The Beauty of Akira’s Opening Sequence
Akira is undoubtedly a cult classic amongst Japanese culture enthusiasts. Adapted from the iconic eponymous manga by the mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo himself, the masterpiece of Japanese animation still holds strong today and has gained massive worldwide recognition all while birthing a whole generation of manga addicts. The coherent post-apocalyptic world of Akira has aged like a fine wine. We are instantaneously launched into the nostalgia of Japan’s late 80’s animation, filled with darkness, advanced technology, and dystopian worlds.
Today we will take a look at my favorite moment in the movie: The “opening”, and how in a matter of seconds, Katsuhiro Otomo sets up the movie perfectly.
Here is the complete opening (english subtitles available). It ends at 5.25
Rewatching it gives me chills everytime…
Traditionally, the role of opening sequences in movies is to set up the environment, to introduce the characters, and to brush up the story. In that aspect, the opening excels: We immediately see the world of Akira as raw, unfiltered, and desolate, with clear character’s personalities and relationships.
The film starts with an incredibly important first scene. The whole idea of the film lies in that humanity has opened Pandora’s box and that technology has awakened supernatural beings that will result in mankind’s Doom. 40 years after Hiroshima, the deep trauma of the atomic bomb and the scars it gave to the population are still ever-present in the Japanese minds and serve as a very real reminder that the future that the spectator is about to see could very much be his. Everything that happens in Akira can be traced back to that moment, so it being the very first thing we see makes sense.
Katsuhiro’s depiction of the bomb by choosing absolute silence remains one of the most powerful to date. This is further enhanced by the astounding power of the drums breaking this silence, resonating and showing the aftermath of the impact. This image of the bomb has become somewhat of an icon, with many t-shirts and posters being printed even today. It is no surprise considering the purity of the image, the strength of the deflagration, and the lasting impression it gives on our minds.
We are then directly sent into an old-fashioned shady bar frequented by zombie-like youngsters that serve as a hideout for Kaneda and his motorcycle gang. Subtle fragments of political crises can be heard through the radio, hinting at a massive conflict in the background.
As Kaneda puts the cd in the jukebox, the use of diegetic music further blurs the line between reality and movie and we are instantaneously immersed in this chaotic world.
Here lies another strength of the opening sequence: Its stark realism.
Indeed, the outstanding quality of the animation here is reminiscent of Japan’s golden era, every single frame is a painting in itself. You can pause at any moment of the movie and see the intricate details that give the movie life, vibrancy, and incredible realism for an animated cyberpunk movie. In fact, the budget for the movie was the highest ever paid for an anime at that time, only to be topped later by Ghibli’s Kiki Delivery Service.
The opening depicts a very much divided world where hyper-advanced technology collapses with the ruins of another era, a seminal cyberpunk theme. Everything seems on the brink of collapse: Lights are flickering, cars are wrecked, buildings are old and dilapidated, and as technology advances, humans are going back to their primitive ways. Yet the combination of immense buildings in the far distance under apocalyptic lights and moving neon’s form a rich and vibrant collage of sensations for the audience to see. The dynamism of the scenes and the contrast between the rags and riches make Neo-Tokyo appear more alive than ever and a real protagonist in itself.
This realism makes the world of Akira incredibly beautiful, believable and makes the movie all the more impactful. On top of that, the choice of music is incredibly fitting here. Indeed, the use of traditional congas immediately signals the harshness and rawness of the urban ‘jungle’. Kaneda and his gang roam freely in the wild, causing mayhem and leaving nothing but chaos and dust behind them.
All in all, this opening remains one of the most impactful artistic pieces of Japanese animation. Rarely do we see that much detail, world-building, and beautiful art jam-packed together. What’s also striking about the opening is that it misleads the spectator into thinking that the movie is going to be about bikers fighting and living in a cyberpunk world, where in reality, the movie’s main topic is much different and more about teenagers with super kinetic powers. (But that is a story for another time)
Akira is definitely one of Japanese animation very best masterpieces, and If you haven’t seen it, you should go check it out ASAP.
