Do you remember Akira?

I really hope that the planned trilogy adaptation of Akira by Hollywood will be even more kickass than the 1988 Akira animated movie: the Japanese animated movie was great but there is still a lot to exploit with Akira!

The Hollywood Reporter has a quite good plot summary for Akira, the animated movie:
"The story was set in a neon-lit futuristic post-nuclear war 'Neo-Tokyo' where a teen biker gang member is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his latent powers."

The animated movie was an explosive mix: gorgeous ethnic music, amazing graphics, interesting characters and a vivid sci-fi plot. Check some of the videos to remember what was Akira:

Akira 1988 - Original English Trailer

Akira 1988 - Bikers in Neo Tokyo
I especially like the musical soundtrack of Akira by Geinoh Yamashirogumi, of which:


Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Akira Soundtrack - Kaneda


Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Akira Soundtrack - Dolls Polyphony

I heard that the Hollywood movie would be closer to the Japanese manga comic book than the animated version. That is to say if you pass over the relocation of the story to New Manhattan, a city rebuilt with Japanese money following a cataclysmic event in a near future....

Anyway, in 2009, I won't miss the occasion to see Leonardo DiCaprio riding an hyper-boosted and hyper-high-tech red motorbike!
:-)

Akira in 2009

Warner Brothers will finally launch the production of the movie adaptation Akira, famousJapanese manga by anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo.
This adaptation should span over three movies, with at least the first instalment directed by Ruairi Robinson and scripted by Gary Whitta.

The first opus of Akira is being fast tracked for release in summer 2009.

Leonard DiCaprio, whose company Appian Way is also coproducing the movie, is likely to interpret the central role of Kaneda.

Like we said this movie is an adaptation: one striking difference is that the movie story will be set in "New Manhattan" instead of Neo-Tokyo in the Japanese manga.

Hard-line fans of Akira may object to such a change. But well, the movie adaptation is first targeting the American public. So such a change makes sense.
;-p