Rating: 
Summary: Neo Tokyo Returns
Review: I was fortunate enough to buy this in the metal tin while they were still available. Lately, I've seen a fold around cardboard package for this item on store shelves.
Akira is a magnum opus in anime. It brought anime to the attention of America in ways that Speed Racer and Robotech never could.
The DVD restores the film's animation quality to the glory that it deserves, and that we had not previously seen on video releases here in America.
This rerelease also sports a new English dub which follows the original script more closely than the first dub did. The new voice actors also play their parts with zeal and emotion, although I do miss the first voice of The Colonel.
The extras are top notch too. There are documentaries that are as long as the movie, and wonderful stills and a comprehensive encyclopedia that lists information not only from the film, but also from the manga.
This movie is what DVD is all about.
Rating:
Summary: This is an anime lovers dream
Review: I snatched this up the first day it came out. I had it preordered actually... :) The new special edition is what we have been longing for. There are so many extras you can just immerse yourself in Akira for quite some time.the biggest thing is the new translation and dub. Although I'll have to admit I didn't mind the original, and I kind of miss the voice of Leonardo (the teenge mutant ninja turtle) as Kaneda. The new translation makes the story a bit more understandable to those who haven't been privy to the comic story. And it was nice to hear the names pronounced correctly too. (Kaneda's name was pronounced kah-neh-da with no stress instead of ka-NEY-duh) This is a must for any die-hard anime fan. This is a great way to get people into watching japanese animation, and with the more understandable storyline, it makes more sense to them.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good, definitely not for kids.......
Review: I have to admit that this movie was pretty good. I liked the part where Tetsuo and the kids and people like that would use their psychic powers. those were my favorite parts. I do have to say that this is an animation that is definitely 100% not for kids. There are scenes where it is just plain bloody (but they do animate pretty good) and at the end when Tetsuo turns into a monster, I thought that was the grossest thing I ever saw in animation. When people get shot, like in the beginning, they make so much blood, but like I said, they animate it pretty good. Earlier, when Tetsuo's gang are riding their bikes, I have to say that was drawn very good. Even though it is very gross in the parts where Tetsuo was monster (I mean really gross; young kids SHOULD NOT WATCH), the way all the cartoons were drawn, it looked so smooth and flowed very well. The movements of the characters looked natural like a real person (which is hard to do for a cartoon) and I have to say this is definitely one of the most beautiful drawn and animated cartoons I have ever watched. I actually don't want to give it a 4-star rating. I think of it more like a 4.5-star rating but you cannot do that. Overall, watch this unless you cannot take very gross scenes. Pretty good though.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Film - Great Presentation
Review: Just being a fanboy and reiterating what a great film this is. A landmark of anime-tion. Great extras. Would have been nice to have some voiceover commentary. Of course, that commentary would need it's own translation, no? If you can find the Tin edition of Akira....buy it, immediately. A sure-fire collectors item. Already, used tins are selling for more than original purchase price. And they ain't making any more of them.
Rating:
Summary: great collection for this animation
Review: i recently bought this dvd collection and i am very impressed. the footage quality for this dvd collection is much improved over all the other versions of this movie that i have seen from the theater to videotape. the packaging itself is very impressive. the additional dvd that accompanies it includes the "making of akira" documentary that was previously available on videotape. there is also additional material on the making of the music and a glossary of terms and storyboard art. for fans of this excellent example in modern-day animation, the supplemental material provided on this second disc is very in-depth. the only thing about this dvd edition that bothered was the dubbing of the movie. there is a brand new dubbing version made for this particular dvd edition. i, myself, prefer subtitles. it keeps the original language intact and more truer to the story. dubbing usually requires editing the english actors' voices to meet with the lip movements. the voice acting doesn't seem to match the movie but since this is my preference to watching this anime, it should be up to each individual. but you can still choose between english, japanese with subtitles, and japanese (for those fluent in the language) this is a wonderful edition for those who can find it. the material accompanying the movie disc has plenty of material for those wanting to learn about the production of the movie itself.
Rating:
Summary: Still No.1
Review: A must see for everyone whether you're a fan or not. It looks a bit dated after all these years but the story, direction, etc still have no rivals. The LE Tin of this DVD is an absolute gem in any collection. I simply LOVE the case and its cover art.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: This movie is absolutely fantastic. Lush animation, intense story...All the qualaties a good movie needs. This is truly the god of anime and the only other anime films that stand up to it are Ghost in the Shell and Princess Mononoke. In other words....BUY THIS NOW!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The original english dialogue was better....
Review: I remember the original VHS copy released years ago in english dubbs. I seem to recall a better characterization within the actors themselves who played each character. The only flaw was the sound fx. Now pioneer animation has effectively ruined the entire akira experience for me and I am reduced to my old VHS copy which probably can't be purchased anymore. Clearly it was better. The voices sound like adults trying to sound like children doing some bad impressions of characters. The original english dubbed version was far more brutal and cutting edge. This new dialogue is for children. I am sorry to say I have returned my DVD version.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, so Disney makes the best animated movies. Yeah, right.
Review: Has there been a bad review fo Akira? The lowest amount of stars I've seen is 3, and that's mostly because of the dubbing (which isn't the worst I've ever heard). That should tell you something, think about it. Akira is great, no it's a masterpiece. But that still doesn't tell you how good Akira is. Akira has wonderful animation, very detailed and exciting. Also a great storyline makes the epic anime shine. Eventhough Akira is crafted to perfection, it is not your "average" animated movie. Which I don't mind, in fact it is quite pleasing. If you're used to Disney kiddie stuff with the same plot used a thousand times over, you'll be in for a pleasant suprise. But not if you're a five year old kid. Akira does show a good amount of blood, but not as heavy as a lot of people say. The stereotype for Akira is that it's a gruesome bloodbath, which is very untrue (watch Wicked City or Ninja Scroll). Make sure you watch Akira, you should stop putting yourself through pain. Afterwards you might hit youreself for taking so long to see it. Also, if you buy it, get the special edition. You're to late to buy the awesome metal case, but the special edition selling is the same thing. It has a few documentaries, but they're mostly in japanese (of course english subtitles are available). The DVD also has a glossary for Akira, great if you are confused at the end of the movie. Also included are 4,500 production stills, that speaks for itself. Overall, a DVD that should be in anyone's collection if you like anime or not. But make sure little kids don't watch it, they might think it's another kiddish Disney movie, but they'll be surprised!
Rating: 
Summary: Should have kept Old Dialog!!!!
Review: Yes, I'm a big Akira fan from way back. So I was understandably excited when it finally came to DVD. But I never made it through the film, when I hit the eject button and returned it to the store I bought it from.
What made me do that? In a word "Dialog"! Although the origanal english dub may not have been all that great, it was better then this.
Ex. 1) When the kid in the chair first came on the scene: -Orig. (in a strangly mature sounding kids voice) "This Chapter is finished!" -New. (in a purely kids voice) "He's to the west" If you can see what I'm getting at, in the Orig. there was the element of Mysticism, you can tell a deeper story is involved here, plus the voice fit the charactor better.
Ex. 2) The commanders voice in the original was a gruff sounding person who has seen many battles, in the new one he sounds more like a DJ/Announcer then any battle worn individual.
Ex. 3) This movie is NOT FOR KIDS, it never was, and never will be. So when they had soften it up, and taken out some of the dialog, (Such as when they are in the Police dept. and the rebel had the dud-granade, they cut out the dialog where the cops were saying things like "Let's finish the job inside") I could only think that thier trying to kid-dify it.
So in summery, if you've never seen the film, I don't think it will ruin it for you, though you might get sick of flat charactor voices that don't seem to match the picture of the charactor. If you're a fan of the Orig. English, you're in for a great disapointment. As for me, I'll wait untill they restore that version, or come out with better, or burn my own from the VHS I have. ;)
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