From a fat, white, computer geek w/ glasses...

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2005)

This film is simply amazing! Takes place in the near future after the end of WWIII. It was supposed to be caused by a nuclear bombing on Tokyo. It was actually caused by a boy named Akira. His powers were woken suddenly and unexpectedly. The scientists, quick to take action, stepped in and abducted him. They pushed his mental powers to the limit and he lost control.Tokyo was destroyed in the resulting psionic explosion. Several years later another gifted child has escaped from the same institution and is involved in a motorcycle crash with a 16 year old kid name Tetsuo. When the military takes the kid away Tetsuo is taken with him. His childhood friend Kaneda watches as he is abducted. This leads to that and Kaneda is breaking into the facility where Tetsuo is being kept. Tetsuo wakes up in a hospital room and escapes the facility. He is constantly being contacted by Akira and goes to find him, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Tetsuo is lashing out at the world that oppressed him. Kaneda follows him trying to end the destruction and death. Tetsuo finds Akira... what's left of Akira and goes insane. Kaneda trys to kill him and Tetsuo loses control of his powers. Like the Akira incident a psionic explosion happens and the universe is reborn again. This is presented in stunningly detailed and extremely smooth cel animation. It remains a pinnacle achievement in animation technology. This is not for children. It is extremely violent and deranged. If you are not into anime you will be after watching this. If you haven't seen it already kill someone if you have to do so. Highly recommended. :)