Akira [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

One of the most influential examples of anime, Akira is based on the manga (comic book) 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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround
• Screen: Color, Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Japanese, English
• Features:
  • Teaser #1
  • Teaser #2
  • Tv commercial
  • Trailer #1
  • Trailer #2
  • Storyboards
  • Original pressing includes 32-page color booklet and special slipcase (time only)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Katsuhiro Otomo

• Producer:

  Shunzo Kato, Sawako Noma, Ryohei Suzuki, Katsuhiro Kato

• Screenwriter:

  Izo Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Otomo

• Cinematographer:

  Katsuji Misawa

• Composer (Music Score):

  Shoji Yamashiro

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Shoji Yamashiro

• Editor:

  Takeshi Seyama

• Art Director:

  Toshiharu Mizutani

• Associate Producer:

  Yoshimasa Mizuo

• Executive Producer:

  Sawako Noma

• Production Manager:

  Ken-Ichiro Tsunoda, Yoichi Ikeda, Takahisa Yokomizo

• Chief Animator:

  Takashi Nakamura

• Production Coordinator:

  Ken-Ichiro Tsunoda

• Sound Recordist:

  Tetsuo Segawa

• Sound Director:

  Susumu Aketagawa

• Supervising Editor:

  Shizuo Kurahashi

• Animation Director:

  Hiroaki Sato, Yoshio Takeuchi

REVIEW:

• Anime has had a devoted following since its beginnings, but it didn't have much crossover appeal in the U.S. until Akira came along. The drawing style was always respected for its distinctive characteristics -- the large soulful eyes, the expressive color, the jagged representation of fantasy worlds. But it fell short of true sophistication, since many of the drawings had the herky-jerky quality that comes from animating fewer backgrounds or character movements than necessary for a seamless flow, usually for reasons of speed or poverty. Akira represented a fully realized anime film, both smooth in its appearance and coherent in its narrative, and the result was to awaken the affections of fans outside the anime kingdom. It's a thoroughly unsubtle film, with big explosions, mystical platitudes, and hysterical emotions, but it is also visually glorious in a way that far outdistanced its predecessors. Akira is never going to win converts beyond a certain age -- the overblown, angst-ridden plot, which stretches on for over two hours, is best lapped up by wide-eyed teenagers. But this brash, brave effort to bring anime to the outside world is remarkable in how well it achieved that goal, and how greatly it exceeded the modest expectations of its brethren. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi