But now animation has grown up, and it's all anime this and anime that. No longer do we want childish cartoons; oh, no! We want gore! We want blood! We want gore, and blood, presented in an overtly Oriental fashion - and fancing a piece of this action myself, I went out and bought Akira; a classic of the genre, or so I am told.

So, Akira. What is Akira all about? Hard to say, really - as it is a marvellously fucked-up film. Biker gangs, a nasty crash setting in motion the events of the entire film (I think), corrupt politicians, military coups, freaky children - all these have something to do with the plot, if you can call it that. The problem (albeit, a slight one) is that you're too busy watching the gorgeous animation on the screen to really care too deeply about the story; for it is laden with little hidden extras, like the cowering child in the back of a car after he sees someone being roughed up a bit. It's these touches that make the film.

The main question is, however, does it have blood, viscera and gore? Of course, and right from the start too; however, the extreme violence of it all isn't too obtrusive at all, and combined with the fact that I tended to switch off from the story and concentrate on the aesthetics, I found it most welcome. Grimace when Tetsuo splatters someone on the ceiling! Wince when a pipe is taken to the face! Cower when a man is raked with machine gun fire!

There is one thing I'll say for the story though... The ending is completely and utterly bizarre; and naturally, being the good sport that I am, I shall refrain from ruining it. It is, though, a rare and sweet moment when all brain functions cease and all you are left to do is say "Huh?".

Akira is perfectly enjoyable for a few hours, the drawing is quite masterful. Well worth watching.