The anime classic AKIRA, fresh from a $1 million restoration, has been released on the big screen in a few select theatres in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. With digital projection, this is the cleanest, crispest print ever seen to date. AWN was invited to a special pre-release screening and was very impressed by the quality of the print and restoration. First released theatrically in Japan in 1988, AKIRA has garnered legions of fans around the world and is still considered a masterpiece of cel animation. Utilizing the latest high-definition digital technology, International Video Conversions, Inc. (IVC), working for the films distributor Pioneer Entertainment, restored AKIRA at a cost of $1 million. According to Pioneer, this eye-popping restoration features a new film interpositive and high-definition mastering using the latest Digital Vision HD technology. In addition, the films audio components were re-mixed to Dolby Digital AC3 Surround Sound and a new English dub was created from a new translation of the original Japanese script. The film is now playing at the following theatres:
New York:
The AMC Empire 25
234 W. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036 Los Angeles:
AMC Burbank Media Center North 6
770 North First St
Burbank, CA 91501 San Francisco:
AMC 1000 Van Ness 14
1000 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94109 Voice actor Joshua Seth is featured in AKIRA and has written his 10 Steps to Voice Over Success for AWN. Also, Jerry Beck recounts his experiences bringing AKIRA to the United States through Streamline Pictures in the wonderfully insightful Anime: Hollywood's Invisible Animation Genre.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
