An excellent cult-classic anime.

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2007)

Before "Memories" and "Steamboy" there was "Akira".
July 16, 1988, the outbreak of WW3 comes to an end. When Tokyo was wiped out by an enormous nuclear explosion. 31 years later in an alternate 2019, Neo-Tokyo stood where Old-Tokyo once stood from the nuclear blast.
Neo-Tokyo is large, vast, and very high tech compared to the Tokyo we knew well. Over the past couple of decades, the city is over run by gangs and the newer generation. Inlcuding an unbalanced uproar of violence, drugs, crime, and sex. Shotaro Kaneda, leader of his own bike gang is someone to look up to when it comes to fighting off bullies and helping out someone in need. Including his friend Tetsuo, who was never a good fighter and was pushed around a lot as a kid. When in doubt, Shotaro will always be there to stand up for him. Shotaro, Tetsuo their pals were taking care of things perfectly in their neighborhood.
Right until they encounter a mysterious decayed kid who's on the run. This kid has mysterious kinetic powers and is being tracked down by the military. When Tetsuo encounters the kid, he immediately inherits some strange illness which makes him a victim for the military to take and examine. Shotaro tries to get his friend back, but failed. Multiple experiments were performed on Tetsuo as he is now similar to the decayed kid he encountered earlier. The power he has is believed to be similar to Akira's power. And Akira is known for being the most powerful human being with Psychological powers.
Shotaro, some of his friends and a group of protesters seek to help Tetsuo from the clutches of the military. What has become of Tetsuo? Who was that Decade kid? And who is Akira? This movie proves that Otomo was brilliant in the art of animation from the very beginning of his career. This movie broke the limits of an average anime film. And has all the right ingredients for an enjoyable movie. Including Excitement, violence, character development, girls, guns, choppers, technology, explosions, humor, and interesting script.
It's an 80s anime with an 80s looks to it. But the animation is just brilliant for only being 2-D. The characters designs are cool. The locations are very visual. And the plot is well thought up.
I didn't see this movie until after I was familiar with Otomo's other works. In my book, his skills in anime are worthy. And I can see why this movie was so well received during it's original and American release. It's definitely a cult-classic to watch time after time.
Due to it being R rated. It has a lot of violence, including lots of blood, profanity, brief nudity, a few disturbing scenes, and suggestive themes. so viewer digression is advised when watching this movie.
I recommend it to average anime fans, experts, newbies, as well as those who seen Otomo's other works.