Outstanding science-fiction

Rating: 10/10 (26 November 2000)

This was the first Anime film I had ever seen, and as such, I was tempted to give it full marks for the animation quality alone. However, I realised that this would be akin to giving Star Wars Episode 1, a lifeless film, a good grade for its special effects. That aside, once the initial wonderment at the detail and quality of the drawing wore off, I was confronted with an incredibly engaging look at a crumbling violent society, with no human rights and irresponsible scientific manipulations employed by the government to keep the people in check.
The plot encircles a teenage gang of bikies, led by Kaneda, who find themselves embroiled in a revolutionary movement. One of them, Tetsuo, is injured and treated at a secret facility where scientists attempt to augment his powers in a effort to create another Akira, a being who transcended into pure energy 30 years before.
The depth of characterisation in this film is also noteworthy: Kaneda and Tetsuo share a complex past and develop unto themselves realistically throughout the movie. The only fault I could find was that the plot was unnecessarily complex and bewildering, especially the end where it became a little wayward. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, a must for any adult, anime fan or not.