Tetsuo, prior to becoming embroiled in a secret government experiment. All images courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment. Produced by Akira Committee Kodansha. © 1987 Akira Committee.

There's no doubt about it. Thirteen years after its release in Japan, Akira is the quintessential cyber-punk anime feature -- and a bonafide classic science fiction film on any level.

Based on the original multi-part manga by Katsuhiro Otomo, Kodandsha Publishing put together a consortium of Japan's finest animation studios, under Otomo's direction and a banner called the Akira Committee, to create this modern masterpiece. It was the most expensive anime feature ever created (costing $8 million, a pittance compared to Disney features of the era), and no punches were pulled. The film retains Otomo's adult point of view; the violence, sex and raw language that properly set the story in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo.

In 1989 Akira was looking for U.S. distribution just as Carl Macek and I started Streamline Pictures, a small U.S. theatrical and video operation specializing in Japanese anime. Kodansha had dubbed the film rather quickly in an effort to interest Paramount, Fox, Universal... anyone... in picking up the film for a U.S. release. Unfortunately, small-minded Hollywood had no idea how to sell an adult animation (they still don't) and had no idea there was any U.S. audience for this sort of thing.

Neo-Tokyo's stunning skyline.

That was a lucky break for Streamline Pictures. We enthusiastically booked the film (with 8 prints!) into art houses across the U.S. I had many great experiences with Akira, including two days in New York City, which I'll never forget. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Otomo and introduce him to our sold out movie audiences, present him to the press, escort him to a book signing and go out to dinner with him and his entourage.

I must have seen our version of Akira over 100 times, at least 50 times in theaters across the U.S. and just as many times when we later released it to video.