Thirty-one years after a horrific release of energy during World War III destroyed the original Tokyo, Neo-Tokyo has grown into a turbulent place. The new city, built across the river from the rubble of the old city, is torn by political strife - young revolutionaries pursue their "freedom revolution" while the army runs medical tests on children afflicted with extraordinary telekinetic powers. As politicians at the upper echelons of this new squabble over how to balance their need for continued graft with public outcry about the condition of the government society, the depths of this society seethe with life.

Vocational students Kaneda and Tetsuo, members of a motorcycle gang, pursue their rivals, The Clowns, across the streets and bridges of Neo-Tokyo, heedless of the chaos and destruction they leave in their wake. While Kaneda takes point in the street fight, Tetsuo literally runs into the middle of political intrigue when he accidentally steers his motorcycle into the path of a shriveled young boy. In self-defense, the shriveled boy unleashes a wave of telekinetic energy on Tetsuo, unwittingly awakening latent psychic powers in the young biker. The well-armed soldiers under the leadership of a man known as "The Colonel" capture the entire gang and isolate Tetsuo as the army's newest test subject. Meanwhile, Kaneda, smitten with Kei, a young revolutionary arrested that same night, finds himself aiding a militant group intent on overthrowing the government and rebuilding society under the guidance of a messianic force known as Akira. And in the course of uncovering the truth behind Akira, Tetsuo will battle his life-long friend, Kaneda.

Despite talk among some fans over-familiar with this staple of cyber-punk anime, "Akira" is not overrated. Though "Akira" runs a mere two-hours, it possesses a thoroughness usually found only in long-running series and in franchises with many previous incarnations. The world of "Akira" is rampant with corruption and degradation of pre-apocalyptic values, deluging the characters with ubiquitous graffiti, vocal doomsayers, and defiant motorcycle gangs. In such a world, it would be easy for creator Katsuhiro Otomo to squeeze the last vestiges of humanity from this dynamic, jam-packed world and reflect little on the world of today. Instead creator Katsuhiro Otomo focuses tightly on two central characters - Kaneda and Tetsuo - reflecting on the nature of friendship and the toll extracted on the human psyche by social strife in the plausible and holistically sound, post-apocalyptic world of Neo-Tokyo.

The characters of Kaneda and Tetsuo ably fuel the central drama of "Akira" in which a divisive society rends the life-long friendship of its protagonists. Kaneda is strong and protective, while Tetsuo is clumsy and dependent. They have been life-long friends, yet their relationship has never been equitable. Both faced persecution at school in their younger years, but Kaneda grew stronger and more capable while Tetsuo remained awkward and always secreted in his friend's shadow. Kaneda came to see himself as the heroic leader of the gang, while Tetsuo felt overprotected in the gang's struggle against The Clowns. Though Kaneda never recognized it, the incident in which the gang leader jokes that Tetsuo could not handle the sleek red bike brings to light Tetsuo's longstanding jealousy of the gang's leader. Because he feels weak, Tetsuo suppresses his feelings until they erupt with the awakening of his psychic ability that pushes the conflict into the open. Tetsuo's acquisition of power turns their relationship on its head making Kaneda feel hurt by what he perceives to be his friend's lack of loyalty. Nonetheless, when Tetsuo's powers rage out of control, killing his girlfriend and morphing his body, Tetsuo cries out for Kaneda's help, realizing that he needs his friend. Despite possessing enough power to destroy Neo-Tokyo, Tetsuo is helpless against the drubbing fate that has been bestowed upon him.

Otomo's handling of the mystery of "Akira" is as exemplary as his handling of the conflict between Kaneda and Tetsuo. During much of the film, the nature of Akira remains unclear. The Colonel and the children speak of him as a person, Tetsuo inexplicably cries out his name as if Akira were a powerful spirit, and revolutionaries yearn for Akira's appearance to wipe out the corruption of Neo-Tokyo. Otomo hurls these contradictory bits of information at the viewer from all sides, making it difficult for the viewer to see the whole picture. When the secret of Akira is finally revealed, the mystery is both complex enough and cohesive enough to reward the viewer for the exertion. Further adding to Otomo's masterful storytelling is the role that Akira plays in the explosive conclusion that heralds the destruction of Neo-Tokyo and the creation of a new universe. All prophecies regarding Akira turn out to be correct, as Akira is at once a boy, a messiah, and a devastating spirit.

Enhancing the drama and the mystery of "Akira" is the meticulous detail that went into conceptualizing and realizing the city of Neo-Tokyo and its denizens on film. Every evening cityscape has a breathtaking skyline, organically lit and crawling with life. The buildings on each side of the road rise up like oppressive monsters ready to crush the life from the citizens. Even the graffiti (translated through the DVD's special "capsule feature") speaks to the oppressive nature of the city. Many of the protestors are young, recalling student protests that have shaken regimes across our own world, but their leaders are more mature and carry stronger hints of the Japan that existed before the third world war. One rebel in particular dresses like a Japanese noblewoman with shades and has herself carried around on a platform. Also eerily well designed are the three experimental subjects under the control of The Colonel. The story implies that all three of them pre-date the destruction of Tokyo - their visages are withered and leathery yet their body frames and voices are child-like. Their appearance attests to their unsettlingly abnormal condition, outside the normal flow of time and condemned to a confused combination of youth and old age. This wide variety of character and architecture complement the overall visual feast of "Akira."

With its dramatic characterizations, startling secrets and electrifying animation, "Akira" deserves its place as a milestone in animation history. This new special edition, with its nearly flawless dub, restored picture and plentiful extras satisfyingly reaffirms this.