FIRST TIME WATCHING: Akira (Patreon Exclusive)
Added 2025-04-11 16:00:37 +0000 UTCHAPPY FEATURE FRIDAY!!
It's time for another Patreon Exclusive reaction! And WOW, this anime was way different than anything I've ever experienced. Such great visuals and so brutal... curious to hear what y'all think in the comments on this one.
I watched the Japanese version of the film on Crunchyroll, for those who are curious.
As always, thank you for your support. Until the next one, take care and stay golden :)
LINK: https://youtu.be/sA6gxZzdYz0
Original Movie: Akira
Comments
Hello Nat, took me a second to remember to come and add the suggestion for a movie here. If you want a great movie for an exclusive anime Patreon reaction "Steamboy" would be something that I think that you would really enjoy. I will include the official You Tube link to the movie on their website so you can check out the trailer, instead of having it link to someone else sharing the trailer. https://youtu.be/LxqKkJvk_kU?si=nn_QenB-Acb1BcpD
Baron
2025-05-08 22:48:28 +0000 UTCOkay this movie is not AT ALL what I expected 😂 I’ve literally only seen the slide so I thought this was like a Speed Racer type film about bikes, not telekinetic mutants 😭 Kinda love it tho! The detail looks stunning - and the amount of violence was unexpected, but was definitely used effectively 👀 plot was a little over the place but I love it for what it is
Daniel McGuinness
2025-04-13 22:40:24 +0000 UTC"ghost in the shell"
Lean
2025-04-13 20:18:55 +0000 UTCHere is 60 seconds why Akira by Dami Lee, architect and design. https://youtu.be/cbeBhS2tX1k?si=dg3pVfciaJNRwM4z I don't usually post a link but this is only 60 seconds explaining Akira from an architect.
Mannygogou
2025-04-13 16:23:59 +0000 UTCThe movie Akira is an experience. It's not so much about liking this part, not liking that part. It's not about understanding this section or that, etc. It's an experience, a spectacle. It's like a challenge. In that sense there's no point in watching a dumbed down version. Jump in and see for yourself. You be your own judge. Maybe watch it again in 10 years. See if you've changed.
Mannygogou
2025-04-13 15:29:10 +0000 UTCAkira is an important milestone in at least showing that animation is not necessarily for kids. It shows a rich and layered story and depicts a world in decline... and the viewer is not hand held and not spoon fed. The viewer is thrown into the deep end. First we see biker gangs and street violence. Then we see police violence. Then we hear of societal issues... and we see hints of political corruption and manipulation. Yeah!, cool stuff. Who knew a movie could be made like this. Yes, for may viewers, just focus on the bikes skidding sideways... woo! Me, I like the particle weapons... wow.
Mannygogou
2025-04-13 15:14:00 +0000 UTCHere is the data on proton decay, Our best theory on the physics of the universe is "The Standard Model of Particle Physics" and it predicts the proton to be stable. Experiments have put a lower limit on proton lifetime which is this many years... 1,600,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Compare that to the age of the universe at... 13,800,000,000 years. You can see the proton is not going to decay any time soon. Regarding subtitles, it doesn't make it harder to understand, it's the opposite and makes it easier to understand. It works like this - when you are slouched on the couch watching TV passively, you are literally being fed the story, you are seeing pictures. When reading a book you have to engage your mind, your language center in the brain is active and in your mind you create the pictures. It's an active experience for the reader. In a story like Akire the audience is expected to figure things out for themselves because the movie does not "spoon feed" the audience. The movie gives you visceral experience and it evokes strong emotions because it's such a violent world... yet there is purpose within it. You are not hand held, you are thrown into this world. As for the power of Akira and where that power comes from, it's like additional homework for the viewer who wants to understand more. The movie pulls strings together to the proximity of each other but they don't tie them up, you are supposed to piece it together. Having subtitles literally allows you to read between the lines and requires active participation in the story. Yes, no, a more active participation is not for everyone, some you know just want the spoon feeding experience - for them you get the biker gangs and maybe the mysterious drug capsules that the kids take... no, wait that also requires thinking to piece that together. And the tax reforms, typically ordinary citizens don't even want to think about that - there is an idea today that our federal government does not need to take money from everyday citizens and so there is a plan floating around to remove most taxes. Advanced ideas like somehow taxing the rich is the easy answer... first of all the rich presumably knows what to do with money and they'll pay their tax lawyers to get them out of paying most of those taxes that the less informed think are being paid. How can it work with no taxes?, the US is considered a superpower and a lot of that comes from the wealth generation of the nation that comes from the deep resource of entrepreneurship that creates value, wealth, jobs, and technological advances which benefit all and keeps the nation that head and shoulders above others presumably. In brief, intellectual property... it's the inventive ideas put into new businesses that create the source of wealth which raise up the standard of living and pays for military power and all that jazz and keeps the US on top (presumably). Anyway it's "nice" way to hint about depth in society stratified by corrupt politicians, military powers, an oppressed citizenship and a rebel faction that turned out was manipulated by political interest... meanwhile a religious group claim Akira as their god and the power of Akira shall liberate the masses. The fabric of this society depicted in the movie is for those who want more... We can feel that there is world building and we are given clues but we're not hand held. Also the skirt chasing is used to hold the story down to earth, to simplify motivations of dudes. The two pairs we see are Tetsuo + Kaori and Kaneda + Kei... we're hinted at a pair's past and a pair's future. But the story is a snapshot of a time in the middle of as you say chaos. We see a time of chaos and the events that transpired in that "incident" that destroyed the city a second time and the trials of people on the ground as they struggle against the confines of this world. It's a nation in collapse? Those kids taking pills... is indicative of the collapse. Tetsuo when granted power, he wanted two things... the bike and the pills. A nice touch is Kaneda taking responsibility of one of his mates, one of the guys he rode with causing death and destruction... and him wanting to make amends by killing Tetsuo himself. Now this is aspiration of a better world by taking responsibility in a world that doesn't make sense. Epic movie.
Mannygogou
2025-04-13 15:07:18 +0000 UTChey thanks for watching Akira. Proton decay is such a thing that has never been observed and is entirely hypothetical(?) A proton is a fundamental building block of atomic nuclei. Does a proton decay?, current evidence: no In certain theories or science fiction stuff, long after the end of the universe maybe protons might decay. It is predicted though but unproven, but it's fundamental to the existence of the universe? and dangerous? because it rewrites physics. Well, if we did see a proton decay it would mean it's not as stable... and that implies the universe destroyed, you know space and time destroyed... not immediately but you know, bad. So there's no explanation really needed. Possible that white orb of light in the beginning, because it's silent we could infer that, that was the awakening of Akira. The kids speak of that when that power is awakened no one can control it as of yet. It seems to be an overwhelming release of power. Even if the 3 kids were trapped inside it they couldn't return but they figured they could return Kaneda back to our world. Yes pronouncing his name like Canada is not so bad, it's very close. To first time viewers I think it's more of a visceral experience with the fighting between the bike gangs and all the other violence. The deeper stuff is not usually understood because it's not fully explained it's heady stuff. In another sense Akira is a much bigger story and we're just dropped in the middle of it. The shape that the scientist is looking at is the power and the awakening of Tetsuo and he overlayed Akira's pattern. Toward the end Tetsuo was getting bigger and approaching the pattern of Akira... which we can surmise when they converge that was when Akira destroyed Tokyo. The Colonel was angry at the scientist because it was not supposed to get that bad, it was not supposed to get out of hand like that which... as we saw again, destroyed the city. Also the bike gangs... they probably weren't' killing each other. There was a line of dialogue saying they put a lot of them in the hospital. It's super violent though and I'm sure a few did actually die... in fact they were trying to kill each other. Tetsuo used a pipe to the face on a guy... that was hospitalization for sure if not immediately fatal.
Mannygogou
2025-04-13 14:10:49 +0000 UTCI would like to suggest, as you are now getting into anime movies, that you watch kimi no nawa/Your Name. Probably one of the BEST anime movies ever made.
Jinxter ジンクスたー
2025-04-13 05:38:55 +0000 UTCPower corrupts. Uh, yeah. Absolutely.
Steve Mercier
2025-04-13 00:57:40 +0000 UTCCan’t get the Japanese version in the UK so I’m going with the Dub and hoping it’s not too different 🫶🏼😅 Heard so much about this one, excited to have an excuse to finally watch it!
Daniel McGuinness
2025-04-13 00:33:43 +0000 UTCAhh the famous bike slide movie! That center-screen bike slide is copied or paid homage in so many things--only one you've seen though is probably the one in Jordan Peele's Nope at the end of the movie when she races her bike into that empty amusement park.
Albiezushi
2025-04-12 21:52:55 +0000 UTCAkira is worth watching if only because of its stunning animation and incredible music. It’s easy to forget that Akira came out in 1988. I’ll echo that the second English dub is good enough and makes the movie less overwhelming for a first watch. Nezu looks like a rat because his name literally means mouse or rat in Japanese. The director, who also wrote the manga, did an admirable job adapting his 120 chapter, 3000 page magnum opus, but it’s still hard to follow. Basically, Tetsuo loses control of his powers following the loss of his arm and starts to absorb everything around him, so the espers revive Akira, who transports them all to another dimension, where Tetsuo is reborn into some kind of ascended being. The manga has a lot more story and background information that’s skipped over in this. It’s unfortunate in some ways that this movie is so well regarded because it means we likely will never see a more fleshed out adaptation. I love Taika Waititi but I’m skeptical his live action version will do that, if it ever gets made at all.
Jason Gillman
2025-04-12 17:29:43 +0000 UTCNo thanks I don’t need to cry that hard again.
Jason Gillman
2025-04-12 17:16:38 +0000 UTCI never recommend subtitles for a movie as powerful, complex, and visual as Akira for a first time watch. At least for the first time seeing it, always go with the person's native language so they can fully absorb it. Natlie: I have to admit, I thought it was okay on the first watch some 30 years ago and completely overwhelming. Also, I couldn't understand it all because it was in Japanese and the sub was in French. Yet I love it more with every watch, so I really can't blame you. Now it's one of my top 10 favorite films (and I'm no fan of anime). What made it off-putting for ye? The violence, complexity, or pace? Something else?
PIG
2025-04-12 08:27:38 +0000 UTCEnglish Dub is on Crunchyroll
Chris Henderson
2025-04-12 06:28:11 +0000 UTCAkira was also not my cup of tea haha, for the same reasons. I think something like Ghost in the Shell would interest you a lot more. But still hoping for Your Name soon!
kikoyito
2025-04-12 05:25:06 +0000 UTCNow do Evangelion.
Godzilla Jones
2025-04-12 05:05:26 +0000 UTCIt's visually stunning, but a narrative mess. Because the audience is left out of a lot of plot details, there has never been any emotional resonance for me. But the visuals alone have influenced countless media. Everyone and their mother has copied and borrowed from Akira. The ending of season 1 of Invincible has an Akira space laser for gods sake. I'm sure others have recommended Perfect Blue, Paprika, or Jin Roh Wolf Brigade and I'll second all of those.
Wesley
2025-04-12 04:11:48 +0000 UTCIt's the 3rd version of this film I see, French-dub, English-dub and now Japanese. They all tell a slightly different story. Hope you figured what you miss in edit. As I always says, you either commit to the sub or listen to the dub. You can't do half way.
Daniel Vezina
2025-04-12 01:59:58 +0000 UTCThis is movie is an all time favorite of mine even though it is admittedly barely comprehensible. I think it works best if you just focus on the pretty pictures, because it looks great. It's useful to know that it is based on a 1982-1990 manga, which I never read but I have been told it's also pretty esoteric. Condensing a big stack of comics in a 2 hour movie made them cut a lot of stuff out, the broad strokes are there, some things are just a little underdeveloped. This movie is also significant in its influence in sci-fi and cyberpunk, you already mentioned Dragonball Z, but also Stranger Things blatantly stole half the plot from this.
Berry
2025-04-12 01:38:24 +0000 UTCI am a Sci Fi Fan and even I was like what am I watching, sometimes Animé can go a little too bizarre. I think personally Your Name was a better choice. I hope you are gonna watch it still!
Rogier Oude Heuvel
2025-04-12 00:14:17 +0000 UTCI feel you. I don't watch anime as much anymore, even though I imagine there's tons of great stuff. But at this time I was watching like Guyver and Ranma 1/2 'n stuff with my older cousin who would take me to Super Collector to rent these tapes. I'd watch my Batman animated series and others but I saw these and I was like, "Woh. There's like 'R' rated cartoons I can watch without my parents catching wise."
RabidMango
2025-04-11 23:40:37 +0000 UTCI love Akira and this was a great reason for a rewatch! There are several reasons to why I love it. From its stunning animation, the music and sound design, the characters and the humour that is worked in flawlessly. And the fact that it doesn't really hold your hand, you don't obly have to pay attention, you also have to actively engang with the story. It also have one of the best hallucination scenes of any film ever.
Tarjei
2025-04-11 22:56:42 +0000 UTChappens on every reactors polls lol
Crispin
2025-04-11 21:28:41 +0000 UTCCanaaadaaaaa
Path
2025-04-11 21:14:04 +0000 UTCGrave of the Fireflies has been on the poll 5 times. You don't understand how annoying it is that it never wins. Next poll, your name is probably going to win. Give it like 3 months.
Path
2025-04-11 21:05:34 +0000 UTCI really struggled with this one, I'm not sure why but I struggled to concentrate on it... as they say "Different Strokes For Diffrrent Folks"... Hope you all enjoyed it, just not my thing.. As I have said before, I'm glad to watch all these shows with Nat, as it's opened my eyes to a lot of great stuff, just not this time for me.
Baggie Mark
2025-04-11 19:23:55 +0000 UTC"Why does this guy look like he's about to have a heart attack?" Um... because he was about to have a heart attack. Very common in Peter Pettigrews his age.
Mastervodo
2025-04-11 18:24:48 +0000 UTCIt's also cool that since you've seen Ready Player One you've seen that iconic red motorcycle before. This film also contains the iconic "Akira slide" near the beginning when Kaneda plays chicken.
Shaun Bloom
2025-04-11 18:18:40 +0000 UTCIdk why fans tell everyone to watch something in sub especially if they don't watch much anime she should've watched this in dub instead of sub.
Chris Henderson
2025-04-11 18:12:55 +0000 UTCI just finished watching the YT version. It's a pretty good version 😊
Darryl Low
2025-04-11 18:09:34 +0000 UTCWoooommmmbaaaaaaat!
Mastervodo
2025-04-11 18:09:15 +0000 UTCHi Daryl, I can find an English version anywhere, even using a VPN. So I am going to have to watch the Dubbed YouTube version.
Baggie Mark
2025-04-11 18:03:27 +0000 UTCBeen a long time since I've seen this film. My last rewatch may have been on VHS 😁📺📼
Shaun Bloom
2025-04-11 17:45:33 +0000 UTCAnother movie I think you would really like is Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999).
JediLounger
2025-04-11 17:10:39 +0000 UTCany excuse for me to bust out the 4K blu-ray. Such a gorgeous film.
djKENTO
2025-04-11 16:24:33 +0000 UTCKaaaaannnreeedaaaaa!
PIG
2025-04-11 16:13:53 +0000 UTCNoooooo waaaaaaaaay! I can’t wait to get home. I can’t wait to get home. I can’t wait to get home. lol
PIG
2025-04-11 16:13:33 +0000 UTCPlease guys lets do " grave of the fireflies " next XD
Crispin
2025-04-11 16:08:39 +0000 UTCTetsuooooooo
Kelvin
2025-04-11 16:05:17 +0000 UTCHappy Feature Friday Nat. Been waiting to see where you watched this movie as it's not on any streaming services here in the UK. There is a 480p dubbed version free on YouTube, but I'll see if I can access Crunchyroll here. Haven't seen this one before. I've only ever seen the iconic red cycle. That's all I know. Time to check it out 😊 I have no idea what I just watched but there was certainly a lot of imagination put into it 😅 I ended up watching the dubbed YT version so I had a slightly difference experience than you, but I think you are right Nat, sometimes you just have to go on the journey and go with the flow. It was certainly an epic story anyway. Thanks for your reaction today Nat, and as always, thanks for all your great work this week. Have an awesome weekend 💛
Darryl Low
2025-04-11 16:05:05 +0000 UTCThis is gonna be such a great watch! Are there any streams planned fo rthis week? <3
Danishprince
2025-04-11 16:04:38 +0000 UTCThank you for going the extra mile and doing 2 movies for us this week Nat!
Mastervodo
2025-04-11 16:02:47 +0000 UTC
