This movie is an anime classic. It is a very tragic film about how we have to make some sacrifices in even the closest of friendships, and expresses it in a very tragic way. Think about it. Think about the main characters: Kaneda and Tetsuo. Two close friends. Yet something dreadful happens to Tetsuo. Kaneda, in his heart, feels shocked that such a good companion could possibly become so violent. Though it is definetly a gorey blood-fest, it's not just there to entertain the fans. It's to show the future, in the eyes of Katsuhiro Otomo, how it may and probably will become a dangerous, disastorous world. And if it weren't for Akira's creativity (this film was made in 1988!) then we wouldn't have sci-fi masterpieces such as the Matrix.… Expand

This is the greatest anime movie next to "Spirited Away".

This movie is an all out anime classic. With new graphics u can't beat and the new dub has made it even better. Akira wasn't the first anime I'v ever seen but the best (next to trigun). Only thing was that in the manga there was a closer connection between kaori and tetsuo. But Akira roxs!

Brilliant movie, a must see for every anime fan.

This ia very awesome movie. It is my second favorite anime movie; right behind Appleseed 2004.

I watched Akira in my Japanese Animation class a few weeks ago, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I remember seeing the film for the first time in about ninth grade and taking a violent dislike to it. Seeing it a second time, I was able to pick up on a lot more of the nuance and philosophy of the film. The staggering complexity of the themes it portrays in such a captivating way makes it worth watching by anyone who enjoys cinema. It's a masterpiece of both anime and science fiction.… Expand

Great movie!

When one learns about English Lit, you read Shakespeare. To learn about physics, you learn about Newton. It's not that they were the first do do something, it was they way that they did what they did that made it important. Akira is that sort of touchstone for Japanese animation.

Wow! There hasnt been or probably ever will be a greater Anime Movie. The ending is still confusion as hell but i love it.

Give props to the first great full length anime. The movie that made me an anime fan.

- This movie is an absolute classic - when viewed in Japanese with subtitles (The origional US dubbing changed the story somewhat). A perfect example of how to translate creative energy to screen. My other favorite action movies are: Fistful of dollars, Leon, Die hard, The predator (great music) etc... Akira is the best action movie i've seen.

Man! This is THE anime movie! Must-see, Must-buy, Must-experience. Its a must for any movie fan.

Though it may not have the saame scope as the manga, the film AKIRA is still head and shoulders above any other animated film ever. Using some 160,000 animation cels, AKIRA is brought to life by highly detailed, fluid animation. This backed by a phenomenal plotline with nearly a dozen themes ranging from juvenile deliquence to the birth of the universe, AKIRA is not a film you will soon forget. Many aspects of the film, such as the outraged youth, which may be commonplace in modern film, were prototyped in AKIRA. No AKIRA, no Matrix, it's that important. AKIRA is one of the few animes that will appeal to non-anime fans, even anime haters because of it's exceptional quality. Even despite it's age, it still is one of the best looking animated films ever, and the story is easier to understand thanks to the new 2001 dub. Regardless of your personal taste, AKIRA is a film nobody should miss, it's that good.… Expand

When one learns about English Lit, you read Shakespeare. To learn about physics, you learn about Newton. It's not that they were the first do do something, it was they way that they did what they did that made it important. Akira is that sort of touchstone for Japanese animation.

Top class anime. Better in comic book form, but a fun movie.

Has great opening sequence and some of the most audacious actions scenes in sci-fi anime. The message is human wisdom is never consummate with human power. Tetsuo who becomes all powerful in the movie--echoes of nuclear energy--is essentially a lonely kid whose big hangup in life had been to ride his best friend's sleek motorbike. Sadly, the most of the movie is cliched and everytime ideas run out or drama grows staler than usual, the movie resorts to explosions and yet bigger explosions. A landmark anime movie for better or worse. … Expand

Perffeeeccccctt even better than A BED MADE OF SOAP!. This is greatest anine you will ever see mainly because of no use in computers but full flick camera. POWER TO THE ANIME!!!!!

The best anime in the world. Hands down some of the best animation that I have ever seen. May Death find you quickly.

Despite a lack of CG, the animation is more than adequate. In Tetsuo you'll find an interesting anti-hero, and the unclear ending is somehow awe-inspiring in ways I cannot really describe. Well paced, too.

The movie is excellent but not quite the comic book ! Sadly...

It may not be your average violent movie, but Akira is the epidemy of Japanese animation. Not only it was the first anime to receive an R-rated version, but it shows how good an anime needs a lot of gore, a lot of bloodshed, and a lot of sex (or hentai/fanservice for that matter). I remembered watching Akira on the Sci-Fi Channel when they showed anime movies just the same as Cartoon Network did. But after almost 25 years, I could still think of movies that inspired the movie. From The Matrix to Johnny Mnemonic, and video games like Final Fantasy VII and Metal Slug, it shows no matter what it takes place in a virtual world of drugs, war crimes, and corruption, every time when there's an action scene, you can even pause and use slow motion on the explosions and mayhem. I think Adult Swim could be thinking on airing the movie on Toonami because when I heard the news that the block is coming to Adult Swim's Saturday (Sunday) anime block, fans and tweets are asking the same thing "when is Toonami coming back on TV?" It was no April Fool's joke and so they did. I hope Adult Swim could air this movie as soon as possible, TV-MA style! But bar none, Akira is a classic example of why we still and always love anime. Akira is one of the best anime movies before Ghost in the Shell and Ranma 1/2.… Expand