Every medium loves to be inspired. Some scenes become so iconic that they are referenced decades later in series, movies, or even anime and games. One of the most influential scenes comes from an almost 40-year-old anime.
Which anime is it about? In 1988, the science fiction anime Akira was released. The film, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, is an adaptation of the manga of the same name. The film follows young Tetsuo, who lives in the cyberpunk world of Tokyo 30 years after the third world war.
Together with his motorcycle gang, he tries to survive in Tokyo. One day, he gets into an accident that grants him supernatural abilities. His powers resemble the catastrophe that destroyed Tokyo during the third world war. Instead of using them for good, Tetsuo spirals out of control and can only be stopped by his friend Kaneda.
Akira is not just an anime classic; it is also considered one of the most important films in the sci-fi genre, establishing anime for adults. With its cyberpunk themes and explicit body horror elements, the film is still regarded as a masterpiece, for which even 50 new colors were developed.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the anime has a critic score of 91% based on 54 reviews. The film is also well-received by users, achieving a rating of 90% from over 100,000 reviews.
Even if one is not familiar with the anime, they have likely seen the reference to a specific scene. A motorcycle scene in Akira continues to appear in new movies, series, or animes to this day.
You can watch a trailer for the film here:
An iconic scene that remains a reference to this day
Which scene is it? Right at the beginning of the film, there is a chase scene in which two motorcycle gangs clash. Kaneda is also involved, riding an iconic red cyber motorcycle. He executes a sideways drift at the end of the chase to brake, with one leg on the ground.
The camera
does not move in this scene; it stays focused as Kaneda drifts briefly and stops. This scene has become entrenched in pop culture and is frequently referenced in countless new movies, series, and animes. Examples include:
- The family film Sonic 3 (2024)
- The horror film Nope (2022)
- The action film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- The animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 – 2005)
The scene is also honored in animes and games. Examples include Pokémon, Detective Conan , and Rocket League. A compilation of some scenes can be found in the YouTube video by Badspler.
Is Akira still worth it today? Definitely. Akira is a science fiction milestone that is also interesting for viewers who usually do not like anime. It is an adult cyberpunk film that is still relevant and heavily incorporates horror elements. You can find more anime for adults here: Anime for 16+ – These 5 series are adult and not suitable for small children
