10 Best Anime Movies Like ‘Akira’
Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre closely related to dystopia and hard science fiction. It often depicts the near future, with a technologically advanced society (notably for information technologies and cybernetics), usually called “hi-tech, lo-life.” Since its debut, the genre has spread its themes into many media, including comics, film, music, video games, and role-playing games. Anime, of course, is filled with cyberpunk works, and the 1988 anime feature film Akira is definitely one of the best examples of cyberpunk anime in history. In this article, we have decided to bring you a list of the ten best anime movies similar to Akira that you need to see.
1. Metropolis
Original Release: May 26, 2001
Running Time: 113 minutes
What it’s about: In Metropolis, a futuristic city, humans and robots coexist, but live in well-defined spaces. In an atmosphere bathed in jazz music, this city is the scene of a police investigation led by a Japanese inspector and his young nephew, Kenichi, about a scientist accused of organ trafficking, Doctor Laughton, who serves the most powerful man in town.
Why you should watch it: Well, Metropolis is a title that resembles Akira in many ways, which is why it is one of the best picks for a movie similar to the 1988 classic. The animation style is vintage, the story is amazing, and Metropolis is definitely a must-watch.
2. Ghost in the Shell
Original Release: November 18, 1995
Running Time: 82 minutes
What it’s about: The story takes place in the year 2029 in a futuristic and dystopian cyberpunk-like world. Major Motoko Kusanagi and her colleague Batou, two cyborgs, work in the government’s special anti-terrorist unit (Section 9) in New Port City, Japan. During one of their investigations, they are tasked with capturing a fearsome, elusive hacker known only by his alias “Puppet Master.” The hunt takes place against the backdrop of Section 9’s “service war” against Section 6, a rival unit, the latter also interested in the Puppet Master as part of a mysterious project, “Project 2501”.
Why you should watch it: Ghost in the Shell is probably the most successful cyberpunk franchise in the world of anime. It has very similar stylistic and narrative elements like Akira and is a must-watch for all cyberpunk fans.
3. Rōjin Z
Original Release: September 14, 1991
Running Time: 84 minutes
What it’s about: It tells the story of Haruko, a nursing student, and Mr. Takazawa, an old man whom he cares for in his spare time. In Japan, the Ministry of Health must take care of many elderly people, so it develops a cyborg assistant, a kind of automatic stretcher, to take care of them, and Mr. Takasawa is the first to try it. Haruko becomes restless and begins to investigate.
Why you should watch it: Rōjin Z is a quirky and somewhat lighthearted cyberpunk title from roughly the same period as Akira. It has since become a genre classic, which is why we recommend it.
4. Paprika
Original Release: September 2, 2006
Running Time: 90 minutes
What it’s about: In the near future, psychiatrist Atsuko Chiba comes up with a revolutionary therapy method, thanks to a corporate project of which she is a part, in which a group of researchers develops a device to consciously navigate through dreams and improve detection, analysis, and the solution of psychological traumas. With the knowledge of the team leader (Dr. Osanai), Dr. Chiba, through her alter-ego (named Paprika), begins working with the device to test it and, in the process, help psychiatric patients outside of the hospital research Center.
Why you should watch it: Well, Paprika is a classic of the cyberpunk genre and one of the better anime movies of our century. It is somewhat different than Akira, but it is still a cyberpunk masterpiece you’ll love.
5. Neo Tokyo
Original Release: September 25, 1987
Running Time: 50 minutes
What it’s about: Shojo Sachi, a little girl, while playing hide and seek with her cat “Cicero,” passes in the middle of a mirror and finds herself in a parallel world, extremely disturbing and hallucinating. Leaving her house, the little girl runs into a sort of labyrinth populated by strange presences (ghostly masked kids chasing each other, an invisible dog, workers who turn into wooden silhouettes, a tram full of skeletons, members of the bourgeois class jumping carrying clocks, gigantic circus-themed creatures advancing in the night) and, following a clown, she enters a circus tent where the latter shows her and Cicero the following stories.
Why you should watch it: This 50-minute cyberpunk masterpiece actually precedes Akira by roughly a year, and it is such a great classic that we simply had to put it on our list as we are certain you’re going to love it.
6. Patlabor: The Movie
Original Release: July 15, 1989
Running Time: 98 minutes
What it’s about: In 1999, the city of Tokyo initiated a large-scale policy of redevelopment of the territory by authorizing the construction of a monumental polder extending over Tokyo Bay to fill the gaps in livable space. The so-called “Babylon” project is assisted by the “Labors,” human-operated handling robots which are used for the main part of the project and handled in “the Ark”, an artificial island specially created nearby.
Why you should watch it: This is a film for mecha fans, as it is a classic of the genre, but since it has a lot of cyberpunk elements and was produced roughly at the same time as Akira, we decided to put it on our list.
7. Genocidal Organ
Original Release: February 3, 2017
Running Time: 114 minutes
What it’s about: Following the attack of September 11, 2001, security pressure was further increased, and mass surveillance was seen as a solution. In 2015, after the explosion of a homemade nuclear weapon of terrorist origin that devastated the city of Sarajevo, conflicts and genocides broke out in all four corners of the world. In the United States, all actions are now monitored under a complete crackdown on individual freedoms. Clavis Shepherd, a captain of the special forces, investigates the origin of these genocides. In 2020, he sued a man named John Paul, who is said to be the trigger for all genocides.
Why you should watch it: The late Satoshi (Project) Itō left us with some amazing cyberpunk and fantasy works, and Genocidal Organ is arguably the best of them. It is a grim and gritty story full of action that does look like a modern version of some of the ideas seen in Akira, and that is why you should watch it.
8. Bubble
Original Release: February 10, 2022
Running Time: 100 minutes
What it’s about: The story takes place in the city of Tokyo, invaded by strange bubbles floating in the air. One day, Hibiki, a young parkour daredevil in the bubbles, and Uta, a mysterious girl, hear a sound that they are the only ones to perceive.
Why you should watch it: Although it is more style over substance, Bubble is a very intriguing cyberpunk work that we listed here because we wanted to show you a somewhat different side to the genre, i.e., a world that isn’t all that grim but is still worth exploring.
9. Psycho-Pass: The Movie
Original Release: January 9, 2015
Running Time: 113 minutes
What it’s about: The “Sybil System” drones are exported by the Japanese government to troubled nations in 2116, and the system eventually spread throughout the entire world. The Union of South East Asia, sometimes known as SEAUn (pronounced “shian”), decided to implement the “Sybil System” as an experiment.
The method brings temporary tranquility and internal security to the coastal town of Shambala Float. The SEAUn government then dispatched a gang of terrorists to Japan, where they penetrated the system and launched an inside attack. The shadow of a specific man surrounds the accident. Tsunemori, the police chief, makes the decision to go check out Shambala Float. She will soon understand the reality of justice in this new nation.
Why you should watch it: Psycho-Pass: The Movie is a great continuation of the anime series that perfectly fits the grim cyberpunk world of Akira, despite being a modern take on the story. You’ll need to watch the series before the movie, but it is worthwhile.
10. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Original Release: September 1, 2001
Running Time: 115 minutes
What it’s about: It all begins, in 2071, in the crater of Alba City on Mars with the explosion of a tanker truck by terrorists. The government suspects a bioterrorist attack and puts many people under medical surveillance. But no trace of the virus is found, although people are sick. A huge reward is promised for the capture of the evildoers.
Why you should watch it: While the Cowboy Bebop movie is much quirkier than Akira, there is absolutely no cyberpunk anime list without at least one mention of Cowboy Bebop, and since this is a list about movies, we decided to close off the list with this great and entertaining movie.