DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD - View Single Post - "Akira" - 9/01/02

limacharliewhiskey · 09-12-2002, 10:14 PM

This was probably one of the first anime films designed for both the Japanese and American audience.

I remember hearing about the making of this film when I was collecting the Marvel/Epic comics translated adaptation of the original manga comic books of Akira.

What makes this movie interesting is that the comic series was not yet completed when the movie came out, so creator Katsuhiro Otomo wasn't really sure what the ending was or if it would make sense.

Essentially, the movie is a condensed version of the first 3rd of comic books, and the last tenth of it forms the last 20 minutes of the movie. What didn't get adapted to film was about 60% of the middle story in the comic books. This is why there seems to be such a drastic jump of logic in the movie between the first 1.5 hours and the last half hour.

When you just watch the Akira film, it doesn't make sense in the last half-hour. It becomes somewhat similar to "2001", where you just say to yourself, "WTF just happened?! WTF is going on?!" I watched it 5 times, and I still didn't know what to make of it, just like "2001".

Maybe 4 or 5 years later, the manga comic book was completed and the final issues translated into English. Watching the film again after reading the entire comic series again, the ending does make a lot more sense. But there is more of an explanation for who and what Akira is in the comic book that is never really explained clearly in the film.

In the film, Akira appears to be a human form of a nuclear bomb. In the comic book, Akira is more or less the next stage of human evolution, where the power he can generate is equivalent to the power of the Big Bang that created the universe. Akira has the power to transport himself in time and space to create a new universe, which is what happens at the end of the film, where you hear the words, "I am Tetsuo." At least this is how I've interpreted it during my last reading of the comics and viewing of the film. Who knows, the next time I see it, I might interpret it differently.

Just like with most books, when they're adapted into a 2-hour film, they really don't do the original story any justice, as the film tries to cram in too much info in too short a time period. Akira falls right into this category, too.

It's still a visual feast to watch and a great introduction for any newbies to anime.

09-12-2002, 10:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
limacharliewhiskey FryMaster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The O.C.	This was probably one of the first anime films designed for both the Japanese and American audience. I remember hearing about the making of this film when I was collecting the Marvel/Epic comics translated adaptation of the original manga comic books of Akira. What makes this movie interesting is that the comic series was not yet completed when the movie came out, so creator Katsuhiro Otomo wasn't really sure what the ending was or if it would make sense. Essentially, the movie is a condensed version of the first 3rd of comic books, and the last tenth of it forms the last 20 minutes of the movie. What didn't get adapted to film was about 60% of the middle story in the comic books. This is why there seems to be such a drastic jump of logic in the movie between the first 1.5 hours and the last half hour. When you just watch the Akira film, it doesn't make sense in the last half-hour. It becomes somewhat similar to "2001", where you just say to yourself, "WTF just happened?! WTF is going on?!" I watched it 5 times, and I still didn't know what to make of it, just like "2001". Maybe 4 or 5 years later, the manga comic book was completed and the final issues translated into English. Watching the film again after reading the entire comic series again, the ending does make a lot more sense. But there is more of an explanation for who and what Akira is in the comic book that is never really explained clearly in the film. In the film, Akira appears to be a human form of a nuclear bomb. In the comic book, Akira is more or less the next stage of human evolution, where the power he can generate is equivalent to the power of the Big Bang that created the universe. Akira has the power to transport himself in time and space to create a new universe, which is what happens at the end of the film, where you hear the words, "I am Tetsuo." At least this is how I've interpreted it during my last reading of the comics and viewing of the film. Who knows, the next time I see it, I might interpret it differently. Just like with most books, when they're adapted into a 2-hour film, they really don't do the original story any justice, as the film tries to cram in too much info in too short a time period. Akira falls right into this category, too. It's still a visual feast to watch and a great introduction for any newbies to anime. __________________ "Believing oneself to be perfect is often a sign of a delusional mind." - Data in Star Trek: First Contact DVD Aficionado collection.