Akira is set in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, following biker gang member Kaneda and his psychic friend Tetsuo. Katsuhiro Otomo's incredibly detailed artwork and complex cyberpunk narrative influenced an entire generation. The 1988 anime film became a gateway for Western audiences to Japanese animation and manga. Its depiction of government conspiracies, psychic powers, and urban decay defined cyberpunk aesthetics. The series eerily predicted Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics. Its influence extends to The Matrix, Stranger Things, and countless sci-fi works.