This film should be taken more seriously

Rating: 10/10 (16 March 2000)

Too often, Akira is thought of as the typical anime. It's thought to be action, gore, and nudity packed. I think far too few viewers see the enormous amount of detail the writers put into their characters. These characters are very well developed. I think the conflict between Tetsuo and Kaneda is a very compelling one. How many of us can sympathize with Tetsuo? I'm sure nearly all of us can. He lives his life as a cronie, a short and insubstantial punk whose friends treat him like a joke. Then he gets these super powers, and like so many, he lets his power control him.

Kaneda begins the film as just a punk, but as the film progresses, he realizes that only he has the power to help. He thinks, and I can see him think in the film. It's all very well done.
I also love the three children with super powers (I don't recall their names). Their situation, along with Akira's, is very tragic and quite affecting. The most impressive scene in the film, where these three accost Tetsuo as giant toys, is among the best scenes in film.

The only problem with this film is that it can be overly complicated at times. It took two viewings to understand Tetsuo's past (and I'm still not entirely sure that I got everything). anyhow, 9/10, a near masterpiece. Much better than the derivative American film The Matrix, of which Akira was a precursor (and the filmmakers have admitted to having seen and loved it).