As someone who grew up watching anime in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I can confidently say that Akira holds a special place in my heart. The 1988 masterpiece was one of the first animes I ever watched, and it left a lasting impression on me.
In the esteemed realm of legendary anime films, Akira occupies a highly respected position (with some discussions as to whether it holds the number one spot). Released in 1988, this groundbreaking anime is considered a sci-fi masterpiece that thrusts viewers into a gritty cyberpunk version of Tokyo, where sinister government agencies perform questionable experiments, and motorcycle gangs hold sway over the city streets.
In an alternate version of 2019, 31 years post an atomic bomb detonation on Tokyo by the Japanese government, Akira is set. As his friend gets captured for clandestine government research, Kaneda battles against anti-government agitators, menacing scientists, and a dominant military commander to save Tetsuo while exposing the secrets behind these experiments.
Similar to numerous ’80s anime masterpieces, streaming options have become more convenient yet may not satisfy collectors of tangible media. Fortunately, Crunchyroll has catered to this niche with a fresh physical reissue of Katsuhiro Otomo’s renowned work (adapted from his own manga), and it’s truly breathtaking.
Akira Unlocks a New 4K Steelbook
The stunning hand-drawn animation of Akira‘s neo-Tokyo does, and always will hold up to modern anime standards. In an age where AI is slowly infesting its way into anime, nothing beats a hand-drawn movie. If your countless VHS tapes, DVDs, and Blu-rays of Akira weren’t enough to satiate your appetite, get ready to appreciate Akira‘s animation in stunning 4k.
In a stunning steelbook casing is the latest 4K edition of the film, which showcases its main character, Shotaro Kaneda, seated majestically on a throne made of tech debris with his iconic motorbike in the background. Besides the upgraded 4K experience, this release boasts some extraordinary bonus content. Here’s what you can expect:
- Akria Sound Making 2019
- Akira Sound Clip by Geinoh Yamashirogumi
- End Credits (From The Original 1988 Theatrical Release)
- Theatrical Preview — Trailer Collection (with English Subtitles)
- Storyboard Collection
On March 4th, 2025, the high-definition 4k version of “Akira” will be launched in North America. You can now pre-order this item at a reduced price of $26.24 ($34.98 original price) from Crunchyroll.
What Happened to the Live-Action Akira Movie?
Just as many prominent animation studios have aspired to bring their work to life on screen, there’s been a strong desire among Western filmmakers to transform “Akira” into a live-action feature film. For quite some time now, director Taika Waititi of “Thor: Ragnarok” fame has been linked with this project, but so far, no tangible progress has been made public. The most recent news about the movie was shared by Waititi himself in November 2023, when he told Inverse that he continues to develop it.
If Taika Waititi’s adaptation is released, he assured fans it will significantly deviate from the 1988 anime for one key reason: While Katsuhiro Otomo condensed his six-volume manga for the big screen, Waititi plans to reintegrate many of the stories left out in the original film. As the director expressed, “I believe fans who enjoyed the movie should also have read the books as there’s a lot more content in the books compared to the film.
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2024-12-19 18:10