Akira and it's Augmented Reality

 Akira is a graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo about a bike gang leader who tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. But when he gains supernatural powers, it becomes more about stopping him then the government. The story takes place in a post nuclear Tokyo after the military dropped a bomb on the city 31 years ago due to experiments gone wrong. The setting is incredibly bleak, dirty and not very pretty but is still highly sophisticated in terms of technology and atmosphere. The main characters are in a bike gang but they don’t ride your typical motorcycles. Instead incredibly fast “Tron” like cycles that fit perfectly within their setting. This whole city is filled to the brim of small technological quirks like that which make the setting richer in detail and strong in growth. The reality also makes a big case for the narrative, the military is a major threat throughout the entire story and the size and scope of their weapons and artillery really makes them a force to be reckoned with. Especially in the later parts with the military base. The long hallways and giant size of the arena where Tetsuo is held creates a massive change from the tight streets of little Tokyo. It’s incredibly spacious and gives the feeling of separation from the rest of society.  It also makes our main heroes incredibly believable in terms of intelligence. All of them have this certain street smart attitude and with how expansive Neo Tokyo is and for how much they spend riding around on bikes, It’s very believable when they know exactly where they’re going and follow their instincts on dire situations. The world revolves around them yet they know how to get around the world making for an almost tour guide like view of narrative. Akira shines in a ton of cases but it’s setting is truly It’s proudest achievement. It takes what was already established in Blade Runner and makes it more believable through it’s bomb backstory and attention to detail within assumptions and character interactions. Let’s hope America doesn’t white wash this one anytime soon.