My all-time favorite anime

Rating: 10/10 (6 April 2002)

"Akira" is one of the most visually potent animated films of all time. Set in a darkly futuristic version of modern-day Tokyo, this tale tells of several people trying to stop mentally unbalanced adolescent from turning the city into rubble by the use of enhanced mental abilities. I have seen this movie twice and I still cannot believe how spooky and disturbing it is. The plot is hard enough to follow that it might require a second viewing. This is a movie to watch if you really to have some fun experiencing the anime genre.
The animation is exceptional considering it came out before the advent of computer-assisted animation. Now, it looks even better since it is digitally remastered. I believe this is the best animated work to have come out of the Land of the Rising Sun. It is quiet possibly the most beautiful classically (aka sans computer assistance) animated film of all time even though it was probably one of the last ones to ever be made in the classic sense.
Overall, Katsuhiro Otomo has created visual and even psychological potpourri that will leave an etch on the psyche of animation for all time despite the country of origin. Animated films that were released after "Akira" and that have yet to be released have looked and will continue to look "Akira" for inspiration because of how groundbreaking it actually was. This movie introduced me to the anime genre but nothing will probably overtake "Akira" as being my all-time favorite anime film. 10 out of 10!