Anime Manga
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The mysterious boy known simply as Akira (アキラ) is the titular character of the anime. He is a child who serves as a key driving force in the lives of the main characters, particularly the psychic Tetsuo Shima.
Biography[]
Akira is a young orphan child recruited by the government for their secret parapsychology project and was assigned the subject number 28. The project forced Akira to develop powerful psychic abilities. During this time, he met and befriended other children involved with the project, notably Kiyoko, Masaru, and Takashi (later known collectively as the Espers.)
Akira's powers grew rapidly, eventually beyond his control. On July 16th, 1988, he destroyed the original Tokyo, which the rest of the world mistook for a nuclear detonation. This began a chain of events which quickly led to World War III. Akira was retrieved by the scientists, and was dissected to discover the cause of his sudden psychic growth. The scientists were unable to solve this problem, and the remains were sealed in canisters and cryogenically frozen underground, sealed away as to prevent any chance of problems in the future.
The existence of Akira, and other remnants of the project become a contentious issue within the upper echelons of Japanese politicians. Earth feared Akira because of his almost divine power: he can do literally anything (even create a whole new universe). While the project is considered one of the highest of state secrets, periodic leaks have led to Akira becoming a messianic figure among some cults in Neo-Tokyo. Minister Nezu, seeing this as an opportunity to gain further political power, manipulates a dissident group, known as the Resistance, to free Akira, to further his own ends.
Tetsuo Shima, upon hearing of the existence of Akira, rampages through Neo-Tokyo in a quest to find him in the hopes of learning how to increase his already devastating power. Tetsuo finds and destroys Akira's container, and ultimately discovers the truth. Later, when Tetsuo's powers grow beyond his control, causing his body to swell into a grotesque mass, Akira is summoned by the Espers. He appears not as an ordinary human being, but a spirit-like form that has transcended the limitations of the human body. Akira utilizes the power with which he destroyed Tokyo to absorb Tetsuo, and contain him in a new universe.
Tetsuo's friend Shotaro Kaneda was unwittingly caught in the explosion, and he experiences both Akira, and Tetsuo's memories before being transported back to Neo-Tokyo by the Espers.
Personality[]
Akira is a young child. Therefore he has a personality akin to a small child his age. He gets along well with the Espers as they were fellow government test subjects, and is shown to have delight in Masaru's display of telekinetic powers. He is willing to help his friends in dealing with a mutated Tetsuo, even if it'll destroy Neo-Tokyo in the process.
In the manga it is hinted by The Espers that the reason he rarely talks is that his personality has been replaced as a result of his immense power.
Etymology[]
- The name Akira is written in katakana (アキラ), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (昭, 明, 亮 or 晶), it could possibly mean:**昭 - "shining, bright".
- 明 - "bright, light, clear".
- 亮 - "clear".
- 晶 - "clear, crystal".
Trivia[]
- Akira's assigned number in the parapsychology project is 28, which references Tetsujin 28-gō of the manga/anime series of the same name.
- In a mashup of the manga Akira with The Simpsons, Akira's role is played by Ralph.[citation needed]
Gallery[]
