Akira

Given the destruction of Tokyo in an unexplained explosion sparking the 3rd World War, Japan is left in a state of disarray, on the brink of anarchy, the authorities going to extreme lengths to maintain control over the country. Neo Tokyo is built to replace the previous metropolis and 31 years following the blast a biker gang led by the teenage boy Kaneda has a day they'll never forget.

It all begins and ends with one boy, Akira, a test subject for the Japanese government in an experiment to raise the bar of human evolution, successfully creating superhuman beings, with seemingly limitless power. On the same night that Kaneda, and his friend Tetsuo, tackle their rivals 'the clowns', a subject from the superhuman experiment is liberated from the government by a group of rebels, and by a turn of fate, collides with Tetsuo's bike. From this point onwards events take place with Tetsuo's evolution of power, the government's struggles with the experiment, the rebel's ploys to stop them, and Kaneda's search to recover his friend. Within the middle of the plot lies the enigma of Akira, who he is, how he is linked to the destruction of Tokyo and how he will affect the fragile balance of life in this near distant futuristic nightmare.

Akira isn't just a story, it's a masterpiece, delving deep into the idea of evolutionary power and the memories hidden within the cells of every living being. Known for it's breathtaking visuals, using over 160,000 animation cells, Akira is the first ever anime to be voice recorded before being animated to allow for full seamless lip-syncing.

You haven't seen anime if you haven't seen Akira, it's the best piece of animation you will ever see, I cannot recommend it enough.