Anime Limited have announced an unprecedented celebration of an influential masterpiece with an experience you can only find in cinemas. After breaking records to become the highest-grossing classic release of the year, Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s revolutionary AKIRA returns on a brand new 35mm print struck from the 4K master – the first new print of the film created worldwide in decades. Premiering at BFI Southbank from 14-19th August, the brand new 35mm print will tour selected cinemas across the country throughout the year.
One of the most influential Sci-Fi stories ever told, AKIRA first introduced audiences in the UK & Ireland to anime in 1991, and continues to be a cultural landmark that captivates audiences to this day. Anime Limited are honoured to be continuing their mission of championing exciting and innovative releases of original and fan favourite anime.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring back AKIRA on 35mm”, said Anime Limited Technical Manager Robbie Duncan. “There’s something special about film going through a projector and there’s something special about AKIRA. I can’t wait for audiences to experience both and get a hint of what it was like to see back in 1988. I can’t thank our partners at The Cinema Printing Company (CPC London) and ORWO Studios enough for their expertise and going the extra mile to make AKIRA look as good as it can”.
“Since its inception, Anime Limited has worked hard gaining the trust of valued partners to push into new and compelling areas to bring the best experiences to audiences”, said Anime Limited UK & IRE General Manager Kerry Kasim. “The success of our recent theatrical re-release has proven our capability to revitalise one of the most influential and iconic films in animation. We were given free reign to create a different way for audiences to experience this film: a brand new 35mm print to tour across the UK & Ireland, and we’re thrilled to be able to present this fantastic way to watch AKIRA in cinemas”.
Set in a neon-lit metropolis rebuilt from the ashes of World War III, AKIRA follows Kaneda and Tetsuo, two delinquents and members of a biker gang who crash into a secret government plot, resulting in an explosive, mesmerising masterpiece of animation that would be widely regarded as “a vital cornerstone of the cyberpunk genre” (British Film Institute). Released in IMAX earlier this year, AKIRA broke all previous records to earn over £1 Million at the UK & IRE box office, confidently proving that there’s no better way to experience iconic films, new or old, than on the big screen.
Stay tuned for updates on when you’ll be able to experience AKIRA on 35MM in a cinema near you.
Synopsis:
Iconic and game-changing, AKIRA is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look into the future. AKIRA’s arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for future generations of ground-breaking movies.
July, 1988— World War III breaks loose. Then, in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo…
As the leader of a group of young robust delinquents, Kaneda spent his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy― the product of human experimentation— and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research facility. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…
The AKIRA 35mm print will be presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with stereo Japanese audio and English subtitles. The print will premiere at BFI Southbank, London from Friday 14th August until Wednesday 19th, and will be touring in selected cities throughout the year.
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