In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after the nuking of the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural powers suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

Shotaro Kaneda

 (金田正太郎 Kaneda Shōtarō) or simply "Kaneda" is the leader of the Bōsōzoku gang referred to as The Capsules and the main protagonist of the Akira mangaand anime franchise. He is the childhood friend of Tetsuo Shima.

Tetsuo Shima

 (島鉄雄 Shima Tetsuo) is both deuteragonist and main antagonist of the AKIRA franchise. He serves as a representation of the corruption of power.

One of the greatest animated and science fiction films of all time