Amidst all the great animes we've been exposed to, Akira stands out. Set in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, the neo-classic featured everything we've come to expect from Japan's animation wizards: stunning artwork, imaginative plot lines and absolutely killer conveyances – particularly the bikes which easily put Tron to shame.
Word is that Warner Bros. has signed a deal to create two live-action movies based on the six-volume graphic novel, with Leonardo DiCaprio helping to produce the films and Akira's creator, Katsuhior Otomo, being on hand as the executive producer. The first of the two films is expected to come to the big screen in the summer of 2009 and we have little doubt that it has the potential of blowing Speed Racer out of the water.
[Source: Variety via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
matt @ Feb 21st 2008 5:29PM
LOL
why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 21st 2008 5:29PM
KANEDA!!!!
TETSUO!!!!
I don't get the mystique.
Ohso Clutch @ Feb 21st 2008 5:44PM
Everybody has their own thing.... If anything, It'll be interesting to see how it translates to live action.
focus407svt @ Apr 16th 2008 4:56PM
you dont get it?!? a child learns the power to create a new universe, and you don't understand the mystique?!? he performs this feat not once but twice, and the second time to counter that of tetsuo's, who also learns the secret and has the power?!? man, you need to get out...
speedball3 @ Feb 21st 2008 5:43PM
After the first 1/2 hour or so, the movie sucks. Gone are all the cool bikes and stuff, and enter in freaky children and insanity. I don't get the movie and I don't get why everyone thinks it's so great.... someone care to chime me in on this "anime classic?"
jamey @ Feb 21st 2008 5:56PM
Whats not to understand about a giant teddy bear that constantly bleeds milk?
Reading the books was the only way I could figure it out.
I cant wait to see the bike in live action though.
Jess Allen @ Feb 21st 2008 10:03PM
weak people + great power = tyrant
Galley @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:51AM
I agree. It just went on and on and on.
chris norys @ Mar 7th 2008 2:28AM
The movie and manga are two completely different storylines. The movie sucks, and has very little accuracy to the flawless manga.
Spirit R @ Feb 21st 2008 6:03PM
People don't get the movie because it was condensed from the 6 manga into a 2 hour movie. Read the books and maybe you'll appreciate it more, but if you don't like those post WWII, mutation ideas then i don't think you'll have a change of heart.
It was released in 1988 which is insane when you consider that some of us weren't even 'supposed' to watch this movie for more than 10 years. The animation technique allowed them to double the amount of frames, making it look super smooth and crisp (compare the thundercats intro to the actual body of an episode), almost half a million frames.
It's been a long time coming to make it into a better representation of the manga, and 2 movies sounds great. I won't hold my breath though, but potentially it's very cool.
John R @ Feb 21st 2008 6:13PM
NOOOOOOOO!!!! Leave it alone!
Arrgh, first Dragonball, then Robotech/Macross and now this. Can't say I'm really surprised, but I know Hollywood will muck it up.
You know what's coming next. Ghost in the Shell with Lucy Liu, bleech...
Big Rocket @ Feb 21st 2008 6:28PM
[Spoiler Alert]
On the surface, Akira is an anime about a teenage gang with cool bikes in a post-apocalyptic society. But dig beneath the surface, and the core question emerges: What would happen to someone if he gains god-like powers? Akira seems to argue that mankind does not have the wisdom to use god-like powers responsibly. Add that to the imagery of the atomic explosion at the start of the film, and you can imagine what this Japanese anime is really trying to say.
Apu @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:36AM
Isn't that the message in, like, every post-apocalyptic movie?
Ed @ Feb 21st 2008 6:44PM
This could be awesome. The most important thing is that they put that badass recumbent AWD hyperbike in it, the people who make bikes realise there is a market/interest for super awesome crazy futuristic bikes, and make it for real.
Atropos @ Feb 21st 2008 6:45PM
Why ruin this ? Just the thought of it is depressing.
Seriously... next thing you know, someone will want to make a movie of House of Leaves (and believe they could pull it off)
Rick @ Feb 21st 2008 7:25PM
Whooohoooo!!
_M7_ @ Feb 21st 2008 10:40PM
I want one of those moto XD they are cool as the one used in bublegum crisis by the rought girl or mospeada cicles XD
:)
94 taurus owner @ Feb 21st 2008 10:55PM
Wow live action anime number 4
1.Speed Racer..2008
2.Tekken..2009(yes there was an anime tekken movie in 98)..2009
3.Dragon ball..2009
4.and now this Akira..2009
94 taurus owner @ Feb 21st 2008 10:56PM
Wow this is the fourth Anime movie(if you include
the Tekken movie made in 98) that will be turned into a live action film. Here's A list
1.Speed racer...2008
2.Dragon ball...2009
3.Tekken...2009
4.and now this Akira...2009
JJ @ Feb 21st 2008 11:37PM
Well if the creator is signed on... it couldnt turn out "THAT" bad.
Now if he up and walks away from the project...then... well, THEN we can worry =).
But all in all i see nothing bad with it, i would actually LIKE to see a live action version of Akira.