are not painted as the good guys, the film allows its main characters to be humans, not merely tropes.

“Akira” is mainly science fiction, but like any good cyberpunk story, it has a deeply political plot. Neo-Tokyo is an incredibly advanced and technological city that’s filled with crime and decadence. Introduced early on in the film, we see that the peace in Neo-Tokyo is being disturbed by riots and an increasing military presence. The city is controlled by a circle of old politicians all looking to deny responsibility for their actions. Anti-establishment groups fight against imperialism while cultists claim Akira is coming to cleanse the world of its sins. There are student protest movements, biker gangs, “new religions” and police brutality. While the film is best understood in the context of Japanese politics, it critiques any political system where people attempt to maintain the flawed status quo.

Of course, one doesn’t have to be digging for underlying analysis to enjoy the film. There are many other great things about “Akira.” One of my favorite parts is the fact that the character the film is named after, Akira, is almost always present but never actually seen. The people of Neo-Tokyo idolize him, the government fears him, and Tetsuo wants to find him. Despite the fact that Akira is mentioned over a dozen times in a single scene, we still don’t know who Akira is or what happened to him. Akira’s grand reveal at the 2020 Olympic Stadium actually terrified me the first time I watched the film. Another aspect deserving of praise is the animation itself. The colors, movement, special effects, and transitions are far ahead of their time. Neo-Tokyo is beautifully animated and feels alive.

Even if deep political and literary analysis isn’t your thing, “Akira” is still worth a watch. The film is fast-paced and exciting with an incredibly haunting soundtrack. The only thing I have to say is to watch the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.