is that what you call evolution?

Rating: Null/10 (8 August 2001)

Science fiction is a very diverse genre, and tackles many subjects and takes different views on hellish futures and future revolutions. Akira takes science fiction to a whole new level. Like most Japanese animated films Akira is equipped with a very complex plot that deals with everything from human relationships to human mind experimentation. The film begins after the third world war in a corrupted and polluted Neo Tokyo. The streets Neo Tokyo are in the midst of a revolution against a repressive government and the streets are over run by bike gangs and rebels. This is where the story begins but where it ends you may never guess. The themes that are left with the viewer are very immense they contain, friendship, political corruption, psychic power, evolution and the loss of childhood. The story is very complex and requires a lot of concentration so make it a pass for family viewing. The animation is fantastic but still it looks very dated compared with the likes of Ghost in the Shell and even the Legend Of the Overfiend. You can tell the animators really went wild on the budget strait away with the first bike chase. It is obvious when Akira is compared to other lesser funded apocalyptical animated films like Demon City how much money was really spent on the animation. If you keep in mind the original prints were made in 1988 the animation will not fail to impress even the most critical of viewers. As the story spirals out of control the animation complements the madness, not to mention the almost horror sound track.
Japanese animated films are mostly cursed with a cheesy sound track and if I could I would re-write most of them for example The Legend of the Over fiend. Akira is where I would draw the line when music is used it creates the perfect atmosphere for the artwork, animation and builds up tension perfectly. There you have it Akira is for all animation / Sci-Fi fans and people with brains in general