AKIRA
Set in Neo-Tokyo in 2019 — thirty-one years after the 1988 explosion that triggered World War III — the story follows a biker gang caught between the military, anti-government guerrillas, and their friend's uncontrolled awakening of psychic powers. Based on Katsuhiro Otomo's manga (serialised 1982–1990); the anime film was released in 1988.
- Genre:
- SF / サイバーパンク / アクション / ディストピア
- Medium:
- Manga / Film
AKIRA — Timeline11 events
A New-Type Bomb Detonates Over the Kanto Region, Annihilating Old Tokyo and Triggering World War III
In July 1988, an unknown explosion occurred over the Kanto region, obliterating old Tokyo. The blast triggered the outbreak of World War III and a global conflict unfolded. At the core of the explosion was believed to be an uncontrolled energy release by the psychic test subject codenamed 'Akira'; the military concealed the truth.
Neo-Tokyo, 31 Years After World War III, Is Depicted in a State of Both Prosperity and Corruption, with the Olympics Slated for the Following Year
Built by reclaiming land on Tokyo Bay over the ruins of old Tokyo, Neo-Tokyo in 2019 projected superficial prosperity with the Olympic Games scheduled for the following year. Beneath the surface, however, corrupt parliamentary politics, terrorism, riots, and biker gang warfare were commonplace, with deep social unrest simmering throughout. Anti-government guerrilla groups were also intensifying their activities.
Kaneda's Biker Gang Encounters the Psychic Test Subject Takashi on an Abandoned Highway in Neo-Tokyo
Kaneda, Tetsuo, and their biker gang — attending a vocational training school attached to a juvenile facility — collided on a sealed expressway with Takashi (No. 26), a child psychic test subject who had been taken from a military facility. Takashi had been mistaken for a military secret seized by anti-government guerrillas and was being pursued by the army.
Tetsuo Is Taken Away by the Military; His Psychic Ability Is Confirmed and He Is Interned at a Research Facility as Subject No. 41
Injured in the collision with Takashi, Tetsuo was taken away by the army. Tests at the facility confirmed to the Colonel and researchers that Tetsuo possessed psychic potential equivalent to 'Akira,' the test subject whose power had destroyed old Tokyo in 1988. Tetsuo was interned as Subject No. 41, subjected to repeated drug regimens and experiments.
Tetsuo Becomes Aware of His Psychic Powers, Escapes the Facility, and His Abilities Begin to Spiral Out of Control
Awakened by the experiments and drug regimens, Tetsuo became aware of his psychic powers and escaped the facility without his suppressants. His abilities grew at a rapid rate and became increasingly difficult to contain. Brushing aside the Numbers — the other child test subjects who tried to stop him — Tetsuo made his way out into Neo-Tokyo.
The Colonel Launches a Coup, Seizing Military Control Over the Government Under the Pretext of Protecting Citizens from the Psychic Threat
As Tetsuo's uncontrolled psychic powers caused mounting damage across Neo-Tokyo, the Colonel lost patience with the corrupt parliamentary government and launched a coup. The military seized power under the pretext of protecting citizens from the psychic threat. Tetsuo learned of the cryogenically preserved Akira beneath the Olympic stadium construction site and headed there.
Tetsuo Discovers Akira's Cryogenically Preserved Remains Beneath the Olympic Stadium and Attempts to Awaken Him
Tetsuo broke into the underground facility beneath the under-construction Olympic stadium and found the cryogenically preserved remains of Akira — in reality a residual energy entity. Intending to release the power of Akira, whom he revered as the supreme psychic, Tetsuo discovered that what remained was a collection of energy-organ fragments left over from dissection and research.
Tetsuo's Power Exceeds Its Limit; His Body Expands and Mutates, Transforming into an Uncontrollable Massive Flesh Form
Contact with Akira's energy caused Tetsuo's psychic power to surge catastrophically beyond its limits, and cellular control of his body was lost. His body underwent abnormal growth and mutated into an enormous, transformed mass of flesh, continuing to cause destruction and engulf everything around it. Military strikes ordered by the Colonel could not stop Tetsuo.
Akira Awakens; Together with the Numbers He Draws Tetsuo into Another Dimension
Before the uncontrollable Tetsuo, Akira manifested in response to the call of the Numbers — the child psychic test subjects including Takashi. The combined power of Akira and the Numbers drew the ever-expanding Tetsuo into a dimensional singularity. Kaneda witnessed Tetsuo and Akira disappearing into that light.
Neo-Tokyo Is Again Engulfed by a Massive Explosion; Kaneda and Other Survivors Face a New Beginning in the Ruins
After Akira and Tetsuo vanished, Neo-Tokyo was struck by another massive explosion centred on the Olympic stadium site, and a wide area of the city was annihilated. Kaneda, Kei, and other survivors found themselves alive amid the ruins. Within the receding light of Akira, Kaneda sensed that some trace of Tetsuo's consciousness persisted.
A New Order Begins to Emerge from the Ruins; the Possibility of Human Evolutionary Advance Is Implied
In the ruins of Neo-Tokyo, twice devastated by explosion, Kaneda and the survivors began to build a new order. The phenomenon Akira had manifested was depicted as pointing toward a next stage for humanity that transcended individual psychic ability, and through this conclusion Katsuhiro Otomo presented the possibility of human evolutionary advance.
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