Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extremely violent classic introduced anime to Westerners.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Akira
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 31 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a striking and complex piece of anime that showcases impressive animation and storytelling, though it's filled with intense violence, graphic scenes, and adult themes, making it unsuitable for younger viewers. Many recommend it for older teens and adults, emphasizing its cultural impact and artistic achievements while cautioning parents about its disturbing imagery and mature content.
- intense violence
- adult themes
- cultural impact
- impressive animation
- suitable for older teens
- disturbing imagery
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Neo-Tokyo of 2019, post-WWIII, old friends Kaneda and Tetsuo are members of a violent motorcycle gang. During a fight with a rival gang, a strange, small boy with a wrinkled face enters the fray. Tetsuo is hospitalized, where a colonel and a doctor discover that Tetsuo has remarkable powers, recalling a mysterious entity known as AKIRA, that has lain dormant for 30 years. As the main characters navigate a complex plot filled with powerful beings, military, activists, and scientists, Tetsuo's powers grow stronger. Everything builds to an explosive, nightmarish showdown in which the future of the world hangs.
Is It Any Good?
Katsuhiro Otomo co-wrote the screenplay of Akira and directed this 1988 adaptation of his much-loved 1980s-era manga (comic book); it was a huge production that paid off enormously. When it arrived in America, it became a cult classic and introduced Western audiences to anime (Japanese animation), a genre that remains popular to this day.
Akira is extraordinarily dense and enormously complicated, and things like story and characters tend to go out the window in favor of cosmic ideas and mysteries, bizarre imagery, and astounding levels of violence. It takes full advantage of the animated medium with its sheer imagination and intensity. Indeed, to attempt these same images in a live-action setting would have been far too expensive and disturbing. Time has not yet dulled the sheer impact of the work, though, and the level of detail, movement, and fluidity is still highly impressive. It's still essential viewing for anyone interested in the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. Does it seem to get stronger and more disturbing as it goes? How does watching super violent content make you feel?
What is the movie actually about? Who or what is Akira? Is the reappearance of Akira a good thing or a bad thing?
Is it possible that memories and knowledge are passed around throughout the universe? What are some of the movie's other themes?
When Tetsuo achieves his great powers, why does he immediately choose to use them for destructive behavior? What else could he have done?
What makes anime so popular? Why is Akira considered such a great example of the genre?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 16, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2001
- Cast : Barbara Goodson , Bob Bergen , Cam Clarke
- Director : Katsuhiro Otomo
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Pioneer
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : graphic violence and brief nudity
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate