Akira
1988 · Katsuhiro Otomo · 124 min · Science Fiction
Akira is a film built on contradictions. Its animation is peerless, but its story can leave you grasping for connections that aren't always there. It changed the trajectory of an entire medium, but watching it cold in the present day can be a disorienting experience. What holds it together is sheer conviction. Every frame radiates a confidence and ambition that most films, animated or otherwise, never approach. It's a flawed landmark, and there's nothing else quite like it.