Epic Win: Akira
Submitted by Karen M
Anime is pretty tricky territory — people either love it or hate it. But if there was ever one film that could convince the nonbelievers, it was 1988’s Akira, well regarded not just within circles of anime fans, but film buffs. Akira was shortlisted on Empire’s 500 Greatest Films of All Time.
Best part of the movie:
Kaneda: TETSSSSUUUUUUOOOOOOO!!!!!
Tetsuo: KKKKAAAANNNNNEEEEEDDDDDAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!111111
Updated: Featured Comment
anoondayoonmoyoose sez:
I had “TETSUO!” scribbled on my doodle infested folder in junior high.
Belching massive amounts of flesh? rock on.
I’m so glad I got to be the first for Akira.
It was mine.
For once, I applaud a firster with some sense of good taste. Live long and prosper
I will live longer and prosper more because all of your jobs for tech support are coming to India with me.
You’re about as Indian as OJ Simpson.
I didn’t know Akira was already in the “nostalgic” category! I guess I’m older than I thought I was.
umm.. it was made 21 years ago. How old does it have to be?
Yeah, especially since underneath this they have “butterfly clips” from ‘97 to ‘99. Ten years does not nostalgia make.
The third submissions tip says anything pre-2000 counts. Might not be nostalgic for you, but could be for others.
What? I’m always like, “Remember when writing the year required, like, three nines? Man, those were the days.”
Wow and remember when like that cute boy in 6th grade looked over at you? But he really was not looking at you he was looking at the pretty girl next to you?
The “pretty girl next to you” in *my* 6th grade class had her shirt open because the a/c was broken. She sorta won out by default.
Yeah, I saw that movie about 20 years ago and it blew my fragile little mind. I’ve been an Anime junkie ever since. Although, I have to admit, Akira and Ghost in the Shell still are the only two Animes I consider to get the best of the best.
I’m not dissing Miyazaki. Those are EXCELLENT flicks. But from a technical aspect, Akira and Ghost are the best hand drawn Anime epics.
What! No Fist of the North Star. That one was EPIC!
In the future, Ghost in the Shell will be an EPIC WIN. OH! How about the orginal movie made in the 90’s?!
The series is far, far better than the movies.
I haven’t seen his later ones but it seemed to me like Miyazaki had trouble figuring out how to end something.
Those plus Cowboy Bebop and you’ve about covered the best of the best. Although I have a certain fondness for Vampire Hunter D because it was just so well done.
Wow, has it really been 21 years?
And it’s been at least 6 years since I last watched it, should watch the movie again some time (but I alse have a nice big stack of DVD’s waiting to be watched too…)
oh HELL YEAH!!
If I am not mistaken…and I know I will be blasted for it… I have heard rumors of a live action remake of Akira.
Oh, it’s already in the works. Either Leonardo DiCaprio is directing it or acting in it or both. He says he’s a big fan so I’m hoping it’ll be true to the script. IMO actors who turn to directing really have better insight and if a fan is doing it I have faith.
TETSUOOOOOOO~!
I had “TETSUO!” scribbled on my doodle infested folder in junior high.
Belching massive amounts of flesh? rock on.
You rock, man.
Maybe because it was SUPPOSED to be creepy? Not many people watch kids turn into giant wads of flesh and go, “Hm, that’s rather spiffy, I’ll play it at the next meeting!”
It’s because Katsuhiro Ôtomo is a freaking genius!
I absolutely love this movie, and the manga (which are quite different). You should see Steamboy, Rôjin Z, and Metropolis as well, if you like Akira
Rôjin-Z (or translated to english “Old man-Z”) is also a great movie!
Steamboy FTW!
Akira is the one flick that got me into Anime, but it still is the best for me. I even learned to understand and speak some Japanese. Ok, i still won’t be able to order a decent meal in Japan, but at least i know how to introduce myself in japanse.
If the rumour that there is going to be a live-action flick is true: nice, but (esp when it is not made in Japan) it will probably be horrible to me.
*sorry for any gramatical mistakes, i’n not from an english speaking country.
The video didn’t make any sense at all to me, it was just really weird. I have a friend who says the manga was better, but I’m not personally convinced I want to try.
I agree. I never liked this movie.
It’s generally true that Mangas are better. Animes have to be cut down, condensed and are typically thrown together by someone else all together than who wrote the actual story. Generally meaning, the story makes no sense, sucks or otherwise makes no connection to what it’s trying to portray. Sorta like movies in the west from novels. It’s rare to have a ‘faithful interpretation’ of a story. (If you doubt me, watch ANY Stephen King movie from the 80’s and then watch the movie…)
Give it a try, you might be surprised. The manga might very well suck too, and then you know you had good reason to hate it at least.
Personally… I hated Akira, and I adore anime/manga.
…Read a story I mean, then watch the movie. Thought process failed. Aborting.
Best part of the movie? That’s like the entire script. At least it’s still better than DBZ.
Hate anime, epic fail.
You hate it yet you clicked on it and even commented on it.
You sir, are the epic fail.
Just cause YOU hate it doesn’t mean it sucks. Who died and made you the bastion of good taste, junior?
Everyone can have thier own opinion. I check this site everyday and comment everday. Just because I didn’t like something doesn’t mean you have to get in a twist over it.
Except for the fact that you’re calling an Epic Fail based on your personal opinion. For a Fail to fall into the category of “Epic” there has to be some consensus and the ability to prove a tangible level of suck. For you this is a fail, but it is no epic, my friend.
You should try to make your arguement more funny.
I wasn’t trying to be funny. But that might have been your point. I can’t tell. Were you being sarcastic?
Anyone who actually thinks anything is an “Epic Win” or “Epic Fail” is an idiot. I only used those terms because they’re commonly used on this site.
So instead of actually standing up high enough to voice your opinion in your own words, you’re ’stooping’ to our level… to insult something? That doesn’t make much sense.
“I didn’t like Akira at all, and I don’t like anime,” was all you had to say.
Actually “Epic Fail” doesn’t have to be a consensus. It can be based solely on the fact YOU hate it that much, for it to be ‘epically bad’ to you.
Stock just won this forum.
More than a third of the voters hated it as well. Anime fanboys are creepily protective.
Akira was not my first anime, but it is one of the most memorable… definitely a good start for newbies
Epic win.
I remember watching this the first time around 1990…
O_O !
It was one of the reasons I’m a big anime fan now. Back then, only the tippity-top best of anime made it across the ocean… so it was easy to become a fan. This is still one of the best films I’ve ever seen, the best sci-fi for sure.
I remember my husband sitting me down to watch this when we first started dating.. creeped me out a lot! lol but it’s one of those movies that is jsut awesome!
I remember watching this a few years back in high school on Halloween. It was long but man it’s fantastically worthy of epic win.
When I was in college someone did this gorgeous piece of graffiti of Tetsuo in an alley. It’s been long since covered up, but man, I wish I took the time to get a photo of it.
Sadly I have yet to see this movie. I’ve been meaning to forever though.
I remember when there were only THREE animes and that was It. You had Akira, Venus Wars and Urotsukidoji and that was all there was. I remember the days Before there was an anime section, they were in the foreign films along with the Art house french stuff. Earley 90’s in rural England. God I feel old.
Don’t feel too bad. I was actually turned OFF of anime by the same person who turned me on to it. For me, what started as genuine fascination that fortunately evolved into a real love for the country and culture of Japan in general. For her (already on the edge of that slippery slope when I met her) it devolved into becoming an obsessed J-pop tart that makes her living selling her anime artand other cheap crap at cons.
No, I’m not kidding, this person it’s SO obsessed, that her only source of income is hawking her crap at cons. She barely makes enough to cover her bills and get her to the next con, and she doesn’t always even make enough to cover her bills, but somehow always has enough to go to the next con. SHE QUIT HER JOB to do this… Watching this become of someone is enough to turn anyone away from anime.
Well, that sucks if she’s miserable.
If she enjoys doing it and doesn’t have a problem with her lifestyle, what’s wrong with it? I mean, aside from it not fitting into your concept of how to make a proper living?
Perhaps JJ’s point was that she ISN’T making a proper living? If she’s not making enough to cover her bills but she’s still going to cons, then she has a problem. I fancy myself a photographer, and I charge people for my services, but I don’t make enough to pay my bills with it, and I have a part time job in addition to snapping photos all day long. And if I’m offered a photography job that conflicts with my work schedule, I have to weight… will I make more money with the camera, or behind the desk? If the answer is the latter, I turn down the photo job.
Making two hundred bucks in one weekend is nice, but it’s not smart when it will be all you have to live on until Gid knows when.
I used to live and work in Japan (at a real job, not teaching English), and one of my coworkers was obsesive like that – collectors would come around the office looking for payment for her rent, gas, electricity, water bills etc. If she wasn’t in the office that morning we’d all have to dig into our pockets and see what we had, to pay the bill for her (and good luck getting paid back).
But this girl will pay through the nose to go to conventions, to buy stuff to sell, and to take singing lessons (so that she’ll be better at karaoke). I just don’t get it myself; but it’s the life she’s chosen.
::sigh:: Obsessive. Spelling fail!
Well said, Min.
Akira was one of my first animes. Remains one of my top 5 movies today.
Wow, they only had 3 animes in England in the early 90’s?
You missed out on a lot of cool 80’s (and earlier) anime!
Though I must say some of those foreign cartoons were pretty crazy themselves!
er, I meant European cartoons…
no likey.
Akira is a fantastic movie. It’s even better if you’re read the Manga. Katsuhiro Otomo is an absolute genius. I also recommend his “The Legend of Mother Sarah”.
As for Anime being a ‘either you love it or you hate it’ thing…that’s not entirely accurate. There’s some really terrible Anime out there that has become really popular, thus tainting people’s view of Anime (Pokemon, Dragonball, Vampire Hunter D…). Then people miss out on the good stuff…(Akira, Ranma 1/2, Ah/Oh My Goddess, Battle Angel Alita, etc) Of course, that’s just my opinion.
ICK! Disgusting shape shifting, horrific torture, graphic violence, and explicit sex. Anime sucks!
That’s not all anime. :p That’s like saying “oil paint sucks.” Anime is just another medium, it can be used for any kind of genre.
And you didn’t even get to the tentacles yet…
It was just on last night, was going to watch it since i have never seen it before, but had to go to bed
will have to try again.
Aww was it on past your bed time? Mommy is so mean!
Especially when she shoves her meaty fist up your ass when she sees you
jacking off to gay porn.
Not that I like Naruto, I dont even know what it is, but what makes someone who does like Naruto a fag?
Naruto is actually a really good anime. It’s pretty brainy, for not being directed (entirely) at adults, the story is interesting, the characters are well-developed (it’s only slightly about the main character, despite being named after him) and the fight scenes are well thought-out and intriguing. Mostly people hate it because they’ve never watched it (or only watched the first 10 episodes, or only watched the dub) and stick it in there with the “Pokemon/DBZ/etc.” category because it’s popular.
Ah, Pokemon. Is that listed on here yet? Let’s annoy some anime-haters even more
I LOL’ed when I found out Naruto’s father named him after a porn star.
And the Viz dub sucks! Believe it!!!!1!!
“Akira” might be the film that nailed the lid on me ever enjoying “japanimation”. I’d seen bits and pieces, but “Akira” was the first film that I watched beginning-to-end. It was fantastic. Gorgeous eye candy. A story that was a little hard to follow in places, but I accepted that as a cross-cultural thing.
Then I sought out other anime that had high marks. Stilted, incoherent, bland, dull…. It was like a watching a classic Disney animated feature and being told “If you like animation, you’ll love this episode of ‘Super Friends’ and ‘Captain Planet’!”
YES! YES! Y-E-S! YES!!
When I first saw it on the big screen and later on Video Tape I loved it except the english translation and the voices were soooo bad! Later they re released it on a special DVD and has a much better translation and Voice tallent. it made much more sence!!
This movie has the best ending ever in the history of movies. Even though it doesn’t make alot of sense at first. And I used to get frustrated because the three psychic kids talked in unfinished sentences like( “we hope to one day…” so we can…” he’s gone to..”). But now I love it cause it’s so crazy and freakin awesome.
I heard that there making a live action remake with Leonardo Dicaprio. And I hope anybody involved in it gets struck by lightning and killed before the travesty actually gets made. :O
THEY ARE MAKING A LIVE ACTION AKIRA. LEONARDO DICAPRIO WILL BE IN IT. DON’T KNOW WHO AS….
Funny thing is, the creator of Naruto was greatly inspired by the AKIRA poster. He wrote about it in the authors comments and was really passionate about it.
It makes me send when Akira is the representative movie for anime. Most people I know don’t like it, whether anime fans or not. Princess Mononoke has really proven better for convincing non-believers in my experience.
Akira!…best movie. when i was 17 my un cle had a ninja (motorcycle) he bought at auction and it was orangish-red and looked alot like Kanedas bike. i would ride it and act like i was fighting the clown gang…yes even at 17 i pretended i was Kaneda kicking those clown bastards asses.
I love the Akira movie. It was really overwhelming and weird when I first watched it; now I find it delightfully inspiring. The imagery reminds me of a lot of the terrifying dreams I had as a kid.
I would never say the manga is *better* – it’s very different. Kei’s role is much more pivotal in the manga; Tetsuo isn’t quite as one-dimensional; Akira is more than a two-second blip; those are just a few examples off the top of my head. If you can find the manga, definitely give it a shot – there’s a lot more to take in, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
That said, the first anime I ever watched was “Battle Angel Alita”, which is nowhere NEAR as good as the manga in that case (“Gunnm” and “Last Order”); and the one that totally hooked me on anime was (I’m embarrassed to say) one of the most awful Dragon Ball Z OAVs. Something about it made me need more – I started buying manga like mad after that (including the Akira manga) and have never gone back.
Natsukashii!!
OTAKU!!!!!
Back then, the Streamline English dub of Akira was absolutely atrocious. They dubbed a scream to “get down”, and the important explanation when the cell door unlocks makes no sense. I later saw the subbed one and promised myself to never, ever watch anything dubbed to English.
So far the only good dubs are the Ghibli / Disney dubs, after Miyazaki’s gift, a Japanese katana and the “no cuts” message.
I am so tired of being hated on because I like Anime. But to hell with it, I love the stuff anyway. Even though I don’t like alot of what I see.
Another thing I want to address is people who think all anime is sex and violence…. I really dont like that kind of thing a whole lot unless it has something that makes the thing as a whole great. Like the Hellsing OAVs.
A certain middle digit to anybody who thinks I fail because I like anime.