Classic

Rating: 9/10 (30 July 2002)

I first saw 'Akira' a little over ten years ago. Like many others, it was my first exposure to Japanese animation (not counting television series like Robotech and Speed Racer). Over the years, my perception of this film has changed. What I once saw as simply a quirky yet elegantly "animated film" is now a classic in the genre of science fiction. The film has aged very well. I sometimes have to remind myself that it is almost 15 years old!

In my opinion this film deserves to be mentioned in the same breath along with other genre masterpieces like '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'Blade Runner,' and 'Brazil.' Definitely not for all tastes, but I urge those looking for something off the beaten path to give it a try.