Review of Akira

Otomo is an autistic folk. Just take a look at his obsessively detailed artwork as a mangaka. He's so passionate he took upon himself the task of adapting his baby into something that would enter history and shock audiences all over the world. Needless to say I adore his ethos of breathing life into every frame of this audiovisual masterpiece, in a fashion not only unheard-of in the industry at that point, but also untouched by virtually anyone up until Miyazaki and Koike decided to join the party, mind you, many years later. The man single-handedly brought about and popularized Japanese cyberpunk, inspiring tons ofpeople in the process. Also, props to the cel animation, ink coloring, and avant-garde soundtrack. Sadly, in all his enthusiasm Otomo refused to make some sacrifices in order to attain higher quality to his final product. Akira cuts huge chunks of the original story which in turn undermines its potential to impress beyond its presentation. There is a plot, but it's more a vehicle for iconic moments than a commentary on society, corruption, technology, and whatnot, which is exactly what it strives for. It's not a rule of cool, it's serious business, and that tone can't help but constantly clash with all the stupid shit that could easily come out of a parody of its own genre. Such neglecting of competent storytelling while trying to remain poignant ruins my enjoyment even as I try to see it as mere dumb fun.