Rachel Wagner started
her review by saying, “If I were to make a list of ‘Must See Movies for Any
Animation Fan,’ I would definitely include Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira on that
list. While it is narratively messy, it is such an experience in visceral
sound, movement, creativity, and imagination that it can’t be missed.”
The story to “Akira” is
beside the point but, just for the sake of those who don’t know, it is about
two childhood friends who become gang rivals Shotaro Kaneda and Tetsuo Shima in
the dystopian cyberpunk city of NeoTokyo in 2019. The world is in complete
purgatory after a nuclear bomb landed at the end of World War III. Tetsuo
becomes exposed to a material called AKIRA and gets abnormal telekinetic powers
that he had trouble to control and the government and organized crime want to
use for so many reasons. Most of the movie is basically a chase between Kaneda,
Tetsuo, and everyone who is trying to hurt them.
Wagner noted, “I like
to compare watching Akira with going on an amusement park ride. Perhaps the
plot isn’t super interesting but there is an amazing image, sound, and/or
sequence ready to dazzle you along every turn.” Watching the film, you see
things you’ve never seen before and will never see again, like a giant teddy
bear coming to a life or a person’s organs and body blowing up to fill up a
room. It’s dark and violent however, since this is so creative, it is worth
watching. Wagner compared, “It’s like Inception but way more trippy!”
Wagner continued, “I
had the amazing experience last year of seeing Akira on the big screen, which
is something I highly recommend if you get the opportunity. What stood out to
me the most was the incredible way it uses music and sound.” The music by Shoji
Yamashiro is one of the best and obviously a lot of the animation was built
around the music’s “sonic architecture,” where most movies work the other way
around. With its electronic beat, the music fades and flows along with the
crazy imagery making a really intense experience.
Wagner noted, “If you
take a look at this scene, notice the way every movement of the motorcycles is
felt in a screech or vroom. The steel and grunts of the men are perfectly timed
along with the tick-tock propulsion of the score. Meanwhile, the imagery of the
city provides incredible backdrops with the light and colors of the motorcycles
in the foreground. I love how the motorcycles leave behind a rainbow of color
in their wake, and you can see the speed of the movement as they move along.”
“Akira” is one of the
best animes where every scene has parts to look at and analyze. The music,
imagery, sound design, and more are created in every scene but there is also a
lot to think about thematically. To start off, it has a lot to say about the
tension Japan experienced after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World
War II. Wagner noted, “It also has layers of allegory, including the problems
of groupthink, unbridled religion/capitalism/socialism, unlimited power,
quickly-burgeoning technology, and substance abuse.”
However, you don’t have
to think about all of that. You can just watch the film and enjoy the amazing animation,
music, and energy. It’s a great experience and one of the best animes!
If you haven’t seen
this film and you’re an anime fan, what are you doing reading this review? Go
out and see this film because if you’re an anime fan, this is one to be seen by
every fan of anime. It’s one of the best and shouldn’t be missed. See it now
because it’s a must and I give it a high recommendation.
Look out next week to
see what I will review next in “Anime Month.”
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