"Akira" is one of the giants of anime, a reputation that is well deserved. A cyber-punk thriller mixing action with psychic mystery, it opened the floodgates for a plethora of gritty, fast-paced adventures.

In two hours, Otomo and his staff create a foreign but plausible world peopled with intriguing characters whose personalities and motivations flow naturally from the tempestuous world they inhabit

The characters are stylized, the action flows fast and smoothly and the backdrops are stunning. Neo-Tokyo and its denizens come to life to a degree that is rarely possible in an animated medium. The intense restoration the work gives an already tremendous accomplishment, an added measure of luster.

Despite the potential distractions stemming from the richly layered world of Neo-Tokyo, the writers of "Akira" avoid temptation and focus instead on the long-running character arc involving Kaneda and Tetsuo.

This new version of "Akira" sports an attractive new English dub. The actors give lively and believable performances that mesh nicely with their characters' personas. The sole exception is the voice of The Colonel in the English dub. His performance, tainted with shades of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader, lacks the subtlety and nuance this character, who is both a soldier protecting Neo-Tokyo and caretaker to the army's experimental subjects, requires.

The translations in both the dub and the subtitles flow naturally, a notable accomplishment for a translator dealing with the vernacular of the future. The swear words in the dub, however, sometimes lack the verisimilitude of the rest of the dialogue. Sometimes, the f-word says it best.

The two-disc special edition of Akira is loaded with tasty extras. Well indexed, the first disc has an optional "capsule" feature that identifies points of interest on maps and translates the Japanese graffiti. The latter is especially essential in establishing the atmosphere of protest that underlies the messianic political movements in the "Akira" story. The second disc is replete with interviews, stills and a useful glossary of terms.

Blood and violence abound, though all of it is essential to the atmosphere and the plot. Also, there is a graphic scene of brutality in which a gang member assaults Tetsuo's girlfriend.

The adage is wrong. The meek don't inherit the universe. According to "Akira," the meek become a new universe.

When the other three experimental subjects come to visit Tetsuo, they take the form of walking, talking, singing, frightening, milk-dripping toys.

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