Katsuhiro Otomo, the renowned creator of Akira, is set to produce a new anime adaptation of his classic manga. This exciting development was announced during the Los Angeles Anime Expo by Sunrise Inc., the animation studio behind the project.
In addition to the anime, Otomo will direct a new sci-fi adventure film titled Orbital Era. According to IGN, the film will explore the lives of a group of young boys living on a still-under-construction space colony.
Furthermore, Otomo is curating an anthology titled Otomo: The Complete Works, which aims to compile all of his creations and statements in chronological order since his debut in 1971. While the anthology will be available worldwide, no specific release date has been announced.
Originally launched as a manga in 1982, Akira transitioned to film in 1988 and has since become a cornerstone of the cyberpunk genre, alongside the acclaimed Ghost in the Shell franchise. Set in a dystopian Tokyo in 2019, the story follows Tetsuo, a young man whose psychic abilities evolve into a dangerous force as he navigates a world plagued by corruption and gang violence.
The Akira franchise has been in the pipeline for a Hollywood remake for several years, with various directors including George Miller and Jordan Peele previously attached to the project. Currently, Taika Waititi, known for Thor: Ragnarok, is moving forward with plans for a May 2021 release. Waititi has expressed his commitment to casting Asian actors, addressing concerns regarding the whitewashing issues that marred the 2017 adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, which featured Scarlett Johansson in the lead role.