Research 3 - Akira

Akira is one of the most famous anime movies and was what brought anime into the western public eye. The film follows the story of two young biker gang boys, Tetsuo and Kaneda, years after world war three, Neo-Tokyo has become a dystopian society full of rejects and hobos. After a bike chase Tetsuo gets mixed up with a strange child and is taken to a secret facility where it is found he has psychic abilities, the same if not stronger than the child who put him in the facility. the rest of the story covers Kaneda trying to save him and then go on to helplessly watch as he inflates into a monster due to his powers.

Akira was recommended to me by my tutor as an anime movie that i must watch in order to really appreciate anime. I'll agree that the animation is incredible, it is amazingly fluid and full of movement in comparison to animation of its time (i.e Dragon Ball). However i didn't find the story as entertaining as people made it out to be. This mostly came down to personal preference, i could tell its story was really impressive and thought out but for me it wasn't as exciting. I'd watch it again but not regularly or out of enjoyment for the film, more to enjoy the animation i suppose.

I suppose this is an example of how fame does not necessarily mean all round acclaim and popularity. While something can still be appreciated it can still be either scrutinised or not enjoyed based upon its content and the audience watching.