An Anime So Good, Even Anime Haters Will Love It

Rating: 9/10 (16 January 2018)

I recently saw Akira for the first time, and I'm not a big fan of anime, but I must say this film blew me away. Set in Neo-Tokyo, a city built on an artificial island after a devastating nuclear war destroys not only Tokyo, but the rest of the world. A member of a motorcycle gang named Tetsuo has a chance encounter with a strange boy which unlocks secret telekinetic abilities within him. Tetsuo cannot control these abilities as they take him over in a ferocious rampage to find this enigmatic character known as Akria. Now, his friends, a group of psychics, and the Neo-Tokyo military attempt to stop him before its too late.
Akira's art style is unlike anything of the genre, its colors and design is something you would see in a fever dream. The direction is excellent and the world is perfectly created to make a unique and amazing universe that quite obviously inspired many future films. The story is very complicated, the beginning goes by very fast, but it doesn't take away from the film, in fact, it demands a second viewing from you the moment ends. US companies spent over 1 million dollars to restore the visuals as well as adding an entire new soundtrack/sound FX, which was definitely worth every penny, as the film is spectacular to the senses.
Over all, its a superb film that requires multiple viewings. Highly recommended.