Akira (franchise)

Last updated
Akira
Akira logo.svg
Created by Katsuhiro Otomo
Original work Akira (1982-1990)
OwnerMASH-ROOM
Print publications
Comics Akira
Films and television
Film(s)
Animated series Akira (TBA)
Games
Video game(s)

Akira is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on Katsuhiro Otomo's seminal manga, Akira , published from 1982 to 1990. It was adapted into a 1988 anime film and three video games. A live-action feature film has also been in development since 2000, and a new anime television series by Otomo was also announced in 2019.

Contents

Premise

Akira creator Otomo posing on a replica of the futuristic motorcycle driven by Kaneda in Akira FIBD2016Otomo01.jpg
Akira creator Otomo posing on a replica of the futuristic motorcycle driven by Kaneda in Akira

Akira takes place in futurist, cyberpunk "Neo-Tokyo", some decades following the destruction of Tokyo years prior by a massive explosion. A city struggling to prevent crime amid political corruption, the story focuses on Kaneda, the leader of a motorcycle gang, and his friend and fellow member Tetsuo, who is mentally unstable. After a near collision with a childlike Esper, the product of government research to imbue humans with powerful psychokinetic energies, Tetsuo becomes similarly afflicted. As Tetsuo struggles with controlling his new abilities, Kaneda, desperate to learn more, joins forces with a resistance group, including Kei, a woman he takes interest in. As Tetsuo's abilities start to go out of control, the military, led by Colonel Shikishima, take ultimate actions to try to contain him, wanting to prevent the same destruction to Neo-Tokyo as happened before with the test subject Akira in Tokyo years earlier. Kaneda, Kei, Shikishima, and the other Espers work together to try to help Tetsuo come to find peace and end his destructive rampage.

Works

Manga

Akira was originally serialized in Japan from 1982 to 1990 in Kodansha's Young Magazine , ending with over 2000 pages of Otomo's art. [1] It was published serially in the United States Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics, colorizing the black and white manga. The choice to colorize the work helped to popularize Akira in the Western world. [2] Six volumes of collected works were published from 2000 to 2002 by Dark Horse Comics, and in the UK by Titan Books, with the license later transferring to Kodansha Comics.

Anime feature film

Otomo did not plan on having an animated adaption of Akira, but when the idea was presented to him, he became intrigued, and agreed to allow it as long as he remained in creative control of the film. [3] The film was produced by TMS Entertainment and distributed by Toho across Japan on 16 July 1988; it had limited released in Western countries. When Akira hit home media around 1992, the film got a new resurgence, and since has been recognized as one of the best animated and science fiction films of all time, and is considered a landmark anime. [4]

Video games

A companion video game to the film was developed by TOSE and distributed by Taito for personal computers, and released in Japan on 24 December 1988. Titled simply Akira , the game was a text-based adventure game with the text presented over images from the film, with the player decided what action protagonist Kaneda would take. It received average ratings from Japanese reviewers. [5]

Black Pearl Studios, a subsidiary of THQ, obtained permission from Kodansha to develop a game based on the Akira manga in 1993. Preview footage was shown at the 1994 Consumer Electronics Show. Intended for a 1995 release on the Super NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, and Sega CD platforms, the game was never completed due to financial issues at THQ. [6] [7]

In 1994, a British-made action game, simply titled Akira, was released for the Amiga CD32 and is considered one of the console's worst games. [8] [9]

Akira Psycho Ball is a simulated pinball machine video game, featuring elements from the manga and anime, for the PlayStation 2. It was developed by KAZe and released by Bandai on 21 February 2001, with limited release in Europe the following year. The game had generally positive reviews from Japanese reviewers. [10]

Future works

Live-action film

Warner Bros. acquired the rights to a live-action Akira film in 2002, but since then has had difficulty in getting a project started, with it remaining in development hell. [11] [12] At least five different directors and ten different writers have been attached at various times. [13] [14] While Otomo had given scriptwriters the freedom to modify the plot of Akira as necessary to fit a live-action film, [15] fears remain over whitewashing or racebending in the film's casting as well as trying to relocate the film outside of Japan due to story's ties with Japan's history. [13]

Most recently, director Taika Waititi had been set to lead the film; initially slated for a 2021 release, [16] [17] following the 2019 announcement that Waititi would direct Thor: Love and Thunder first, [18] Warner Bros removed Akira from its release schedule. [19] Waititi acknowledged in a 2023 interview that Akira was among his "backlog" of projects, with the film still in the writing stage. [20]

Anime television series

As early as January 2016, a potential television series had been in the planning stages with Otomo's involvement. [21] At the 2019 Anime Expo, Otomo announced that he was working with Sunrise to create a new anime television series based on the manga. [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katsuhiro Otomo</span> Japanese manga artist, screenwriter and film director

Katsuhiro Otomo is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter, animator, and film director. He is best known as the creator of Akira, both the original 1982 manga series and the 1988 animated film adaptation. He was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2005, promoted to Officier of the order in 2014, became the fourth manga artist ever inducted into the American Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2012, and was awarded the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 2013. Otomo later received the Winsor McCay Award at the 41st Annie Awards in 2014 and the 2015 Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême, the first manga artist to receive the award. Otomo is married to Yoko Otomo. Together they have one child, a son named Shohei Otomo, who is also an artist.

<i>Initial D</i> Japanese manga series by Shūichi Shigeno and its franchise

Initial D is a Japanese street racing manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013, with the chapters collected into 48 tankōbon volumes. The story focuses on the world of illegal Japanese street racing, where all the action is concentrated in the mountain passes and rarely in cities or urban areas, and with the drifting racing style emphasized in particular. Professional race car driver and pioneer of drifting Keiichi Tsuchiya helped with editorial supervision. The story is centered on the prefecture of Gunma, more specifically on several mountains in the Kantō region and in their surrounding cities and towns. Although some of the names of the locations the characters race in have been fictionalized, all of the locations in the series are based on actual locations in Japan.

<i>Akira</i> (1988 film) 1988 animated film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo

Akira is a 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk action film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, produced by Ryōhei Suzuki and Shunzō Katō, and written by Otomo and Izo Hashimoto, based on Otomo's 1982 manga of the same name. Set in a dystopian 2019, it tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amid chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo.

<i>Akira</i> (manga) Japanese manga series by Katsuhiro Otomo

Akira is a Japanese cyberpunk post-apocalyptic manga series written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo. It was serialized biweekly in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Young Magazine from December 20, 1982, to June 25, 1990, with its 120 chapters collected into six tankōbon volumes. It was initially published in the United States by Marvel Comics under its Epic imprint, becoming one of the first manga works to be translated in its entirety into English. It is currently published by Kodansha Comics in North America. Considered a watershed title for the medium, the manga is also famous for spawning the seminal 1988 cyberpunk anime film adaptation of the same name and the greater franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shotaro Ishinomori</span> Japanese manga artist

Shotaro Ishinomori was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009, the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider series. He was twice awarded by the Shogakukan Manga Awards, in 1968 for Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae and in 1988 for Hotel and Manga Nihon Keizai Nyumon.

<i>Tetsujin 28-go</i> Japanese manga series and its adaptations

Tetsujin 28-gō, known as simply Tetsujin 28 in international releases, is a 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who also created Giant Robo. The series centers on the adventures of a young boy named Shotaro Kaneda, who controls a giant robot named Tetsujin 28, built by his late father.

<i>Akira</i> (video game) 1988 adventure video game

Akira (アキラ) is a 1988 adventure video game by TOSE for the Family Computer console exclusively in Japan. It is based on Akira, the 1988 animated film version of Katsuhiro Otomo's manga of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taika Waititi</span> New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian (born 1975)

Taika David Cohen, known professionally as Taika Waititi, is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films and has expanded his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects. He has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award, as well as two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

Shot-for-shot is a way to describe a visual work that is transferred almost completely identically from the original work without much interpretation.

Fireball is an unfinished Japanese science fiction manga written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo. The 50-page story was published in Futabasha's Action Deluxe magazine on January 27, 1979. Fireball is notable for establishing ground Otomo would later explore more successfully in Domu and his best-known work Akira. It was later collected in Otomo's 1990 short story collection Kanojo no Omoide..., which was published in English as Memories: The Collection.

Japanese cyberpunk refers to cyberpunk fiction produced in Japan. There are two distinct subgenres of Japanese cyberpunk: live-action Japanese cyberpunk films, and cyberpunk manga and anime works.

Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC is a publishing company based in New York, US, and a subsidiary of Japan's largest publishing company Kodansha. Established in July 2008, Kodansha USA publishes books relating to Japan, Japanese culture, and manga, the latter under their Kodansha Manga imprint.

<i>Attack on Titan</i> Japanese manga series and franchise

Attack on Titan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama. It is set in a world where humanity is forced to live in cities surrounded by three enormous walls that protect them from gigantic man-eating humanoids referred to as Titans; the story follows Eren Yeager, who vows to exterminate the Titans after they bring about the destruction of his hometown and the death of his mother. It was serialized in Kodansha's monthly magazine Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from September 2009 to April 2021, with its chapters collected in 34 tankōbon volumes.

<i>Higanjima</i> Japanese manga series

Higanjima is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōji Matsumoto. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from 2002 to 2010, with its chapters collected in 33 tankōbon volumes. A second series, Higanjima: Saigo no 47 Nichikan, was serialized in the same magazine from 2010 to 2014; a third series, Higanjima 48 Nichigo… started in 2014.

<i>The New Adventures of Gigantor</i> 1980 television anime

New Tetsujin-28 is a 1980 Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, and a modern style remake of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga Tetsujin 28-go. It was directed by Tetsuo Imazawa and produced by both Shigeru Akagawa and Toru Horikoshi. It aired on Nippon Television from October 3, 1980, to September 25, 1981, with a total count of 51 episodes. Fred Ladd and TMS converted the series into The New Adventures of Gigantor, which was broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States from September 9, 1993, to June 30, 1997.

<i>Rurouni Kenshin</i> (film) 2012 Japanese film

Rurouni Kenshin, also known as Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins in North America, is a 2012 Japanese jidaigeki action film based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Directed by Keishi Ōtomo, the film stars Takeru Satoh and Emi Takei. It focuses on fictional events that take place during the early Meiji era in Japan, telling the story of a countryside wanderer named Himura Kenshin, a former assassin who now offers aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed, as he helps a dojo owner and protects a woman from a ruthless drug lord.

<i>The Seven Deadly Sins</i> (manga) Japanese manga series by Nakaba Suzuki

The Seven Deadly Sins is a Japanese fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Nakaba Suzuki. It was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from October 2012 to March 2020, with the chapters collected into 41 tankōbon volumes. Featuring a setting similar to the European Middle Ages, the story follows a titular group of knights representing the seven deadly sins. The manga has been licensed by Kodansha USA for English publication in North America, while the chapters were released digitally by Crunchyroll in over 170 countries as they were published in Japan.

<i>Attack on Titan</i> (film) 2015 Japanese film by Shinji Higuchi

Attack on Titan is a 2015 Japanese post-apocalyptic action film based on the manga of the same name created by Hajime Isayama. The film is directed by Shinji Higuchi, written by Yūsuke Watanabe and Tomohiro Machiyama and stars Haruma Miura, Hiroki Hasegawa, Kiko Mizuhara, Kanata Hongō, Takahiro Miura, Nanami Sakuraba, Satoru Matsuo, Shu Watanabe, Ayame Misaki, Rina Takeda, Satomi Ishihara, Pierre Taki and Jun Kunimura.

Akira is a proposed American cyberpunk action film based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo, and was set to be the second film adaptation following the 1988 anime version. The film was written by Taika Waititi and Michael Golamco.

<i>Thor: Love and Thunder</i> 2022 Marvel Studios film

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 2022 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Thor. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Taika Waititi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, and stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor alongside Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Waititi, Russell Crowe, and Natalie Portman. In the film, Thor tries to find inner peace, but must return to action and recruit Valkyrie (Thompson), Korg (Waititi), and Jane Foster (Portman)—who is now the Mighty Thor—to stop Gorr the God Butcher (Bale) from eliminating all gods.

References

  1. Brooks, Brad; Tim Pilcher (2005). The Essential Guide to World Comics. London: Collins & Brown. p.  103. ISBN   1-84340-300-5.
  2. Kôsei, Ono (Winter 1996). "Manga Publishing: Trends in the United States". Japanese Book News. 1 (16). The Japan Foundation: 6–7. ISSN   0918-9580.
  3. Hughes, David (2003). Comic Book Movies. Virgin Books. p. 27. ISBN   0-7535-0767-6.
  4. "Akira – Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes". Uk.rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  5. "Cross Review". Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). No. 65. Enterbrain, Tokuma. 6 January 1989. p. 19.
  6. "Akira's long-lost SEGA prototype has been found". AIPT Comics. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  7. "Unreleased Akira game for SEGA Genesis rediscovered". Syfy . 29 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  8. "Akira (Amiga) – Hardcore Gaming 101" . Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  9. "Akira - Amiga Game / Games - Download ADF, Music, Cheat - Lemon Amiga". www.lemonamiga.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  10. プレイステーション2 - AKIRA PSYCHO BALL. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.91. 30 June 2006.
  11. Linder, Brian et al. (12 April 2002). "Akira Hollywood Remake!?" IGN.com. Retrieved 24 October 2006. Archived 13 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Busch, Anita; Fleming, Mike Jr. (19 September 2017). "'Akira' Back? 'Thor: Ragnarok' Helmer Taika Waititi In Talks". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  13. 1 2 Marc, Christopher (6 April 2017). "Akira: The Tortured History of the Unmade Live-Action Adaptation". IGN . Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  14. Kit, Borys (5 January 2012). "'Akira' Production Offices Shut Down As Warner Bros. Scrutinizes Budget (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
  15. Anderson, Kyle (1 June 2017). "Akira creator says he must approve any live-action film". The Nerdist . Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  16. Couch, Aaron (24 May 2019). "Taika Waititi's 'Akira' Sets 2021 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  17. D'Alessandro, Anthony (24 May 2019). "Taika Waititi's 'Akira' Will Take Off In Summer 2021". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  18. Kit, Borys (16 July 2019). "Taika Waititi to Direct 'Thor 4' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  19. Hipes, Patrick (11 December 2019). "Warner Bros Sets Release Dates For 'The Matrix' Sequel, 'The Flash' & More; 'Akira' Off Schedule". Deadline.
  20. Bui, Hoai-Tran (14 November 2023). "Taika Waititi Confirms He's Not Directing 'Thor 5' — But Chris Hemsworth is in Talks for Return". Inverse. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  21. "Akira TV series in development, hints creator". FACT Magazine . 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  22. Patches, Matt (5 July 2019). "A new Akira anime is coming to TV". Polygon . Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  23. Kade, Leigh (5 July 2019). ""Akira" Manga Creator Announces New Projects". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 19 August 2019.