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The year is 2019, 31
years after Tokyo was destroyed by a top secret weapons project during
World War III. Now, Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes to become a dark
and dangerous megalopolis infested with gangs and terrorists. The
government seethes with corruption and only maintains token control over
the powerful military that prevents total chaos and hides the secrets of
the past.
Childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda plunge into Neo-Tokyo's darkest secret
when their motorcycle gang encounters a military operation to retrieve an
escaped experimental subject. Tetsuo, captured by the military, is
subjected to experiments that make him a powerful psychic, but,
unfortunately for Neo-Tokyo, Tetsuo's powers rage out of control and he
lashes out at the world that has oppressed him! Nothing can stop the
destructive forces that Tetsuo wields except possibly the last boy to
destroy Tokyo - Akira!
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KANEDA
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As
the leader of a biker gang in Neo-Tokyo, Kaneda maintains a tough
and rebellious exterior, but he doesn't attempt to hide his passion
for motorcycles, his loyalties to his friends, or his infatuation
with Kei. Kaneda learns about the secret of Akira while working with
Kei and an underground terrorist group to interrupt the government's
experiments. He is genuinely concerned about Tetsuo, who has been
his friend since they were small children in an orphanage, but soon
discovers that Tetsuo has always resented Kaneda's protection...
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TETSUO
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The
youngest member of Kaneda's biker gang, Tetsuo's inferiority complex
leads to his reckless actions to win the respect of the other gang
members. After a near-collision with Takashi (No.26), a severely
wounded Tetsuo is taken by the military and they begin experiments
to bring out his psychic abilities. However, Tetsuo's abilities
surge beyond the military's expectations and Tetsuo is eager to test
the limits of his new powers against the military or anyone else
that stands in his way. Unfortunately for Neo-Tokyo, Tetsuo's powers
begin to spiral out of control and there may be only one force
strong enough to stop him - Akira.
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KEI
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Kei
is a young woman working with an underground terrorist movement to
disrupt the military's control over Neo-Tokyo. She first encounters
Kaneda in a Police Station where he tricks the guards into releasing
her before they can identify her as a terrorist, but Kei initially
shows little interest in Kaneda. Kei is devoted to her work with the
underground as well as to the group's leader, Ryu, but begins to
show some compassion towards Kaneda after their encounters with the
military and with Tetsuo.
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KIYOKO
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Kiyoko
(No.25) of the original test subjects, is a sickly, bed-ridden child
with a wrinkled face. Her psychic powers are well developed and her
visions of the future are taken very seriously. Kiyoko grew up with
Akira and understands the height of his powers, and she is also
compassionate.
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TAKASHI
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Takashi
(No.26) of the original test subjects. He is the quietest and most
introverted of the three test children, but also the most active. He
was mistaken for Akira by a guerilla spy and smuggled out, but he
encountered Tetsuo in the process which led to the awakening of his
abilities.
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MASARU
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Masaru
(No.27) of the original test subjects. He suffered from polio as a
child and uses a special chair to move around. He protects the other
"children" and organizes them to help overwhelm Tetsuo's
destructive powers.
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COLONEL
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The
Colonel is the head of the military controlling Neo-Tokyo and the
project to harness the psychic powers of the children. He knows the
secret of Akira because his father was part of the original Akira
project that destroyed Tokyo 31 years ago. He is wary of Tetsuo's
immense powers and resentful of the corrupt and bickering civilian
government that attempts to limit his power.
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