Anime "Destruction Is Creation" theme done nicely, but with more overarching character relevance then specific dyanmics.

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2020)

Every frame seems to be made to mesmerize the viewer, the climax being a coup of the blending of technology and flesh, reminiscence and destruction, and at the end (in a way), hope through the destruction of the city and rebirth of the new universe (essentially, "destruction is creation").
There is no "invisible threshold" of the destruction Tetsuo permeates from his embroiled surroundings; the environment and his overall character - which is shrouded with delinquency and much that of the entirety of the cast; indicating (and directly referencing) how bad Neo-Toyko is, trapped and isolated from nothing else.
Although it is refreshing and on-edge to have said "invisible threshold" of destruction- it can be overdone at times and exhausting - which might be the point altogether. You can always destroy more and more, yet at the end there is always creation through said destruction ("Destruction is Creation", once again).
The detail in the scenes of the destruction and gore, translates as an amalgamation of chaos - entrapping the viewer, as said before, much like the characters in synchronicity of the world around them, Neo-Tokyo.
Although appreciation of this film is obviously apparent, I wouldn't say everyone would have the same experience (especially with the highly regarded cult-prowess it has), as it's power-dynamics between Tetsuo and Kaneda seem floaty - Tetsuo "always being saved" just seemed like a one-off, overriding problem within another. Which I guess you could adhere to their surroundings, and no support in their lives, but from my personal viewing it didn't seem as strongly attached, more so an overarching feeling shared with all of the characters, it's just more situated within their relationship.
The character intentions of the three other children were hard to understand at times, like why they were using their powers in his hospital room (trying to scare him - but for what? Competition? Trying to see what he could do?).
Also the children (Kiyoko, Specifically) using Kei to appear in person just seemed weird. They sacrifice themselves for a "boy who isn't involved" (Kaneda), but don't show in person to stop the Tetsuo they agitated through their powers in the first place? I guess "thEY'Re chIldrEn", and didn't want to scare him off but he quickly realized it was them. Eh.
I'm most possibly missing out on a lot of source material, regarding that it also just felt like the "Akira" explanation was jammed in there, trying to make sense of it all near the third act.
Although some slight, probably micro-criticisms here and there, "Akira" was and i s highly influential, and generally introduced the popularization of Anime to the Western world. It deals with aggression, destruction, and rebirth through the dysfunction and delinquency of the characters, the chaos of Neo-Tokyo as a whole and the much needed betrayal of civilization (the shared notion of something better).