The Bite Magazine - Autmn/Winter 2020 - Issue 28

bitefilmreview N early four decades since its first screening in 1988, Akira’s power is more relevant than ever. Despite the challenges 2020 has brought, audiences were given a chance to take a seat at the cinema once again and en- joy the classic cult anime Akira . Cinema World in Leicester Square, London, opened its doors for anime fans for a couple of days on 7th and 8th October to enjoy the beloved film and experience it in IMAX. Previously, Akira was restored on DVD in 2001, Blu-ray in 2009, and now 4K remastered in 2020. Akira is a famous science fiction anime that comes under the um- brella of manga — a Japanese word for a comic or graphic novel that was created in 1982 by Japanese artist Katsuhiro Otomo. This animated post-apocalyptic cyberpunk film based on Otomo’s 1982 manga and directed by its creator, is produced by Ryōhei Suzuki and Shunzō Katō and written by Otomo and Izo Hashimoto. The soundtrack was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi. It is an iconic work of cyberpunk genre that gained worldwide rec- ognition and received numerous awards around the globe. The film had a significant impact on popular culture worldwide, paving the way for the growth of anime and Japanese popular culture in the western world as well as influencing numerous works in animation, comics, film, music, television, and video games. It inspired not only other anime classics such as Pokemon, Dragon Ball or Naruto but countless Hollywood directors and music stars such as Michael and Janet Jackson who used Akira references in their music video ‘Scream’. Hip hop mogul and businessman Kanye West also highly referenced Akira in his music video ‘Stronger’.