AKIRA 『アキラ』
• Manga (comic) by Katsuhiro ŌTOMO
• 1982–1990 in Young Magazine (cca 2000 pgs.)
• In 6 volumes published in Kōdansha
• Animated movie in 1988
• dir.: Katsuhiro ŌTOMO
Struggles of adolescence
• Kaneda and Tetsuo
• Tetsuo’s lack of strength → frustration
• Power – too much to handle
• → Destruction
• Symbol of Japan of the late 80s (?)
• Kaneda = U.S.A.
• Tetsuo = Japan
Metamorphosis
• “Sense of disaster being visited at the
level of the body itself.”
• Crossing gender boundaries
• “Body horror”
• Questions of identity
Double symbolism in AKIRA
1. Individual level: Child’s transformation rooted in the need to be accepted
in the world of adults.
2. Social level: Fears of apocalypse caused by the impotence of people to
control powers of transformation; dealing with modernity.