Signature animé

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2001)

With its lightning pace, smooth animation, and character insight, I found Akira thoroughly engrossing. It tells us about the corrupting influence of power, and what happens when science takes that very power too far (reminiscent of The Terminator). Although "Akira" is largely remembered for its generous amounts of gore, it is not mindlessly Hollywood-style - it seems to be there for a reason.
However, one may find the plot a little confusing at times, especially the ending. This is probably from the fact that Katsuhiro Ôtomo faced the challenge of condensing a 38-volume manga into a 2-hour film. As others have mentioned, you may have to see it more than once to fully appreciate the plot.
Barring that, Akira is right up there in its genre. Keep in mind the holocaust in the intro is not a nuclear weapon - I'll leave you to figure it out.