The Alphabet Project: A is for...

Akira (1988)

Kaneda is a bike gang leader in Neo Tokyo whose close friend Tetsuo gets involved in a secret government project known as Akira. On his way to save Tetsuo, Kaneda runs into a group of anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists, three oddly strange children with amazing powers, and a powerful military leader. The confrontation sparks off Tetsuo's supernatural power leading to bloody death, a coup attempt and the final battle in the Tokyo Olympiad where Akira's secrets were buried 30 years ago. Hilarity ensues.

Trivia: This was one of the first Japanese anime films to have the character's voices recorded before they were animated. While this is the typical practice in U.S. animation, in Japan the animation is generally produced first. The production budget was nearly $10 million, a record sum in Japanese animation film. The movie consists of 2,212 shots and 160,000 single pictures, 2-3 times more than usual, using 327 different colors (another record in animation film), 50 of which were exclusively created for the film. The reason for this statistic is that most of the movie takes place at night, a setting that is traditionally avoided by animators because of the increased color requirements. The 1940s-style song heard following the terrorist bombing is "Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy", released in 1951 by jazz singer Teruko Akatsuki. The song was not included in either the Japanese, or American releases of the Akira soundtrack; however, it had previously appeared on the release of the soundtrack from M*A*S*H (1970).

This is actually a very beautiful film to watch. I liked the character development in this one. You don't usually get a lot of character development in animated movies. One thing though, there are three characters in the movie, three children/adults, well, its kind of hard to explain without watching the movie. These three were children 30 years before and were part of a scientific experiment that also produced Akira who was responsible for World War 3 and the destruction of old Tokyo. Well these three kids with incredible powers did not grew up, they grew old but didn't grow up if that makes any sense. Okay, anyway, the reason I am talking about them has nothing to do with the movie, but you had to a have a little perspective. Anyway, one of the children looks just like Louie Anderson, and that is pretty much all I have to say.

Next Up: The "B" Movie. Time to switch gears, BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB. I am aiming for posting the Alphabet Project every Wednesday, so you have until then to try to guess what movie I will be watching for "B". I really have liked your guesses for the "A" movie. Keep it up! Here are the guesses:

Aguirre: the Wrath of God, In the 16th century, the ruthless and insane Aguirre leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado.

Adaptation, A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere.

The AristoCats, Upon Madame Adelaide Bonfamille's passing her cat Duchess and 3 kittens stand to inherit her fortune. But not if Edgar the butler can help it.

Albino Alligator, Three petty thieves are chased by the police who believe that the three are really major criminals.

Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.

The Alphabet Murders, The Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Tony Randall?) investigates a series of murders in London in which the victims are killed according to their initials.

Albino Aliens from Alpha Centauri, All the President's Yes Men, Another Day, Another Donut - Anonymous Ken Stikes Again, now that would be a funny movie. Of course, I would so watch Albino Aliens From Alpha Centauri.