ART OF AKIRA

Akira (1988) / Cel x 2 + Douga x 1 / 240mm x 350mm

Joker accelerates towards Kaneda in their iconic game of chicken during the opening bike battle of ‘Akira’.

Akira (1988) / Key Master Setup (Cel x 1 + Original Oversize Background) / 250mm x 355mm

Kaori reacts to news about Tetsuo’s abduction by Neo Tokyo military.

Akira (1988) / Production Report / Studio Footage

Studio footage depicting Akira’s painting and colouring process. The film used an unprecedented palette of 327 colours, due to so many scenes being set at night.

Akira Production Report (1988) / Line Tests / 24fps

Amazing line tests from the ‘Akira Production Report’ documentary.

Akira (1988) / Key Master Setup (Oversize Cels x 5 + Original Background) / 285mm x 520mm

Neon sign shot from the opening battle between the Clowns and Capsules.

Note: One of the fun things about seeing the production art itself is being able to see parts of the film that were obscured as the cels were laid atop one another. The windows in the foreground of this shot are a good example.

Akira (1988) / Oversize Cels x 2 / 285mm x 355mm

Neon sign from the opening battle between the Clowns and Capsules.

Akira (1988) / Cel / 255mm x 350mm

Building and signage from a shot in the opening battle between the Clowns and Capsules.

Akira (1988) / Cel / 240mm x 350mm

Tower block used in the background of a neon sign shot in the opening battle between the Clowns and Capsules.

Akira (1988) / Cel / 240mm x 350mm

Skyscraper cel used in the creation of a neon sign shot in the opening battle between the Clowns and the Capsules.

Akira (1988) / Original Background / 250mm x 350mm

Uplit skyscraper background used in the creation of a neon sign shot in the opening battle between the Clowns and the Capsules.

Akira (1988) / Panning Genga x 3 / 275mm x 385mm

Planning drawings used in the creation of the famous neon sign shot in the opening bike battle.

Note - This complex piece is comprised of three stapled genga, including roughs on the front and back.

Akira (1988) / Oversize Douga / 280mm x 415mm

Planning drawing used in the creation of the iconic neon sign shot from the opening bike battle.

Akira (1988) / Planning Cel + Genga / 240mm x 350mm

Planning drawing used in the creation of the iconic neon sign shot from the opening bike battle.

Note - Various sketches across the piece show the animator’s thought process in creating the shot. The six ‘lava lamp’ sign sketches on the left and misspelt Fender-inspired ‘Fruit Shower’ sign we’re designed flat, before being built into the wider image in perspective.

This is that it’s all that’s left of the ‘walking sailor girl’ hologram sign. She was created using a delicate airbrushing technique and has largely disappeared from the cels due to the way the art was once stored.