WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Akira
Genre:Animation

Reviewed In Issue 02 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
The supplemental materials include original storyboards, thousands of production drawings and animation cells, behind-the-scenes footage, original animation pencil tests, and commentary.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1294L
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $124.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 124
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1987
(LD Release Date): 11/92
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Katsuhito Otomo
(Screenplay/Written By): Katsuhiro Otomo & Izo Hashimoto
(Story): NA
(Music): Shoji Yamashiro
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Toshiharu Mizutami
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): NA
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Sawako Noma
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Ryohei Susuki & Shunzo Kato

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.80:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
A tour de force animation achievement with extraordinary details. A classic science fiction set in the Neo-Tokyo of 2019. It’s the story of an angry young motorcycle gangster who encounters a mysterious supernatural force that slowly transforms him into a one-man apocalypse.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture quality is absolutely first rate. The transfer at 1.80:1 was sourced from a newly created print.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The aggressive soundtrack was mastered from a Dolby Stereo® Sony PCM 1630 digital master tape.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: