Skip to main content

Akira 4K Restoration

4 May 2025

In the Playhouse

Cinema

Japan | 1988  | English Subtitles | Anime | M

With a new 4K restoration, Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic returns to the big screen. This ground-breaking film remains a masterpiece of animation today, with scale and ambition that can only be truly appreciated on the big screen.

A groundbreaking anime masterpiece

Switch

Useful information:

The cyberpunk anime classic, newly restored in 4K

Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic turned global audiences on to anime with its release in 1988, and influenced generations of anime and science-fiction films in the decades that followed.

Exceptionally remastered in 4K, the iconic and ground-breaking film remains a masterpiece of animation today, with scale and ambition that can only be truly appreciated on the big screen.

Based on the classic manga series, Akira follows two young biker gang members, Kaneda and Tetsuo, through Neo-Tokyo in 2019, as they stumble across a secret government project that endangers the entire metropolis. Kaneda is forced to battle against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader, in an attempt to save both his friend, and the future of mankind.

Based on the graphic novel AKIRA by Katsuhiro Otomo. First published by Young Magazine, Kodansha Ltd.

©1988 MASH・ROOM / AKIRA COMMITTEE All Rights Reserved.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Credits

Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Director

Katsuhiro Ôtomo and Izô Hashimoto
Writers

Cast

Mitsuo Iwata
as Shôtarô Kaneda

Nozomu Sasaki
as Tetsuo Shima

Mami Koyama
as Kei

Plan your visit

You may also like

SFF: Deeper + Q&A

5 Jun 2025

The hero of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, Dr. Richard “Harry” Harris, attempts the world’s deepest dive in Jennifer Peedom’s (Sherpa, SFF 2015; Mountain, SFF 2017) enthralling doc.

  • Cinema

SFF: Went Up the Hill + Q&A

5 Jun 2025

Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) and Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) star in this haunting, wholly original tale of grief and possession set in remote New Zealand.

  • Cinema

SFF: One to One: John & Yoko

6 Jun 2025

In this astonishing documentary by Oscar-winner Kevin Macdonald, the rock royalty duo let loose onstage at their historic “One to One” concert and let their hair down at home in NYC.

  • Cinema

Checking availability