TOKYO 16 July 1988
Written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
SPRING TREE BAR
The new taxes...
...have caused unemployment to soar
Everywhere...
...the jobless are rioting
What will it be?
Three fixes
We cornered those Clown guys
You gave me a fright bursting in like that
That’s because you’ve a guilty conscience
Serve regular drinks
Order some then. This isn’t a waiting room
Order your dog piss?
Ceramic, double rotor, two-wheel drive
Computer-controlled anti-lock brakes
12,000 rpm, 200 horsepower
Want a ride?
Here we go
My bike’s too hot for you to handle
Who wants to ride it anyway?
I can handle it
Get one for yourself then
Disgusting
Damned high school kids
They went down that alley. After them
No time for stunts, kid
Patrol car 375. Gang warfare on Route 14
Request back up
The police
My engine’s only just warmed up
Tetsuo, come on
Riot police have clashed with students. Injuries are reported
This is a restricted area. It’s dangerous
Turn back
That’s odd
- Excuse me - What are you doing?
Look. Blood
Who are they?
Don’t push
Let me through
Ryu!
They’re running away
He’s armed
Fire!
Stop. There’s a kid
Run for it
Hurry
Go to Ryu
He’ll help you
Quick. Run for it
Kay
What are you waiting for?
He’s vanished
West?
The old town
OLD TOWN. ENTRY PROHIBITED
Ryu, where are you?
Serves you right
Hey, what happened?
It’s okay, it’s not Tetsuo
Let’s go
Damn you. What did you do?
Tetsuo, don’t give up
What is it?
He...
He’s dying
Hey there, wait
Call an ambulance
Don’t move him
What’s that?
You can’t escape
I’ve come for you
We can’t live in the outside world. Let’s go home
An army helicopter
Get down
We didn’t do anything
Flat on your faces.
You’re hurting me
- Who are they? - Just bikers, sir
Let’s go home
You’re hurting me
My arms don’t bend that way
Take the wounded boy aboard
Tetsuo! Where are taking him?
- You can’t do this - We’ve done nothing
TOKYO OLYMPICS 147 DAYS TO GO
STUDENT ID
You were riding over to see your dying mother...
...and just happened to run into the Clown Gang?
Then, when one of you got hurt, you went mad...
...hospitalizing eight of them?
Oh, she’s cute
How’s your mother?
She was over the worst last night
Well enough to ride a bike?
- They’re not the ones - You can’t tell
Sit on the bench and wait
Next five
The cops are helping the army...
...round up anti-government protesters
To freedom and revolution
That’s enough. Take him away
I’ll work on him later
Die if you want but leave us out of it
You kids can go. I’ve reported you to your school
Excuse me, old man
Old man?
There’s another of us
Can he leave too?
Call me old man, would you?
Listen, you. I’m only twenty-five and I’m single. Watch your mouth
He can go too
The army wants that funny kid Kaneda saw
I thought I saw him too
More importantly, why won’t they say where they took Tetsuo?
What did you say?
I said, how about a coffee?
I’d like to discuss revolution with you
A new way to pick up girls
You help any girl and then...
Not any girl. My standards are high
It wasn’t just your looks. It was something else
Call it a hunch
Well, thanks anyway. What’s your name?
- Kaneda. Pleased to meet you - Bye
So soon? That’s not fair
Wait. I helped free you, remember?
At least tell me your name
I’ll talk to them but it’s risky. The government might think...
...you’re shirking your duties. That could finish you
You think there’s a mole at work?
It’s a fact
Facts don’t count. It’s political strategy that matters...
...like it or not
That’s not my scene
Anyway, at the next Council meeting...
...you will be questioned about your duties and involvement
A call, Colonel
You may well be sacked, Colonel
Come this way
Sorry to bother you but I had to show you this
The pattern taken from this boy is unlike any other
The speed and type of growth are new
Was it caused by a shock when he met No 26 or...?
Have you compared it to Akira’s pattern?
We’re doing that now
It’s only a projected image...
..based on accumulated data but this boy might help solve...
...the mystery of Akira’s growth pattern
Okay. Proceed
Thank you
We won’t let you down
We’re thinking of prescribing a Level Seven capsule
Is that wise?
Leave it to me
I mean, when he grows as powerful as Akira...
...will you be able to control him?
Can I trust you with this?
If we collect more data and carry out various tests...
...we should definitely be able to...
Maybe we shouldn’t touch that power
You mean it’s divine?
A...ki...ra
But we must touch it
We have to control it for our own use
If it gets too much, dispose of him
Without hesitation
Yes, Colonel
This school is your last chance. You’re way below average
You’re social misfits. You’re scum
Fail here and there’s nowhere else for you to go
More than 50 penalty points...
...and it’s prison for you
- Why won’t you listen? - I was
Then learn!
Thank you, sir
You bastard, one day I’ll get you
- I won’t forget this - Drop dead
Hey, Yamagata
- What happened to your face? - It’s nothing
Did the teacher hit you? I hear you beat up the Clowns
You should kill them next time. They’re scum
There was a demo last night. That idiot Tetsuo had an accident
Where is he?
In hospital somewhere
He tried to play the hero
- That idiot... - Worried about Tetsuo?
Shut up. Stop clinging to me
Why’ve you changed?
Tetsuo, time for your medicine
Doctor, he’s gone
I can’t make it before ten. Our matron is so strict
The old cow is always on the watch
Tomorrow at three? Okay?
Kaori
We were afraid you were dead
When I woke up, I was on an operating table
Whatever the test was, they were fiddling with my brain
l don’t want to go back. Let’s run away
Where to?
Anywhere
Somewhere far away
No class today
What? No class when I’m all fired up?
It’s outrageous
Kaneda, your bike
My bike?
Look
Is it okay?
Shut up. Just hold on
ENTRY PROHIBITED
What is it?
Oh, no, it’s stopped
I see. You really have to rev up when you change gear
My bottom aches. Some bikes are coming
Kaneda and the others
No, it’s not
You found Tetsuo?
Kawata’s searching Kisarazu. Let’s try the industrial area
Thanks for the other night
Kaori, are you all right?
Stop!
One scratch on that bike and I’ll kill you
Run
They’re escaping
Wait
Stop. Don’t kill him
I will kill him. My head’s splitting
That’s enough. You started all this...
...by taking my bike
Shut up. Stop ordering me about
- I was worried - Why always come to my rescue?
I can take care of myself. I was beaten this time...
...but I won’t always be beaten
Understand?
Don’t come near me
Where are you going?
Let me be
Akira
What’s wrong?
Akira
I don’t know him
Something’s wrong. See the blue in the scanner?
Get him back quick
What are you doing to him?
Have you just been to a funeral?
Wait
Some kids never give up despite the heavy security
Because they’re stupid
This is boring
Let’s go home
It’s too early
Without their bikes, the boys are like fish out of water
We’re ’kappa’
Who cares what fish you are?
Kaneda, what shall we do?
It’s that girl
Not again. Let’s not get caught
Owing to terrorist action...
...this area is being closed
Please have your ID cards ready
Get in
Go on. I’ll come later
Know where to meet?
- Take care - You too, Ryu
Stop
She’s armed
Drop your gun
Quick, drop it
The shots came from here
- Two shots - No, three
Let’s run
Kaneda
Have you something to tell me?
I had a dream
A dream?
A black shadow fell over the city and it was destroyed
Many people died and we met Akira again
Akira?
The city is going to be destroyed. Thousands of people will die
When will it happen? When?
Don’t let the boy go. It’s his power...
- Trouble? - No
Physically speaking, everything is normal
Normal cardiograph....
...and brain waves
What she said was based on precognition and foresight
- We must report it to the Council - Do you believe her?
There’s no doubting her ability. Various data prove it
Do you believe her?
That’s not my job. I just have to decide whether to take action
Here, sir
Your arctic suit, Colonel. And yours, Doctor
The other day a researcher asked me if the power...
...of these beings was a new human evolutionary form
Would we be able to control it some day?
You scientists are romantics. We consider the risks first
It took thirty years...
...to rebuild this city. How can we take the risk?
I thought you hated this city
Gone are the passion and joy of reconstruction
Now it’s a junkyard of desire-driven idiots
Yet you’re trying to save it
That’s a soldier for you. Scientists never understand
Colonel, we’re here
Room 10, 148k
Vertical tolerance range checked
Room 9, 118K, tolerance range checked
Emergency generator checked
- Open it - Sir?
Open the control room
Room One
Within the tolerance range. No fault either in the walls...
...or in the defence system
No reaction to alien energy
Everything normal
See how confused...
...and scared beyond endurance they were by this
To their shame, they threw away their civilization and science
They sealed off this chamber of fear they themselves had opened
Ryu?
We’re young. We can start again. I’ll go with you
Give yourself up
It was your first offence. Did you kill him?
When it’s all blown over, we can go for a coffee or something
Don’t worry. It’s over, there’s nothing you can do about it
Who’s that?
Ryu, you’re safe
Who are you?
Me? Well...
...let’s say I’m Kay’s boyfriend. That’s probably exaggerating
I mean, it’s not a deep relationship yet
- A spy - No
Liar
You can vouch for him?
At least he’s not a spy
Sneak into the lab?
Think we can do it?
It’s an emergency and the plan is good
A weekly pass to the lab
From Mr Nezu?
- The target? - Data on the new test subject
The new test subject?
Yes. When we tried to kidnap No 26 last week...
...a boy had an accident on the motorway and was sent to the lab
A student from training school. He’s the new test subject
You’re hurting me
He heard us. Eliminate him
Wait. Listen. Listen to me
- He saved my life - Twice
Maybe to reach us
The boy who had that accident is my friend
It sounds crazy but I was with him when it happened
Believe me for once. Hearing is believing, isn’t it?
Will you hold on to him?
He knows the test subject. We can use him as a hostage
Neo Tokyo is going to change
This city has reached saturation point. It’s like an overripe fruit
Be patient. The fruit and its new seed will be blown down by a wind
A wind called Akira
Ryu, look at that
What is it?
We won’t change that...
...but the people who want Akira will
Distortion of the truth...
...in the name of science
Waste upon waste
Desolation of people’s hearts in the name of culture
The time to awake is near
Atone for your sins. The great Akira’s awakening is nigh
Disperse. Holding meetings here is prohibited
Anti-government demonstrations are on the increase
Soldiers, riot police and even traffic police...
...have been mobilized at enormous cost
Yet it didn’t stop the attempted kidnap of our biggest state secret
Neo Tokyo is out of control
And then, what about No 25’s predictions...
...for which you requested additional funds?
It’s no joke. Especially when all of us...
...have to face a public...
...suffering under the former premier’s crazy tax policy
Where’s the cash to come from?
You’ve appropriated huge sums for that grotesque kindergarten
It’s the Olympics next year
How long must we squander money on those zombies?
We need that money for welfare
Unless we manage to control Akira, we’ll lose everything
You’re too young to understand
Your lack of policy has created confusion
There’s no evidence that Akira caused the last war
Do we have to have another disaster before you’ll understand?
Did anyone ever see this Akira?
It’s No 25, isn’t it?
No, it’s No 21
The Colonel forgets he’s a soldier
Anti-government protesters are using this Akira madness...
...to incite demonstrations
That’s not true
There’s a leak about the Akira reform movement
Reform movement! We’re doomed
Akira is an excuse to shirk your duties
Repeat that
We can’t allow your arbitrary actions to decide...
...the safety of Neo Tokyo any longer
You’ll be questioned by the Committee
Excuse me
We haven’t finished yet
You’re slighting the Council
Water
One moment
Wasn’t the cable due to be changed next week?
It arrived early. Besides, my holiday starts this weekend
I’ve brought my men too. We could take the stuff back...
...but this would save a lot of time and trouble
Let’s go
What are you?
Milk?
Go away
Blood
- Blood - I’m scared
Disgusting
What are they?
No 887 Tetsuo Shima. Lock malfunction
You mustn’t leave your room
- Go back in - What a mess
Fifty-eight units don’t answer to the computer
Forty of them are located on the seventh and eighth floors
The central tunnel is ahead
We can go direct to the basement from there
Careful. It’s deeper near the centre
- It stinks - Shut up
What’s wrong with your nose?
Hurry up
Take cover
- Where? - Idiot. Where do you think?
- They’ve tightened security - Shall we make a check?
Yes. Let’s look at their security set-up
They’ve seen us
Run
Don’t shoot
Run for it
They’re coming
It won’t work
Die!
Contact with intruders...
...in Tunnel 304H. Request help
They’re coming
My gun
Kay, this way
Hurry
Kaneda. Hurry
Where’s the brake?
- It’s not that switch - This is the central tunnel
That’s the brake. I’m starting to understand
May we use guns
Louder
There’s no mistake
That boy is a patient, Tetsuo Shima, the test subject
- He’s heading for the Baby Unit - Tetsuo?
This is extremely dangerous. Don’t let him through!
You can’t hide them
Shoot. There’s no other way
He mustn’t get any closer
Fire
There you are
Stop
Haven’t you had enough?
Where’s the other one?
What are you doing?
Takashi
What’s the matter with me? Am I dreaming?
Do I have that much power?
Which way now?
Straight. Just go straight
There’s a lift
It’ll take us to Basement 8
There you are
Is wanting to kill me part of the game?
I’ll kill you
You’re the boy I saw
Let’s get him
Damned brats
Stop that
Who are you?
You have a headache?
Your power isn’t perfected yet. Don’t use it too much. Do as I say
You! What did you do to my brain?
- Take it easy, Tetsuo - He can’t control it
What?
A big boy like you shouldn’t use the power like that
It’ll end badly
Mind your own business
What? Greater power than mine?
So that’s what been giving me a headache! Where’s this Akira guy?
Kiyoko said you’d be the one to reactivate Akira
If he’s reactivated, no one can stop him. So, before you act...
Fool, Akira is already...
Where is he?
Shut up
Emergency standby on Level 7. We’re on disaster alert
Emergency standby on Level 7
Hands up
Where’s the Baby Unit?
Run
Out of my way
Kiyoko
Kaneda? What are you doing here?
We came to help you
Come on, idiot, or they’ll catch us
There he is. Nail him
Stay away
I forgot you were there
Leave me alone. I don’t need your help any more
From now on, I rescue you. Just tip me the wink
Who do you think you’re talking to?
So you don’t like the way I talk? What if you are offended?
What are you going to do about it?
Stop it
Don’t hurt anyone any more
Where’s Akira?
He’s...
In the Olympic Stadium basement?
No, Akira isn’t there
Wait
Is this another talent of mine?
Are you all right?
She’s not hurt
Masaru, you’re bleeding
- What happened to him? - He flew away
So he has that much power
What is all this? Is anyone still here?
He’s gained so much power in so little time
Find Tetsuo
Come on
He went to Akira
What? So you three are safe
He went to the Olympic Stadium basement
How did he know?
He can read thoughts now?
After him. Prepare for pursuit
He’s heading tor the stadium
It’s you
The guards in the tunnel killed two intruders. The others escaped
Before the power is activated...
Catch Tetsuo
If you can’t catch him, lure him into the old city
It’s of the utmost urgency
We’ve been waiting for you
Who are you?
The Council sent us here to read you this
At 2400 hours tonight, you will relinquish your command and rank
You are to come with us
You want me to hand over Neo Tokyo to those idiots?
Kill them
Wait
Stop
Face reality. Don’t let corrupt politicians fool you
Don’t you see?
Fighting is useless
Issue an emergency decree
Arrest all the Council members while we catch Tetsuo
Calling all units. Emergency
Are you alone?
I heard you had an accident. Are you okay now?
Give me some capsules
You sure you’re all right? You’re very pale
Give me some
Okay. But owing to demos and terrorism, they’re hard to come by
Supplies are short so the price is high
With Tetsuo and Kaneda gone, we’re the last of our gang
And because of the police traps...
...we don’t see the Clowns
He’s dead
Who’s that?
What are you doing here?
Want a fix?
Cut it out. What happened?
The barman is dead
Dead, is he?
You are Tetsuo, aren’t you?
Kaneda sends his greetings
You saw him?
He must be dead by now
Did you kill him?
He doesn’t need his bike now. Where is it?
I don’t want it any more
Bastard
You bastard
He went to Akira?
So the girl said
Because they’re after Akira, the army and Ryu are following Tetsuo
It has something to do with Tetsuo’s power. Who is this Akira?
Ryu told me. Akira is absolute energy
Absolute energy?
A human being...
...does many things in his life. He discovers things, builds things
Houses, bikes, bridges, streets, rockets
Where does that knowledge and energy come from?
Once he was no better than a monkey. Before that, an insect...
...and a fish. Earlier, plankton and earlier still an amoeba
Even those life forms had great energy
It all depends on genes
Were there genes in the water and the atmosphere?
Even in space dust?
If they had genes, I wonder what memory they had...
...at the beginning of the universe and even further back?
What’s the matter with you? Did you hit your head back there?
Maybe everyone has a memory like that
If something went wrong in the evolutionary order...
...and an amoeba had the power of a human being...
You mean Akira?
An amoeba doesn’t build bridges. It only eats what’s around it
You mean it’ll absorb Tetsuo? It has the energy to do that?
Long ago, men tried to harness that power for our government
They failed and so Tokyo was destroyed
We can’t harness that power yet
What’s that?
There’s a key
- I’m sure it’s a trap - Go back then
I must find out what kind of trap it is
- What are your relations with Ryu? - Why do you ask?
- You’re always together - We’ve no relationship
Does he know about us?
’Us’? Just a minute. What do you mean?
Will it be okay?
We have to use her, like it or not. There’s no other way
She appeared just when we needed someone
We’re in East Ginza. Over
Calling headquarters
We’ve arrived at the bar
No trace of explosives
It must have been the work...
...of the escaped patient
So Tetsuo killed Yamagata?
The moment I saw him I knew something was wrong
It was as if he were someone else
Yamagata asked him if he were really Tetsuo
And then he killed him
We’ve been together...
...since we were in the orphanage
I know everything about him. How he was bullied and cried
He asked where your bike was
My bike?
What now?
I’ll give him this
You fool!
What’s up?
I saw you that night
Wait
They’ve vanished
So you changed Tetsuo
The power of Akira exists in everyone
Who’s that?
But when someone awakes to that power, even if he isn’t ready...
...he must choose how to use it
Tetsuo made his choice
He’s a new member of our group
What he’s doing is partly our responsibility
But why take Kay away?
We need her help
Cut it out. Give her back
Tetsuo is my friend. Let me take care of him
The soldiers rebelled and arrested the councillors?
Yes. We’re preparing our escape. Send us a helicopter
That damn Colonel. How dare he turn against us?
I underestimated him
Stop them
Mr Nezu
Is that you, Ryu?
I’m sorry. We failed
What do you want?
You mustn’t come here
My friends are all dead
You bloody fool. You traitor
Kay
I’m carrying fresh fish. I must get to the airport
7th Avenue is just ahead
The intersection is 100 metres away
Ready for combat
We’ve sighted the test subject
Attack him?
You mean attack that kid?
What, that boy?
Really?
Take aim
Fire
It’s Akira descending
Don’t be conned, it’s not Akira
Shut up
Hurray for Akira!
Fire
What’s wrong?
Neo Tokyo Radio brings you this independent report
What has been happening...
...in Neo Tokyo?
This fire seems to have been caused by bombardment
Who is this boy?
Is he a lone fighter?
We’re being fired on by the military
Freedom of information... We’re being cut off
What’s happened?
It’s the bridge. Let’s go
Are you going alone?
He wants this bike
Shouldn’t we call the others?
I can’t keep him waiting
Kaneda, wait
Half of them are demonstrators
The others are religious fanatics...
...following the test subject
Oh, fire of purification
Burn this corrupt city
With your sacred flames, consume our impure hearts
Fear not
Let the fire cleanse our bodies
Aim
Fire
Stop a moment and centre your beam
Aim. Fire
Look
Help
Ground troops, come in
Report on the test subject
Call up the doctor
We’ve confirmed his position and we’re in pursuit
His coordinates are 99871
Two kilometres south of the Olympic Stadium
What’s that?
Look
It’s near the motorway tollgate manned by the 2nd Platoon
Halt. This area is off limits to unauthorized persons
Stop. Stop, I say
So this is the place, is it?
You were with Kaneda
You shouldn’t use your power
What?
Eventually, you won’t be able to control it
You’re one of those brats!
Okay
It’s dangerous
What are you going to do?
Open up
What are those?
That’s Akira, Tetsuo
The Akira you wanted to see
Your Saviour
After waking from a transcendental past...
...Akira’s body was subjected to many experiments
That’s the result of our studies
Scientists in the past...
...couldn’t solve its mystery so they put Akira samples...
...into cold-storage for future generations
We must use SOL
Akira is already dead. Are you satisfied, Tetsuo?
Let’s go home
Shut up
Tell the Defence Centre to connect us to the satellite weapon SOL
Move along. Out of my way
This is some chemistry lesson!
What is it? Trouble again?
It’s all over now. You should have come sooner
I was worried. I thought you were crying and asking for help
Kaneda, you’ve always got in my way. Ever since I was a kid...
...you’ve been telling me what to do
Treating me like a kid
You always acted the big boss
You’ve become a boss too - on this rubbish tip
Mister Kaneda to you
Die
Oh, no
Take this
I hit him
The battery is dead
Something wrong?
No dirty tricks. Let’s fight with our fists
This is great
Frustrated, Kaneda? I know just how you feel
What’s this light?
A direct hit?
I can’t say. The monitor failed
Let’s try again
- Correcting error - Energy change
What’s going on?
- Climb on - Where?
Hurry
It’s SOL
Wonderful
When Tetsuo’s power reaches its peak...
That’s the time to do it! But will it work?
The future isn’t heading in one particular direction
We should be able to choose
How’s Tetsuo?
We’ve set up a camera at the stadium
He’s under surveillance
Look at this. Data from the test subject
We’re analysing the generated energy. It’s incredible
Protons have been destroyed and unknown molecules detected
Once we understand the theory...
...we may uncover the truth about the universe
Well, we haven’t finished yet
Colonel
Is this Tetsuo?
Didn’t I tell you...?
But he’s too good a test subject to kill
Shut up
Damn. Overload
The battery
My bike. It’s burning
- What’s a bike or two? - Why don’t you use your own?
Did you hear me?
It’s still burning
Tetsuo
Why do they call you Akira?
The guy didn’t even exist. It could have been anyone...
...who destroyed this city
Your arm!
It doesn’t look good but it works well
What’s the matter?
Nothing
Shut up. Go away
My medicine
What’s the matter? You’re in pain?
Fetch my medicine from the lab
Doctor, you hear me?
Can you see?
It seems...
...the power suppressed by the drugs is being released
He can’t control it. It’s an extremely dangerous situation
Go back to the lab for treatment or you’ll die
Back to the kindergarten to live happily ever after?
Being fed on drugs and withering up like those brats?
Fetch my drugs
What are you doing here?
Won’t you ever learn?
Akira
Kaneda, help me. Please
Stop
Tetsuo
Kaori is going to die
I can’t control my power. I can’t stop it
She’s going to die. Kaneda, help her
Stop it, Tetsuo. Stop it
Kaori’s pain is coming into me
Run for it
Kiyoko, Takashi, Masaru, run
Come on
I can’t believe it. It’s...
Akira
It can’t be!
Where am I?
Go into the tunnel. It’s safe in there
Kiyoko, where are you?
Wait
Go away
Out of my way
Don’t go there
Stop. Takashi!
If you go in, you won’t come out
But it’s not his problem
If we go in, we won’t be able to come out by ourselves
But if the three of us are together...
Maybe we can save him
It’s dangerous
We’d better leave this place
Tetsuo, show a bit more courage
Risk your life on the corners. Watch me
What are you doing?
Cornering
See, Tetsuo?
Look, a new boy
Transferred?
No, abandoned
He looks unhappy
Is this your dream, Tetsuo?
Wait
I’m Akira
Yes. We asked him to take Tetsuo away
Take him away? Where to?
It was too much for Tetsuo. And too much for us and Akira too
The power is too big for us to control at present
But some day we’ll manage it
It’s already begun
Your friend...
My friend?
Kay? You mean Kay?
Tetsuo
Is this yours?
They always bully new boys. It’s your first day?
They bullied me too but they’re cowards really
My name is Tetsuo. Tetsuo Shima
To tell you the truth, I’m new too. My name is...
What’s happening?
Unbelievable. It’s like...
It’s like the birth of the universe. It’s vanishing
Tetsuo
Thanks
You called me. I heard you
Kaneda, you must be dead
Tetsuo?
Gone. And those three kids. And Akira, too
A little while ago...
You’re alive
I thought you were dead in that thing
What happened to Tetsuo? Is he dead?
I don’t know. Maybe
But someday, we’ll manage it
It’s already begun
My name is Tetsuo