Review of Akira: Japan's Self- Destruct

Review of Akira: Japan’s Self- Destruct

This review will look at the classic and revolutionary 1988 Japanese anime Akira. It will summarize its plot and explain its critical reception, and then explore how Akira reflects on the Japan of that time. It will show that the story of Akira demonstrates how the economic wonder Japan of the 1980’s was divided and unsure, a result of a society traumatized by World War II, with a new generation of youth that distrusted a system of control built on nothing but fear of total destruction. Just as the film’s antihero is transformed into a monster by authority, eventually losing control over his powers and consumed by them, Akira expresses that no matter how much power Japan has, it cannot prevent a collapse from within.

Akira is set “31 years after World War III” and the destruction of Tokyo, in the “Neo Tokyo” of AD 2019, an unstable dystopia of constant riots and terrorist bombings, riot police, and cult fanatics calling for the mysterious ‘Akira’ to come and end the world. The two central characters destined to become nemeses are members of a violent young biker gang: Kaneda is the gang leader, and Tetsuo is his childhood buddy who can’t seem to do anything right.

During a gang war, Kaneda and Tetsuo get wrapped up in a much bigger conflict centering on Akira, a child with incredible special powers created by military experiments. Akira is the force that destroyed Tokyo and started WWIII. Even though the result was a disaster, the military of Neo Tokyo continues its experiments, trying to get Akira back in a form they can control. A group of terrorists are also trying to get Akira back, only they want to use his power to destroy the ruling order.

Tetsuo is injured and taken by the military, where it is discovered he has the potential for great power and joins the Espers, a group of ancient- looking children that were part of the same group as Akira and have weaker versions of his power. The military’s experiments...