Just watched this classic in HD format the other day! IT was AWESOME!

Hmm, I haven't heard of it, what's it like?

Akira? Damn.. I've never gotten the chance to see that but I've wanted to.

One of the most influential examples of anime, Akira is based on the manga by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story is set in the post-apocalyptic community of Neo-Tokyo. Tetsuo is a fiercely individualistic member of a scroungy motorcycle gang. The despotic authorities, the robot-like police, and even the cycle gang pursue Tetsuo when he's bombarded with a new, insidious energy source that has rendered him telekinetic. Budgeted at eight million dollars, Akira has become a cult favorite in the States thanks to generous midnight-movie exposure and its availibilty on video and cable TV.


Characters Include:


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Akira — The eponymous, principal subject of the story. Akira was a young boy who developed transcendent psionic ability when serving as a test subject for secret government ESP experiments in the 1980s. He subsequently lost control of this power and annihilated Tokyo in 1988. After the cataclysmic event, Akira's dead body was recovered and subjected to every test known to modern science, which proved unable to solve the mystery. His remains were placed within a cryogenic chamber underneath the Neo-Tokyo Olympic Stadium, to be entrusted to the study of future generations.



Shotaro Kaneda — The anthology's main protagonist, Kaneda is a carefree gang-leader who boasts a custom-modified motorcycle. He and Tetsuo have been best friends since early childhood. He is brash and not above teasing Tetsuo despite feeling affection for him as a younger brother. Upon rescuing Kei, Kaneda becomes involved in the activities of her group of anti-government guerillas in hopes of locating Tetsuo.



Tetsuo Shima — Kaneda's best friend since preschool and the second principal subject of the story's theme. Tetsuo is shown as a black sheep in the gang he and Kaneda are part of, and quietly suffers from a deeply rooted inferiority complex. He admires his friend yet at the same time strongly resents his own reliance upon him. After his psychokinetic abilities manifest, Tetsuo quickly becomes Kaneda's nemesis; he desires Kaneda's motorcycle (a symbol of status and power), and seeks to prove himself supremely powerful, without need of protection.

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Kei — A young female revolutionary who Kaneda meets and becomes enamoured with on his quest to find Tetsuo. She is a member of an anti-government faction that Ryu and Nezu are also involved in. Although she does not possess preternatural abilities, Kei is employed by the espers as a type of medium on several occasions.



Colonel Shikishima , also known as simply The Colonel — The head of the ongoing government project which was responsible for inadvertently unleashing Akira's power thirty years earlier.

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The Espers — Masaru (codename "Number 27"), Takashi (codename "Number 26") and Kiyoko (codename "Number 25") — Akira's fellow psychic test subjects kept in a perpetual yet aging childhood. They exhibit a variety of paranormal powers which they use to influence the course of events to the best of their ability. While individually of lesser strength than Akira or Tetsuo, their combined effort proves decisive in the story's final confrontation.

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Nezu — A mole in the government, who is responsible for Takashi/Number 26's kidnapping.



Yamagata — One of the most prominent members of Kaneda's gang. He often derides Tetsuo, which leads to harsh feelings between them that will ultimately seal his fate.

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Kaisuke — Another member of Kaneda's gang, Kai plays an important supporting role in the eventual battle against Tetsuo. He appears to be close friends with Yamagata given that they remain together when the gang breaks up.



Kaori — Tetsuo's girlfriend. She stands by Tetsuo even though he treats her harshly.

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Akira? Oh wow...I've never actually seen it. I heard it was a great anime, and now that it's in HD I'll probably check it out if I can find the DVD.

I saw it on Cable! I have Comcast on Demand and I have an HDTV also! Akira is a total classic if you have never seen it! It was my first anime I ever saw and by far my most favorite besides Ninja Scroll.

KANEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Akira is an awesome movie. That reminds me, I have to return the copy I have to the library. It's like four days late.

i have it on dvd. i find a part of the movie very funny, i don't know why is it funny but when i saw that part i laughed for fifteen minutes straight.