Mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping and powerful- A landmark film in animation

Rating: 10/10 (21 May 2016)

Considered a landmark in Japanese animation and seen as the film that launched anime in the US and later worldwide. Akira is without a doubt one of the greatest animation films ever made. Known for it's extreme, brutal violence and intense action, Akira is set in the aftermath of World War III in which a psychic explosion destroys Tokyo, (All shown in a brief, but memorable opening scene). Years later, Neo-Tokyo, a dystopian metropolis gripped by terrorism and gang violence rises from the ruins of old Japan, among these ruins lies the buried secret of Akira, a mysterious and unimaginable power. We are then introduced to the characters of Kaneda and Tetsuo, who while fighting a rival gang get caught up in a military experiment. Due to it's release in 1988, the animation was produced using the older, darker and grittier style of Japanese anime which works well for the tone and atmosphere of Neo-Tokyo. The soundtrack also fits the mood perfectly with a mix of ancient and contemporary music, also notably at times very sombre and depressing, again working well with it's visuals. However, what makes Akira stand out the most is its complex story-telling, mind- blowing imagery and artistically created and iconic blend of cel and computer animation. The only single minuscule flaw with Akira is that watching from a 2016 point-of-view where animation has evolved massively since '88, the film can look slightly dated. However, this did not in the slightest deter me from this masterpiece of a film and with a highly emotional and powerful final act, Akira ranks as one of my favourite movies ever. Mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, and features some of the most adrenaline-pumping scenes in history. Every scene feels relevant, interesting and keeps driving the plot, the characters are well-developed, relatable, hence as an audience we connect well with them, their motivations and their actions, therefore Akira rightfully earns it's place in film history as one of Japan's animation masterpieces and 100% fully deserves a 10/10.