Akira

It’s impossible to overestimate how key Akira was in bringing anime to a wider Western audience and the high bar it set for what this style of animation could achieve. It’s 2019 and in a dazzling Neo-Tokyo, cyber-punk bikers cruise the neon-soaked streets. But within their midst is a telekinetic child who threatens the very existence of this future world. Otomo’s seminal anime, a striking, hyperkinetic adaptation of his own manga, almost single-handedly introduced this form of animation to worldwide audiences. Impeccably detailed with fluid, jaw-dropping action sequences, Akira remains a stunning cinematic achievement. The filmmaker’s ability to tap so plausibly into what the next generation might look like, both in scientific and industrial terms, is breathtaking. We are thrilled to present the UK premiere of a new 35mm print of one of anime’s masterpieces.

Justin Johnson, Head of Cinema Programme