Movie Poster

You called for me, didn't you? And I heard you.

# Review

I finally had the opportunity to watch this seminal anime film and it did not disappoint. Based on a manga with the same name, the story takes place in a dystopian Tokyo which has been rebuilt after World War III; it follows Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang as he gets caught in a large government conspiracy.

The story is very unique and features many humanist themes such as religion, rebirth, and even the origin of the universe. It’s very ambitious to embed so much meaning in a film yet Akira is able to give just enough of a prompt for discussion; my friends and I discussed for over an hour after watching the film. The film doesn’t give an in depth exploration of any of the themes, though.

The animation equals Disney’s best and the cyberpunk aesthetic holds up well even today. The action sequences are definitely a tad aged by today’s animation standards but it’s still engaging and entertaining.

# Conclusion

A surprisingly thought-provoking anime that's equally bloody and entertaining.

# Overall rating: 8.4

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