Akira (1989) - 4K & Blu-ray

I am admittedly not a fan of anime and find a lot of it to be quite cringe worthy. However, there is something about Akira that I have always found fascinating. When I saw the bluray disc was sitting at £4.99, I decided to jump on it. Not only to refresh my memory but to show my kids that anime can be something other than mindless dumb cartoons like Attack on Titan (Yeah, I went there!). For those who don't know, Akira is an animated film from 1988. The story takes place in a dystopian 2019 in Neo Tokyo, a city built out of the ruins of Tokyo. A city decimated in the '80s after a huge blast engulfed the a vast majority of the area. We follow a group of teenagers from the violent streets through secret military bases and even into an Olympic stadium as they try to uncover and foil a government plot. A plot that involves creating telekinetic humans and one's inability to control their power. The film was written by Izo Hashimoto and director Katsuhiro Otomo. The production was handled by Ryohei Suzuki and Shunzo Kato. As a film, I found my latest viewing (the first in many years) to be utterly fascinating. It's the first time I have seen the movie since the VHS days and seeing it on bluray was just incredible. The illustrations and animation in the film is second to none. It's virtually impossible to deny the artists involved because the detail in the huge cityscapes, underground lairs and throughout all the action sequences is absolutely incredible. The use of cyberpunk styles was very tastefully done. I loved the use of neon and bright colours, it really makes the film image pop. The story isn't necessarily difficult to follow. It does start off a bit disjointed and a bit hard to differentiate certain characters. But after a good half hour, you sink into the excellent atmosphere of the film and that becomes less of an issue. I loved the fact that the script kept some of the plot points very vague. It doesn't outright explain to you what is going on, something that puts me off a lot of modern films. This means that they drip feed you a piece of plot every now and again, but it's up to you to piece it all together. They don't even explain the end with any great detail and I loved that. This major climax happens and it leaves you just sitting there thinking, "What in God's name did I just witness?" It's sort of similar to the space classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey in some regards. You see a particularly stunning and impressive set piece, but you're not entirely sure what it is going on. This might put off a lot of people who like their plot explained to them but it's works well for me. The music in the Akira is something that really stood out to me. It wasn't the usual over dramatic stuff we usually hear in this kind of film. Instead we had some form of chants and rhythmic beats that set quite an unsettling tone to the film. It's definitely one of the most underappreciated scores in film if you ask me. Every scene that used music, used it sparingly. But the music they used fit the scene perfectly. Looking it up on the internet, the music was composed and conducted by Shoji Yamashiro and was performed by the Geinoh Yamashirogumi collective. The style of music in the film is apparently a mix of traditional Indonesian gamelan music and elements of Japanese Noh music. I'm not familiar with these styles of music and that's probably what made it for me. It was different, it was unique and you don't hear that sort of thing in these sci-fi films. I loved it. I would assume that because I don't really like much in the way of modern anime, that my opinion on this film won't mean much to some. But for those out there who are like me and are quite the hit or miss with the style, I recommend checking this out. It's not only a gorgeous looking film, but the music is beautiful and the plot is quite unique. This by definition is a classic film and it's worth every penny. I wish I had bought it sooner.

I had heard of this film but up until now I had never watched it, as I had no idea what anime was all about (apart from fond memories of Laputa when I was small) so I always passed it by. How glad I am that I have finally gotten around to watching this amazing film. The film is set post WW3 in neo Tokyo. It is a place of grandeur and degeneration, in long shots we see the futuristic beauty of it all; colourful and sparkling with the feeling of unbounded possibility, but close up things aren't as rosy as we see decay in the vice of its inhabitants and in the dirt and graffiti which litter the streets. It is in this juxtaposition of these contrasting states as shown in the artwork of the setting that permeate to the very core of what the films storyline is about. On the surface it is all punks and futuristic motorbikes; the evils of authority. It is beautiful and gruesome all at the same time. Violent with hints of a darker depravity and it all comes together under a tale of an almost eternal repetition of decay, collapse, rebirth and growth. It is a story of cycles, of journeys journeyed without the questions of beginnings and endings. The soundtrack bubbles away in the background giving a nice techno industrial sound to the events which include gang wars, casual violence, futuristic bike battles, rebel explosions and government clean ups. Our main character is a boy named Tetsuo, a weakling coming to terms with the forced development of some pretty god like powers, powers which were also previously held in the narratives past by a character called Akira, whose strength led to the collapse of the city. The story comes down to control; who controls this power and what they will do if they can't control it. The animation is solid; being a good mix of detail and focus, which conveys well a gritty and violent world and its effects on the characters that live in it. This is an anime that lives and breathes its harsh, often brutal, realities and as such you will not be blinded by bold colours and strong contrasts because unlike a lot of anime Akira's pallet is darker, drawn more from the brown and grey range. The characters draw you in very well and make sure that you are actually emotionally invested in what happens to them by the end of the film, which actually gets more gruesome as we head towards the ending... or beginning. This anime is a must watch; it had action, violence, a brilliant cinematic style and plenty of philosophical muse points to keep you conversing into the early hours of the morning with whoever you choose to watch it with, even if you end up talking to yourself.

🏍️ Akira 4K SteelBook Edition – A Cyberpunk Masterpiece Reimagined Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira is a landmark in animation and science fiction, and the 4K SteelBook release elevates this classic to a whole new level. Whether you're revisiting Neo-Tokyo or experiencing it for the first time, this edition delivers a stunning audiovisual experience wrapped in collector-grade packaging. --- 🎥 Video Quality: Native 4K Brilliance - Format: 2160p UHD with HDR10 - Remaster: Native 4K scan from original film elements The remaster is jaw-dropping. The hand-drawn animation bursts with detail, and the neon-soaked cityscapes of Neo-Tokyo look sharper and more vibrant than ever. The HDR grading enhances contrast and color depth, especially in scenes like the iconic motorcycle chase and Tetsuo’s psychic rampage. --- 🔊 Audio: Immersive Soundscapes - Audio Tracks: Japanese and English 5.1 surround - The sound design is immersive, with the haunting score and explosive action sequences filling the room. While some fans still cringe at the English dub’s dated delivery, the Japanese track remains the definitive experience. --- 📦 Packaging & Extras - SteelBook Design: Sleek, minimalist artwork with embossed details - Bonus Features: Includes interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and a retrospective on Akira’s cultural impact - The SteelBook itself is a collector’s dream—sturdy, stylish, and worthy of display. --- 🧠 Final Verdict Akira 4K SteelBook Edition is a definitive release of one of the greatest anime films ever made. The remaster is pristine, the packaging is premium, and the film’s themes of power, identity, and dystopia remain as relevant as ever.

Um classico da animação! Esta versão não possui legendas em português brasileiro. Somente as descritas na capa caso haja dúvidas

Very nice edition of one of the great movies of the 20th century. Animation at it's finest, great sound too. The extras are ok but could be a bit more complete

Amazing movie, really well done with the HDR Re master as usually it is difficult for an animated film... This is one of the best written films ever do check it out

Der japanische Cyberpunk Actionfilm "Akira" kostete ca. 6 Millionen Dollar, spielte jedoch an den Kinokasse fast 50 Millionen Dollar ein. Macher des Comcs und auch Regisseur des Kultfilms ist Katsuhiro Otoma, der mit diesem Anime einen der bedeutendsten und stilprägendsten Genrearbeiten schuf. Die Verfilmung wurde im Jahr 1988 realisiert. Der Film spielt im dystopischen Jahr 2019 und erzählt die Geschichte von Shōtarō Kaneda, dem Anführer einer Biker-Gang, dessen Freund aus Kindertagen, Tetsuo Shima, nach einem Motorradunfall unglaubliche telekinetische Fähigkeiten erlangt und schließlich inmitten von Chaos und Rebellion in der weitläufigen futuristischen Metropole Neo-Tokio einen ganzen Militärkomplex bedroht. Er wurde als Meisterwerk bezeichnet und von Publikum und Kritikern allgemein begeisternd aufgenommen, insbesondere im Bereich Animation sowie in den Genres Action und Science-Fiction. Er gilt als Meilenstein der japanischen Animation und als der einflussreichste und kultigste Anime-Film aller Zeiten. 2019, nach einem Weltkrieg, der durch die plötzliche Zerstörung Tokios am 16. Juli 1988 ausgelöst wurde, wird Neo-Tokio von Korruption, regierungsfeindlichen Protesten, Terrorismus und Bandengewalt heimgesucht. Während einer gewalttätigen Kundgebung führt der hitzköpfige Shōtarō Kaneda seine Bōsōzoku-Bürgerwehr, die Capsules, gegen die rivalisierende Clown-Gang. Kanedas bester Freund, Tetsuo Shima, rammt versehentlich mit seinem Motorrad Takashi, einen seltsamen Jungen mit paranormalen Fähigkeiten, der mit Hilfe einer Widerstandsorganisation aus einem Regierungslabor geflohen ist. Mit Hilfe seines Kollegen Masaru nimmt Oberst Shikishima von den japanischen Selbstverteidigungsstreitkräften Takashi wieder gefangen, lässt Tetsuo ins Krankenhaus einweisen und verhaftet die Capsules Gang. Während eines Verhörs durch die Polizei trifft Kaneda die hübsche Kei, eine Aktivistin der Widerstandsbewegung, und bringt die Behörden dazu, sie mit seiner Gang freizulassen. In einer geheimen Regierungseinrichtung entdecken Shikishima und sein Forschungsleiter, Doktor Ōnishi, dass Tetsuo ebenfalls über starke psychische Fähigkeiten verfügt, die denen von Akira ähneln, einem Jungen, ebenfalls mit paranormalen Fähigkeiten, der für die Zerstörung Tokios im Jahr 1988 verantwortlich ist. Kiyoko warnt Shikishima vor der bevorstehenden Zerstörung Neo-Tokios, aber das Stadtparlament weist Shikishimas Bedenken zurück was ihn auf die Idee bringt, Tetsuo zu töten, um eine weitere Katastrophe zu verhindern. In der Zwischenzeit flieht Tetsuo aus dem Krankenhaus, stiehlt Kanedas Motorrad und versucht, mit seiner Freundin Kaori aus Neo-Tokio zu fliehen, aber die Clowns überfallen sie. Die Kapseln retten Tetsuo und Kaori, aber Tetsuo leidet unter starken Kopfschmerzen und Halluzinationen und wird erneut ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert. Als Kaneda ihren Plan zur Rettung von Tetsuo und den anderen Espern belauscht, schließt er sich Keis Widerstandszelle an. Im Krankenhaus versuchen die Esper (so werden diese Wesen mit paranormalen Fähigkeiten genannt) , Tetsuo durch Halluzinationen zu töten, doch der Versuch wird vereitelt. Ein frustrierter Tetsuo sucht nach ihnen und tötet alle Pfleger und Milizionäre, die ihm den Weg versperren. Die Widerstandsgruppe infiltriert das Krankenhaus und Kiyoko zieht Kei und Kaneda in Shikishima und die vergeblichen Versuche der Esper, Tetsuo aufzuhalten. Kiyoko erzählt Tetsuo, dass Akira, der sich in einem Kryolager unter der Baustelle des Olympiastadions befindet, Tetsuo mit seinen Kräften helfen könnte. Nachdem er alle um ihn herum zurückgewiesen hat, insbesondere Kaneda, flieht Tetsuo aus dem Krankenhaus, um Akira zu suchen. Kiyoko nutzt Kei als Medium, um Tetsuo aufzuhalten, und befreit sie und Kaneda aus der Militärhaft. Shikishima inszeniert einen Staatsstreich gegen die Regierung von Neo-Tokio und weist seine Streitkräfte an, Tetsuo um jeden Preis zu vernichten.... Die Geschichte ist rasant inszeniert und verfügt über eine starke Komplexität. Er übte auf alle Fälle einen großen Einfluß auf und machte vielen Science Fiction und Fantasy Fans in Europa und den USA mit der langährigen japanischen ästhetischen Traditon des Anime bekannt, diese Werke voller ausufernden Phantasie. Das innovative Artwork übertraf fast alles was andere Trickfilmstudios bishlang hervorgebracht hatten. Die vielschichtigen Figuren und die drastischen Gewaltszenen sprachen vor allem auch ein jugendliches Publikum an. Kernpunkt der Geschichte ist die mentale Auseinandersetzung der beiden Freunde, die auf eine harte Probe gestellt wird. Otomo hat es auch verstanden die apokalyptische Szenerie mit der Wut unzufriedener Teenager zu koppeln. Die Jugend, die Otomo hier zeichnet, ist wild, unberechenbar und chaotisch. Tetsuo ist der Prototyp des höchst angenervten Jugendlichen, der nun aber genug Macht hat, seinen Weg ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste zu durchlaufen. Bis zum bitteren Ende...