Review of Akira

Why are some of us (in 2019) still so attracted to the cult anime of the millennial generation? The answer: Exceeding the Bounds of Society and Creativity. Akira is the physical manifestation of this theme, and the film sets the stage for (what is now popularly considered) cult anime. Akira - released in 1988 - was one of the first Japanese films to delve into the topic of nuclear weapons since the actual bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two. And it does so in a post-modern fashion; nothing about the nuclear bombs were reminiscent of war planes, death, soldiers, etc.Instead, Akira tracks the story of the leader of a bike gang who struggles to deal with the aftermath of one of his members gaining special ‘nuclear’ powers. The film is interwoven with a beautiful, enhancing soundtrack that absolutely brings the audience into a trance. That being said, Akira is certainly NOT a movie that one can watch halfheartedly.

After finishing Akira, I have seemingly now seen the core cult anime of the late 20th century. Among these: Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Spirited Away, etc. Returning to the theme of Exceeding the Bounds of Society and Creativity, these pieces all accomplish that thesis to a certain extent. They allow the audience to transcend their current situation and really engage in an imaginative, yet somewhat feasible (in the future), story. And Akira set the stage for this genre to blossom.

A fair warning: the build-up of hype is dangerous for potential fans. These cult pieces require a certain extent of acceptance and “buy-in” into the concept.