Akira returns to tour cinemas in the UK and ROI with new 35mm print

Date: 2026 July 16 21:08

Posted by Eeeper

Anime Limited announces classic cyberpunk film AKIRA will return to UK and Republic of Ireland for a whistle-stop tour of cinemas in 2026

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Anime Limited announced this week that fan favourite classic film, AKIRA, will return to cinemas in the UK and the Republic of Ireland this year, starting on August 14th - 19th at the BFI in London. The film will be presented in a brand new 35mm film print struck from the recent 4k remaster of the film.

The original 1988 film, directed by original manga creator Katsuhiro Otomo and based on his 1982 blockbuster manga, set new records in box office receipts and technical achievements in animation. The film later went on to influence a cohort of animators, film and TV creators, both in Japan and worldwide. Today, the film is revered as a touchstone landmark in anime and animation in general, regularly topping best of film lists, from critic and fans alike.

The print was produced in partnership with The Cinema Printing Company (CPC London) and ORWO Studios, and will screen in the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a stereo Japanese-language soundtrack and English subtitles, per Variety.

The film will then tour in select cinemas around the UK and Republic of Ireland this year. Tickets for the BFI screenings can be found here.

From BFI:
"It's impossible to overestimate how key Akira was in bringing anime to a wider Western audience and the high bar it set for what this style of animation could achieve. It's 2019 and in a dazzling Neo-Tokyo, cyber-punk bikers cruise the neon-soaked streets. But within their midst is a telekinetic child who threatens the very existence of this future world.

"Otomo's seminal anime, a striking, hyperkinetic adaptation of his own manga, almost single-handedly introduced this form of animation to worldwide audiences. Impeccably detailed with fluid, jaw-dropping action sequences, Akira remains a stunning cinematic achievement. The filmmaker's ability to tap so plausibly into what the next generation might look like, both in scientific and industrial terms, is breathtaking. We are thrilled to present the UK premiere of a new 35mm print of one of anime's masterpieces."