Animated fantasy that offers philosophy, politics and ultra-violence

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2002)

Although I went through a short faze of watching a lot of anime movies in my early teens, very few of them actually have had a lasting effect on me, with the exception of Akira. Akira is a twisted cyber-punk thriller that in terms of visuals defies belief, but in plot defies proper explanation. It's the kind of film in which everyone has a different opinion about the story and of the relationship between Tetsuo and Kanneda and the role that the government play in Tetsuo's downfall. Most people are put off by animation, believing it will either be all out Disney sentimentality, of sex and gore packed Manga, people refuse to understand that animation can be used to tell stories for an adult sensibility. Akira has so much story and so many sub-plots all clambering for attention that multiple viewing are required, and it's definitely worth it just to get the most out of the rich characters and consideration to detail that the animators put into every frame.

There is a strong emotional pull to the characters in this film, a much deeper side to them, deeper than you would find in traditional live action films, in which the characters not only demonstrate the language and fashion of the world they live in, but also help transmit much needed information as part of exposition within dialog. It's important to look carefully at what the characters say, and to make a mental note of it, as it all comes back at the end of the film. The focus of the film, as I pointed out above, id the friendship between Tetsuo and Kanneda, both are the complete opposite side of a connected personality that come into direct conflict at the climax of the film, and each one has qualities that the audience can identify with. For example, Tetsuo being the doormat to Kanneda's fearless leader, knowing that he will never escape from his shadow. We also have the three mysterious children who try to point Tetsuo in the right direction, their faces withered and old. These are characters whose function is clear, but whose past I still don't fully understand.
In the final act the film kicks into another gear, bringing into play ideas of morality and loyalty, and the more political aspects of dehumanisation and military control. It also depicts the kind of body-horror mutation that would make David Cronenberg proud, as Tetsuo's body begins to mutate into something more resembling his state of mind. Again throughout the story we are gripped and the way in which the animation is used, I just can praise highly enough. Ultimately the film says more than we can answer, leaving the audience (well me anyway) scratching our collective heads. But that's not really a problem, and it wasn't the last time I've been left cold by a film I enjoyed. Don't be put off by the fact that this is anime, the deep story and characters make Akira a rewarding experience, and a definite landmark in science fiction cinema. 10/10