Do people still consider Akira to be one of the greatest anime movies ever made?
I finally watched the Akira movie, and was really disappointed. Not that I hate it, but this is often cited as top 10 anime movies of all time. Animation is pretty impressive, but everything else is subpar. The emotional core essentially relies on Kaneda's relationship with his gang, but Kaneda spends most of his screentime with Kei. Tetsuo's even worse, as he has barely any development before he begins going crazy.
So, the movie is like a payoff with no setup.
So, the movie is like a payoff with no setup.
Commentaires
It became iconic because many animators and filmmakers love the slide and started to reference it. Also, not everything has to be explained and justified with extensive exposition.
E: okay, it even is explained as gregariouswaty pointed out below. Been a few years since I last watched Akira...
Kaneda is kind of an asshole. His bike is a status symbol so, however he got it, it isn't something he would just share with others.
And it is revered as one of the greatest anime, because of the quality of the realization. It's a hand made movie, no CGI implied; the soundtrack during some scenes gives an incredible overall ambiance. It's a movie that influenced lots of manga artists, and also Japanese pop culture, with the now famous "Akira slide".
it's considered greatest not because of the plot but because how it revolutionized anime... the quality of animation it has stands the test of time on top of having a banger OST. It was also 1 of the first anime movies to break into the western market
To capture the manga faithfully though, would require something like they did with Pluto - a 6 to 8 part serial of hour long episodes and can’t see that happening given Akira’s place in history.
To me it's about the raw primal emotional feedback the visuals, the world building and, in the movie's case, the OST draw out of you.
Kaneda's gang aren't the emotional core. They and other bikers are a showcase of how low Neo Tokyo's society can go already.
Tetsuo isn't a compelling villain you see develop. He is a human shell driven by violence. A new, even worse, low.
The manga does have some character development later on. Kaneda grows into more of a goofball, for a lack of a better word, whose presence dilutes the overall doom and gloom. Tetsuo actually comes down from his high and starts becoming more grounded.
Ultimately though, it all still cycles back to how viscerally can the author depict the sheer disaster caused by Tetsuo and Akira.
No training arcs, no tournament arcs, no power system...you say?
> the movie is like a payoff with no setup
Yep, watching noting but battle shounen makes your standards weird.
O really? What do you like about it? Favorite character?
>Favorite character?
Ernest Mecklinger
Even the music being public domain, instead of specifically written for the show?
>Believability of character
Especially when they switch to scenery chewing mode.
>commitment to grey morality
I mean, aside from the guys from Fezzan, most of the other guys play it pretty straightforward.
>countless historical references
Yes, it's clearly inspired from certain historical periods, but specific refences?
>Ernest Mecklinger
Dude was literally a background character.
Yes. That's by design; the show goes for a timeless approach and is a better fit than classical music, which has already proven it can hold the test of time.
>I mean, aside from the guys from Fezzan, most of the other guys play it pretty straightforward.
I mean, both Reinhard and Yang are protagonists and oppose each other, but neither is depicted as evil.
>but specific refences?
Almost everything is reference to something. To name a few:
* Kircheis is a reference to Germanic mythology
* Goldenbaum refers to the Bourbons of France
* Serfdom in the Reich is reference to Romanov serfdom
* Rudolf is parallel to Hitler
* FPA invasion of the Reich in season 1 is a reference to Napoleon's invasion of Russia
* FPA protest in the stadium is a reference to the Nika riots
* Reinhard occupying neutral Fezzan is a reference to the German occupation of Belgium
* Nuking Westernland is a reference to bombing Nagasaki and Hiroshima
* Reinhard's escaping an assassination attempt is a reference to Napoleon's "Go ahead, shoot your Emperor!"
* Mittermeyer and Reuenthal taking Heinessen while Yang is beating Reinhard is a reference to Paris falling during the 5th coalition
* Trunicht's surrender is a reference to France's surrender during WW2
>Dude was literally a background character.
You take that back!
The problem with classic music is that you can already have preexisting associations with some of the works...so I am pretty sure the lacked money and "timeless" is just excuse.
>both Reinhard and Yang are protagonists and oppose each other, but neither is depicted as evil
They follow their own moral systems and hate when they are forced to ho against. That's not "grey morality".
>Kircheis is a reference to Germanic mythology
Yeah, ,my favorite history book...
>Goldenbaum refers to the Bourbons of France
Or any dynasty...
...
>Trunicht's surrender is a reference to France's surrender during WW2
Not necessary. Trunicht could be a reference to Neville Chamberlain for example.
>You take that back!
After all of those I am deeply convinced that you haven't watched LOTGH. You know about it only from internet.
I am a big fan of Mahler however, yeah, I don't really put the original series OST in high praise because I expect original music, in original works. Still it really wasn't a big deal in regards to my enjoyment.
The music does fit the show.....I just would have preferred original orchestral music. It probably was done to save on money.
If anything Akira is notable to me, in being the one sci fi classic I didn’t end up liking. Most of them like Macross (see flair), Ghost in the Shell, Bebop, Evangelion and even more esoteric shows like Lain I ended up liking.
What a major assumption about people you don’t know lol. It’s not going to change the fact, I think it’s a rushed mess with boring characterization.
OK, you don't mind retro stuff...still unclear why you dislike Akira. Possibly differen reason than OP's "payoff with no setup"?
> March Comes in Like a Lion
Ewww. Melodrama.
>What a major assumption about people you don’t know
It's on you tho, I assumed certain things **about the OP** in the context of **what they said.**..not liking Akira may come from other reasons.
>rushed mess with boring characterization.
Evangelion comes to mind.
I mean I guess, I would have to see what OP means but yeah, I think the movie tries to do way way too much, which is why I am at least considering reading the manga (it's not a high priority though). It definitely feels like a 24 episode TV anime shoved into a film. That said I also just hated the main cast. I can like very flawed characters, or even antagonists however, there was nothing charismatic or interesting about Kaneda or Tetsuo, to me. It's hard to like a film when you dislike the main leads. It's been along time since I have watched Akira, but I remember disliking them pretty intensely.
Anyway yeah I have watched a lot of retro sci fi anime. All of Shirow's stuff (Dominion Tank Police, Black Magic, Appleseed etc), Bubblegum Crisis, Armitage, Cyber City Oedo, Space Batttleship Yamato, Midnight Eye Gokuu/Space Opera, various other mecha anime like Blue Gender or Gunbuster however, I think Akira stands out to me as the one rare work I straight up didn't like, outside of appreciating the production itself. Probably the only other one being FLCL, and it kinda has similar flaws to Akira for me (I get the message I just hate everyone).
Edit: I think when I consider the other big Sci Fi anime film, in GITS 95, it pretty much is the opposite of Akira to me. Plot/themes are focused/tight and I largely liked the cast of characters. It's not a perfect adaption, and there are better GITS works but still, it executes better to me. GITS 2.0 on the other hand....is another good example of what not to do.
>Ewww. Melodrama.
....Sorry......are you talking on a reddit dedicated to anime or not? This entire medium is largely melodramatic, Akira included. That's kinda why I also like anime lol, it's great for when you are in that mood. Still I mean if you want to frame conflicts in March like that, you do you. Personally in a medium that has largely been accused of avoiding realism/real topics, I thought March did a great job addressing many real life struggles. I enjoy dramas that do that well.
>It's on you tho, I assumed certain things about the OP in the context of what they said...not liking Akira may come from other reasons.
There is literally nothing the OP said, that indicated such things. You just didn't like him criticizing a work you hold dear, so you try to frame him as ignorant, as if anyone who enjoys battle shonen is....which is another major inference there lol. I promise you battle shonen aren't the only ones that use a basic plot diagram.
>Evangelion comes to mind.
Nah Evangelion, ignoring the original TV ending, had good setup, and eventually did write a good "bad end" in End of EVA. I can't comment on the Rebuilds (I suppose this is Anno giving the fans the "good end") since I have yet to watch those (I wanted to wait until they were all out), though I am going to do that soon.
All this has inspired countless people, not only in Japan, but everywhere. It’s iconic. It’s what gave anime its first real push overseas. It’s as historically important as it is a quality movie.