Akira is a manga (as well as a movie). Manga (japanese comics) aren't well known in other countries, but Akira managed to grow even more popular in western countries than in Japan. The american company Marvel has had the original colorised and so all western releases of Akira feature nice colours.



The Story is long and complicated, involving gangs of bikers etc and a massive military programme, kind of reminds you of russia and the cold war, and a eugenics movement. There are a bunch of special kids locked up and the military try and lock up another boy, Tetsuo, his friend Akira tried to get him free not realising the implications. The animation and the comics are highly recommended by me.