What was the cultural impact of Akira (1988), and why does it occupy a key place in the canon of anime greats?
Akira is a monumental achievement for not only Japanese animation but animation as an art form. The film’s domestic and international breakthrough played a tremendous role in paving the way for the global cultural phenomenon, ‘anime’. However, animation has not always held a universal cultural significance as it does today.
Before the release of Akira in 1988, animation was generally considered as a minor art form, often produced to appeal to an audience of young children (Napier, 2005). In Japan, children’s animated media, such as The Great Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968) and Astro Boy (1963), were pillars of Japan’s animation industry and generated significant mass appeal (Mountfort, 2020; Napier, 2005). Therefore, animation wasn’t considered to have the complexity and depth of blockbuster, live-action films or other mediums. Nevertheless, with the universal success of Akira, the global attitude towards animation as an art form would change.
Released in 1988, Akira stands out from other major animated films for its high production quality, recognisable art-style and sophisticated themes. At the time, Akira was one of the most expensive Japanese animated films, bolstering an impressive multi-million yen budget (Harding, 2020). As a result, director Katsuhiro Otomo and the production team were able to push the limits of the animation medium.
Each frame of Akira contains an immense amount of detail, resulting in a compelling and fully realised setting of a cyberpunk, Neo-Tokyo. Additionally, the animation team was able to utilise 24fps animation during selected moments to enhance sequences, making Akira a technical masterpiece of animated media (Mountfort, 2020).
Additionally, Akira‘s story deals with sophisticated themes such as destruction, gang warfare and political corruption. While such sophisticated themes were not uncommon in Japanese animation, in the west, these were themes delivered a new experience compared to the predictability of western animated films (Napier, 2005). All these elements combined for an animated experience unlike any other.
The success of Akira has had a perpetual effect on the animation industry. Its success in the west was a powerhouse in developing the cultural phenomenon, ‘anime’, which is now enjoyed by millions worldwide cementing its place in pop culture history. Napier (2005) reaffirms by stating that Akira is a complex piece of art that has amazed and inspired audiences since its initial release.
References.
Bessho, B., & Masaki, M. (1963) Astro Boy.
Harding, D. (2020). Akira anime film producer corrects 30-year fact on how much the groundbreaking film cost to make. Crunchyroll. https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/06/08-1/akira-anime-film-producer-corrects-30-year-fact-on-how-much-the-groundbreaking-film-cost-to-make
Mountfort, P. (2020). Pop genres anime 1 Akira [PowerPoint Slides]. Blackboard. https://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/
Napier, S. (2005). Why anime? In Anime: from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle (pp.3-14). Hampshire: Palgrave/ Macmillan.
Napier, S. (2005). Anime and Local/Global Identity. In Anime: from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle (pp.15-34). Hampshire: Palgrave/Macmillan.
Otomo, K. (1988). Akira.
Takahata, I. (1968) The Great Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun.
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