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By and large the most successful Japanese Anime film ever made,
the ultra-cool, action-packed Anime classic AKIRA is
out on DVD from 18th March 2002 (rrp: £19.99) from MANGA
Entertainment as a special limited edition collector's
DVD and is also available on VHS (rrp: £13.99)
The 2-Disc DVD Boxset is packed with extras that have
been especially created for the UK release. These include
a Making of AKIRA featurette, a stills gallery, a 'Make
Your Own AKIRA Trailer', a multiple-choice quiz, DVD
ROM Hyperlink and a collection of Easter Eggs.
 Written
and directed by esteemed director Katsuhiro Otomo AKIRA
was originally released as a film adaptation of his
popular graphic novels in 1988 telling the story of
a post-apocalypse era that combines action adventure
and paranormal activity. Since then AKIRA has gone on
to captivate the world and kick-started a MANGA phenomenon
that spawned many follow-ups, TV series' and more graphic
novels.
Here's the plot. Tokyo is destroyed during World War
III at the end of the 1980s and Neo-Tokyo is constructed
on reclaimed land. In 2019, three decades after the
devastation, Neo-Tokyo is in a state of crisis whilst
preparing to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Society is
close to collapse in spite of the relative prosperity
of the city. Unemployment has increased, drug trafficking
is on the rise and crime is at an all-time high. Rival
bike gangs rule the city and new religions come to force.
As a way of escaping from the reality of everyday life,
the youth of Neo-Tokyo cruise the streets at night on
their souped-up 'choppers'.
Kaneda is a bike gang leader whose close friend Tetsuo
gets involved in a government secret project known only
as AKIRA. On his way to save Tetsuo, Kaneda runs into
a group of anti-government activists, greedy politicians,
irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader.
The confrontation sparks off Tetsuo's supernatural power
leading to bloody death, a coup attempt, and the final
battle in Tokyo Olympiad where AKIRA's secrets were
buried 30 years ago.
So what's the story behind the storyteller?
Born in Miyagi, Japan, April 14th 1954 Otomo showed
an early interest in art and film and was always active
in art clubs, drawing comics and exploring the many
facets in the world of art and entertainment, often
travelling in excess of five hours to see certain films.
In spite of his obvious talent, following high school
he snubbed the art college entrance exam and he dedicated
himself to becoming a professional illustrator and in
1973, he made his film debut with, GUNSHOT, and created
his first original comic strip series called, BRIDGE
ANDÖ.
From 1974 - 1978 he honed his artistic skills, drawing
in a strikingly realistic style and creating the likes
of BOOGIE WOOGIE WALTZ, HIGHWAY STAR and WOUNDED ANGEL.
In 1979 he published his first full-length comic book,
SHORT PIECE (Fireball) which earned him his tremendous
renown and popularity. His influence and popularity
grew further amongst young, burgeoning comic book artists,
with the publication of FEELING WAR and, A CHILD'S DREAM
(Domu)- which went on to win Otomo the 4th Japanese
Science Fiction Award in 1982, the same year that work
began on his epic story AKIRA.
AKIRA began appearing as a serial in Young Magazine,
and with the completion of his first 16mm film, GIVE
US GUNS, his prominence in the animation world became
much greater as did the range of his projects, which
would include programming and commercials for television.
In 1984 he won the 8th Kodansha Comic-Strip Award, and
AKIRA sold no less than 3.5 million copies. 1986 marked
his directorial debut with an episode of THE LABYRINTH
STORY. Following his work on the animation video, ROBOT
CARNIVAL in 1988, he was ready to tackle the exciting
challenge of making AKIRA into a movie.
Since Akira, Otomo has been involved in various projects
such as Perfect Blue, Robot Carnival, Neo-Tokyo and
Memories as well as the live action feature World Apartment
Horror and writing The Legagend of Mother Sarah. He
is currently living in Tokyo working on his latest project
Steam Boy.
Crud Magazine 2002©
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