Two Versions of the Same Myth

Katsuhiro Otomo began serialising the Akira manga in Young Magazine in 1982. By the time the 1988 film released, the manga was only half finished — meaning Otomo had to devise an entirely new second act and ending for the screen adaptation. The result is two distinct masterworks that share a world, characters, and opening act, but diverge dramatically in scope, depth, and resolution.

Understanding those differences enriches both versions. Here's a breakdown of the most significant changes.

1. Scale and Scope

The manga runs to approximately 2,182 pages across six collected volumes. It is an epic in the truest sense — a city-spanning saga involving dozens of named characters, multiple warring factions, political intrigue, and an extended third act set in a partially destroyed Neo-Tokyo. The film, at 124 minutes, necessarily strips this down to its essential spine.

2. Characters That Were Cut or Merged

Several key manga figures barely appear in the film or are removed entirely:

  • Chiyoko — a large, physically imposing woman who becomes a protector figure. She's a fan favourite in the manga but absent from the film.
  • Joker — leader of a rival biker gang who plays a significant role in the manga's ongoing conflict.
  • The Colonel's backstory is far richer in the manga, evolving from antagonist to a more morally complex figure over time.
  • The ESPer children (Takashi, Kiyoko, Masaru) receive substantially more development in the manga, including detailed histories of the government's experiments.

3. The Second Half: Completely Different

This is the biggest divergence. The film's second half — Tetsuo's mutation, the military's response, and the cosmic finale — was written specifically for the film because the manga hadn't reached that point yet. The manga's second half involves:

  1. A full-scale war between multiple Neo-Tokyo factions
  2. A lengthy arc involving Kaneda being presumed dead and working from the outside
  3. A much more gradual, politically grounded resolution
  4. A different fate for several major characters

4. Kei's Role

In the film, Kei is primarily Kaneda's love interest, briefly used as a vessel by the ESPers. In the manga, she develops into a far more capable and central character — a fighter and leader who drives significant portions of the plot independently of Kaneda.

5. The Ending

Without spoiling either in full: the manga's ending is considerably more grounded in consequence, rebuilding, and political reality. The film's ending leans further into the metaphysical and cosmic. Neither is definitively "better" — they're tonally different conclusions to the same premise.

Which Should You Experience First?

There's no wrong answer, but here's a practical guide:

  • Watch the film first if you're new to Akira — it's the more accessible entry point and sets the visual language of the world.
  • Read the manga after to get the full story, the cut characters, and a richer understanding of Neo-Tokyo's politics and history.
  • If you've only experienced one, the other will feel genuinely fresh despite the shared foundation.

Otomo's manga remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of the medium — intricate, visually stunning, and politically astute in ways the film simply didn't have time for. Together, they form a complete picture of one of the most ambitious creative visions in Japanese pop culture.