"Akira" to get the high-definition Blu-ray treatment

by Chris MaGee

Bandai Entertainment Inc. has made a lot of anime fans very happy today. The company has announced that they will be releasing Katsuhiro Otomo's cyber punk masterpiece "Akira" as a high-definition Blu-ray disc on February 24, 2009, and it turns out it's good timing. This year marks the 20th anniversary of what many critics and fans have cited as one of the most influential science fiction films of all time. Set in 2019, "Akira" tells the story of teenage bikers Kaneda and Tetsuo as they get embroiled in a secret government project involving psychic children, the most powerful of which, Akira, destroyed Tokyo 30 years previously with his superhuman powers.

The "Akira" Blu-ray disc will feature storyboards and trailers, a 20-page booklet and, most importantly, English subtitles. All I can say is it's about time. If any film could best showcase hi-def Blu-ray technology it's this stunning animated film.

Thanks to Anime News Network for the details on this.