DVD REVIEW

Akira: Collector's Edition

Japanese Cast: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, etc.

English Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Joshua Seth, etc.
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Rating: R

Review Posted: 7.1.01

By Jon Bjorling.

Akira was one of the first Anime films I had ever seen, and since then, it has always had a place in my heart. When I heard that Pioneer had purchased the rights to it and were planning to re-release it to theater, my heart stopped. Was I finally going to see this classic the way it was meant to be seen? Sadly, I never had the opportunity to see it. So, I patiently waited for this...and I was not disappointed.

Kaneda and his friends are members of a bike gang who's youngest member ends up becoming the guinea pig in an experiment to unlock the secret of Akira, a being that may have directly resulted in WWIII over 30 years ago. But when the young punk gains these powers, he ends up going on a rampage, forcing his friends to stop him.

Now, I must warn those who think they are looking for the original Orion/Streamline dub, this is not the campy dub that you are used to. Pioneer has re-translated the script and hired different voice actors in order to stay truer to the original Japanese version. Is this a good thing? Yes. I must admit though, the new voices threw me for a loop, but I eventually adjusted myself to them.

The new actors are very good and play their roles to near perfection. I am, however, a little disappointed with the choices for the three test subjects. I'm sure that it's only because I am so used to the voices from the Streamline dub, but I found the children's voices to be really annoying.

9 out of 10

The digital transfer is beautiful. Pioneer has really cleaned up and enhanced everything that I had grown to love about the visuals.

9 out of 10

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround + Shoji Yamashiro's score = Heaven. The sound is great, both on the original Japanese track and on the English dub.

9 out of 10

Disc 1 - Capsule Option

The capsule option isn't all that interesting. It simply translates the Japanese writing and graffiti that is on the screen. Nothing more.

Disc 2 - Features

1) Akira Production Report

2) Akira Sound Clip by Geinoh Yamashiro

3) Gumi Interview with Katsuhiro Otomo

4) Storyboards

5) Akira glossary

6) Teasers and Trailers

7) Interviews with restoration staff

The production report, sound clip, and interview with the director were all from 1988, when the film was first made. The Interviews with the restoration staff are interesting. The storyboards are nice, plus they contain stills of unused backgrounds and scenes. The only thing on this disc that was a waste was the glossary.

8 out of 10

Overall, I'd say this is one of the better DVD's I've seen all year. A classic film that has been given the presentation that it deserves. Anime fans, as well as sci-fi and action film lovers should rejoice - Akira has returned.

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