From: CONCEPCION%BABSON.BITNET@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime
Subject: Re: Akira synopsis/info wanted
Date: 15 Nov 92 18:56:00 GMT
To: ANIME-L@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU
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        OK, if anyone has not taken the liberty of informing those who need
help with Akira, I shall do so.  The Criterion Collection Akira LD has an
analog track of the original Japanese, the digital soundtrack is the English
dub.  Animag and Protoculture Addicts wrote articles on this movie a while back
and they explain quite a bit.

Who are these kids?

The children are government experiments into the realm of psionics, the process
inhibits physical growth which is an explanation for the wizened toddler faces.
The process does not induce advanced aging since Akira would have undergone the
same changes.  Anyway, the government reinitiates this project for use as a
secret weapon/bargaining chip or whatever.

Who are those resistance people?
        The resistance people who steal kids from the hospital are actually
agents of Nezu, the midget politico who looks like he was crossbred with Bugs
Bunny.  Nezu seeks to gain power in the Council through the downfall of the
Colonel, this is achieved by sabotaging the psychic project and thus shaming the
Colonel.  The resistance people have been duped into believing they are working
to free the people of Tokyo from government oppression. This explains Ryu's
grief when he sees that all his efforts have led to the chaos and anarchy later
in the film.

What's with Tetsuo?

        Tetsuo, having no prior relations with the government project, is
treated at the hospital where his latent powers are discovered.  The match with
Akira is seen and the decision has been made to make Tetsuo another Akira, the
Colonel is apprehensive asking if they control it this time.  The treatment
slowly drives Tetsuo insane.  Thrilled at the acquisition of power, Tetsuo
soon learns that there is another with equal power.  He leaves to search for
Akira with much chaos following in his wake.

Who are those monk dudes that make cameo appearances?

        In the comic books, they play a VERY big role.  It appears that the
rumours leaking from the government project and the obsession with the Akira
explosion in 1988 has created a cult following this man-god called Akira, who
will bring about the new stage of evolution, the psionic Homo Sapiens.  In the
comic, the old lady is actually an escapee from the project and seeks to rescue
her fellow psychics and peacefully cultivate the powers of other latents like
Kay and Tetsuo.

What happens in the end?

        Unable to fully control his power, the kids decide that it is better to
send Tetsuo into another universe.  This is where Akira went.  The actual
nuclear hemisphere thing is a dimensional gateway into this recipient universe.
The creation of such gates is Akira's ultimate power.  Tetsuo is sucked in as
are the children, though such an action is made by their own choice.  The DNA
like rings symoblize the new birth of this universe and its evolution from the
previous.  The psychics form a group consciousness within this space which is
why Kaneda can share in all their memories.  When Kaneda is pulled back through
Kay, a small pinpoint of light falls into his hand.  This is the remains of the
dimensional gateway as it closes.  The entrance of ocean is the result of the
vacuum created by the gateway as it absorbs material.  The rushing winds create
a series of typhoon force winds that suck water into the city.  It can also be
interpreted as a cleansing force, a rebirth to start again.

        This is my interpretation with a lot of help from the PA and Animag
articles.  I showed this film at school and had to answer the very same
questions when I finished.  It was very popular and is the ideal thing to get
non-otaku into this hobby.  Everybody gets sucked in by the opening sequence.
Hope it helps, and sorry to waste bandwidth for those of you guys who consider
this article as old news.  Maybe synopses of things like this should be
included in the FAQ file, if such has not occurred already.
                                                        Chris Concepcion
                                                Concepcion@Babson.Bitnet
                                                         Prodigy:NKCR72D
                                             A rider on the digital wind

The Face: "What do you fear most for the future?"
Colin Angus: "The thing I most welcome - the apocalypse."

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