This is going to be a positive review. *Akira* isn’t just my favorite animated film; it’s also my top choice among all films, and one of my favorites overall. Katsuhiro Otomo created an animated science fiction action movie geared toward adults that's genuinely good—a rare accomplishment, since most "adult" animation falls flat by relying on cheap jokes and a weak plot instead of solid storytelling and relatable characters. The film explores themes like friendship, honor, betrayal, the dangers of playing God, gang warfare, espionage, corruption, and abuse of power while maintaining a fast pace throughout its runtime. Combining all these elements results in one of the greatest animated films ever made, a true classic. On July 16, 1988, Tokyo was destroyed by a massive explosion that triggered World War III. In 2019, Tokyo has been rebuilt as Neo-Tokyo, a sprawling city filled with crime and controlled by corrupt politicians where 16-year-old Shotaro Kaneda (voiced by Cam Clarke in the 1988 Streamline dub, Johnny Yong Bosch in the 2001 Pioneer dub, and Mitsuo Iwata in Japanese) leads the Capsules, a biker gang currently at war with the Clowns. Kaneda's group includes his friends: 15-year-old Tetsuo Shima (Jan Rabson, Joshua Seth, Nozomu Sasaki), who is like a brother to him; 15-year-old Kai (Bob Bergen, Anthony Pulcini, Takeshi Kusao); and 16-year-old Yama (Tony Pope, Michael Lindsay, Masaaki Okura). During a fight with the Clowns, protesting students are interrupted when an unusual boy named Takashi (Barbara Goodson, Cody Mackenzie, Tatsuhiko Nakamura) with psychic abilities is kidnapped. After Tetsuo defeats a Clown, his motorcycle explodes near Takashi. The boys find Tetsuo injured. Military forces led by Colonel Shikishima (Pope, Jamieson Price, Taro Ishida) seize both Tetsuo and Takashi while the boys are arrested. At the police station, Kaneda arranges for the release of 17-year-old resistance member Kei (Lara Cody, Wendee Lee, Mami Koyama),

Source on TMDB