One of the greatest achievements in anime.

Rating: 9/10 (4 August 2001)

I have been interested in Japanese animation since I was a small child. Shows like Thundercats and Gundam introduced me to anime (Japanese animation). However, as I grew older I began to slowly become less interested in anime of that kind. One day I was going through my old toy collection when I found one of my Gundam action figures and I remembered how much I liked those shows. At that point, I became more and more interested in trying to find an anime film that is made for a more mature audience. I went out to look for that kind of movie one night and found Akira. At first I had little interest because of the cover (Kaneda walking up to his motorcycle). There weren't many other options, however, so I decided to go for it. That night I once again became hooked on anime. The animation of Akira is simply breathtaking, and the plot is so involving; many adults will have to think about the ending for a few hours to clear everything up. I will not hesitate to say that some people will be turned off by the intense violence of Akira, and many will be disturbed by the powerful story about two friends being torn apart by a force that no one can control. You absolutely must have an imagination while you are watching this film. Anyone who approaches Akira without an open mind will be disappointed and confused. This film was the beginning of an incredible genre including great movies like "Ghost in the Shell", "Ninja Scroll", "Perfect Blue", and "Princess Mononoke". Akira is the masterpiece that introduced the world to anime, and with its stunning visuals and complex plot many fans will agree when I say that Akira is one of the greatest achievements in anime.