Week 4 Question: What was the cultural impact of Akira (1988), and why does it occupy a key place in the canon of anime greats?

1. What was the cultural impact of Akira (1988), and why does it occupy a key place in the canon of anime greats?

Among the wide catalogue of influential anime, there is nothing more important to the development and popularity of the genre than Akira (Otomo, 1988). Akira is one of, if not the most important anime creations, it was the film that exposed many western audiences to the world of Japanese animation and as a result, the cultural impact of Akira was ginormous. Akira’s impact truly cannot be understated, Susan J. Napier mentions that “Akira is also a complex and challenging work of art that provoked, bewildered, and occasionally inspired Western audiences when it first appeared outside of Japan” (Napier, 2005, p. 5). The cult following that Akira acquire was substantial considering how unknown anime was to the western world earning over $80 million worldwide in VHS sales alone. Put simply, Akira showed the western world that Japanese animation existed.

 

Before Akira, animation in the west was predominately seen as a medium design for children Napier mentions how “animation was generally regarded as a minor art, something for children, or, perhaps, the occasional abstract, art-house film” (Naiper, 2005, p. 5). This is seen with how the vast majority of Walt Disney Picture films are designed for a much younger audience, specifically children. For western audiences that grew up children’s cartoons, Akira would have been genuinely shocking as it was radically different from what they would have been exposed to. Akira’s visuals, soundtrack, storyline, and other aspects were unlike anything western audiences would have seen at the time. Akira was uncompromising in this regard and is another reason why it had a massive cultural impact. This idea is true for a lot of anime, as Napier states “Its complex story lines challenge the viewer used the predictability of Disney … while its often dark tone and content may surprise audiences who like to think of cartoons as childish or innocent” (Napier, 2005, p. 9). Akira showed western audiences an animated film that did not stray away from graphic depictions of violence and sexuality, something that was virtually never seen before the advent of Akira.

 

Akira was also influential in the creation of the subgenre, Japanese cyberpunk, popularizing the subgenre after the Akira manga series started it. Without Akira some of the most influential and important anime simply would not exist, it paved the way for other important Japanese animation to make their way over to the west and further the interest in anime. Due to the monumental cultural impact of Akira, it has cemented itself as a key film in the great canon of anime alongside many other great works. A reason as to why Akira established itself as one of the greats in the anime canon is how it has remained culturally relevant even 32 years after its creation. This is due to the poignant themes and imagery in Akira resembling a lot of the continuous struggles that people face against corrupt government systems.

 

References

Napier, S. (2005). Anime: from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle. Hampshire: Palgrave/ Macmillan.

Otomo, K. (Director). (1988). Akira [Film]. Tokyo Movie Shinsha.