AKIRA: The Art of Creation (Or the Philosophy of Akira, from a Humanist Perspective)

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Hi! Thanks for watching! Here are some timestamps: Introduction: 0:00 Part 1 - CREATION: 5:47 Part 2 - DESTRUCTION: 20:10 Part 3 - Reconstruction, Reincarnation, and the Final Triumph of HUMANITY: 42:34 Outro: 1:03:36 Also, if you'd like to read the essay this video is based off of, you can read it on Google Docs here (be warned, it's 20 pages long): docs.google.com/document/d/1E3fyxan9yWMAcvuBLzpsTpedtx-Y-GBWHJ7NTlsRTkk/edit?usp=sharing

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

I've had this monster of a video saved to on my "watch later" playlist for the past 5 months. After moving, finishing up a 5 month long animation project, and entering a whole new year, I finally sat down and watched this. Holy smokes. The amount of research, effort, information and entertainment you put into this is insane. Well done! The outro was hilarious to. You seem like a really humble and genuine dude. Anyway, keep it up. You touched on some points I never thought of before with Akira.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

@@MicahBuzanANIMATION that means so much to me!!!! Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words!! Giving me inspiration to put in the push to finish my next video (which, by the looks of it, is another hour long video….but no guarantee on when it’ll come out)

[@Progrockfan10101]

I don't understand how this doesn't have millions of views. This is quality stuff.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks very much for your nice comment! Glad you liked it! My next video will come out….lol. I’m still in the process of writing. Maybe in a month haha.

[@thekennedycompounds]

Because it takes one’s ability to be in the world and not of the world to engage on an academic level.

[@jonathandavis-po6js]

When I read this comment, I was like no way it could be that good, now I'm 5 minutes in and I know it's too deep for 90% of people, most people now are so dumb, yeah this is good,

[@SIGMADATINGX]

It’s an essay, calm down

[@SpinSurgery]

This is a VERY impressive take on a very difficult film. Difficult in the sense of being very hard to clarify Akira in all its complexity, from the main storyline, the obvious but hard to pin down themes and the vivid and almost primordial yet human ideas in a meaningful way. Most attempts tend to quickly disintegrate into drifting abstractions and fragments of incomplete thought. It’s likely that this is the most insightful, clear and effective attempt at bringing Akira’s vivid concepts down to earth while keeping its depth and scope intact that I’ve seen, and I would recommend it as mandatory watching for anyone who’s seen the film, wether you think you struggle with it or not, chances are, this essay will put into words, so many ideas that flew through the back of your mind while watching, and never could be materialized into something you could express clearly. The author of this one seems to nail it over and over again and my understanding of Akira hasn’t exactly changed but it’s become far more concrete where it once was just a bunch of keywords and abstract thought and I can appreciate even more! Amazing job.

[@SpinSurgery]

Holy crap, I’ve never understood the ending of the film properly before! I am SO GLAD I saw this! Love the optimistic conclusion and I think you are absolutely right! May even help out in my currently difficult personal life. 😊 thx

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you Rob!!!! Your kind words mean a lot, and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

[@redoberon]

This was pretty good, there aren't many videos that try to do an in depth unravel of the symbolism and philosophy of Akira, which I think is fantastic. So good work, and good luck with your channel.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!! Before the end of this year I wanna get two videos done on…Tatami Galaxy and….spongebob lol. But past few months I’ve been busy with work and life as well, so my video making schedule is very slow. Thanks for watching my akira video!!!

[@matei3880]

Yeah, every video I come across always discusses the animation, which ofc is just amazing, but it's rarely about the symbolism and philosophy of it all. Excited to watch this video

[@matei3880]

Wasn't disappointed:)

[@CMutabilis]

First off, FANTASTIC job on this video. You can really feel the hard work and effort put into this in every second and every line. I never leave comments, I only like videos, but for this, I HAD TO. This video is so well made and I love the in depth analysis about what felt like everything in akira. This has become one of my favorite video essays in the hour that I watched this. The last line at the end I was floored, while listening and watching I was creating- I was drawing, making art. My art is part of me, part of my individuality and my persona, and then to be hit with that last line at the end??? Amazing. Truly amazing. I will definitely be showing this video to everyone I know who has watched akira.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

WOW!!! Thanks so much for your incredibly thoughtful comment!! I'm reading through old comments now cuz I just finished making a 2 hour long video about Squidward from SpongeBob hahaha. I think it's pretty crazy that I made this Akira video 3 years ago, and this project I just released is somehow even more complex than what I felt was the biggest thing I made ever at the time.. Anyways, I just think it's really nice that this video is still able to reach people like you!! Thanks again, and have a great day!!

[@staryznowugra]

Best material I have ever seen about Akira!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks a ton!!! If you wanna see a new video I just made, I just finished a 2 hour video about Squidward from SpongeBob!!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

I'm 1 minute in, and just noticed the run time is 1 hour (not 10 minutes like I thought when I clicked). I'm happy about that. Gonna pour some tea and enjoy listening to your thoughts on one of my favorite works of art.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks for checking out my video!!

[@Anukii]

FANTASTIC essay, replayed as soon as it ended. The film and manga's own maximalism is a testament to the magnitude humans can create. People actually animated that film frame by frame and beforehand, someone storyboarded every scene, painted or inked every background, and THEN someone drew every frame, then someone painted every cel, only for someone to compile every cel. THAT MAXIMALIST FILM! It *had* to be that meticulous and detailed. We would not comprehend its emphasis on our ability to create the same if the film was not made at that level of quality. 💜😍

[@alejo_reviews4414]

I thought the video was great. What stood out to me was how you discussed what Akira meant to you. I've seen a lot of videos discussing Akira, and most of them usually stick to what's clearly seen in the movie and the manga. How it connected to Japan's actual past was both informative and entertaining.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thanks for watching!!!! but yeah, that's pretty much why this was a very personally rewarding video--cuz exactly as you mentioned, this was me saying what Akira meant to myself. And I def spent a lot of this video talking about my personal feelings/interpretations, and touting my own beliefs..and i'm glad that, despite that, other people still found it entertaining!

[@jasonwaataja6232]

Great video! This clearly articulated many of the feelings I get when consuming Akira but haven't been able to describe, and it clearly took a lot of effort.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks so much!!!! That’s pretty much exactly what I was doing...except for myself! Trying to organize the thoughts I had about everything into word form. Thanks for watching, and glad you liked it!!!

[@xyz1087]

goddamn Akira s been my favorite movie ever since my cousin played it for me on vhs when i was a child. I've spend hours talking about it, months reading about it, and years thinking about it, and this is the single best analysis I've ever seen. wow. this is incredible. thank you

[@Dan-es9ee]

That was an excellent akira video, probably the best I have seen, realy good! I watched the whole thing!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! I've recently shifted to making short form content cuz it...builds subscribers way faster LOL. But once I amass a large enough following, I really want to go back to making long form content like this again!!

[@Laidengizer011]

Well this was really something. Thanks a lot for doing it. I think it may be the most deep and comprehensive look at Akira on the internet. Certainly one of the better ones.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!! I remember putting a ton of effort into it three years ago haha Glad you liked it!! *also im reading through old comments cuz I just made a new 2 hour video about Squidward from SpongeBob, if that interests you hehe

[@Laidengizer011]

@@TheLocalMangaka It was really good. And really long. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Akira. Didn't expect to hear from you. Thanks for the response.

[@emmanuelmathews1718]

Yeah it was actually motivational for me so thanks for making this video​@@TheLocalMangaka

[@aleksandrarievva6468]

Wow, why this doesn’t have millions of views??? KZbin have done you bad, but this video had me shook! Love from Ukraine, great work ❤️

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Wow I never imagined my vid would be watched by someone from Ukraine!! Thanks!!! 🇺🇦

[@patrickswamps]

Masterpiece.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!

[@m6chael]

amazing video

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thank you!!!!

[@panfilolivia]

great video! very very nice job. thank you for also linking the text doc, great read. i also consider tetsuo the main character and i too consider the manga scene you commented one of my favorites. my ultimate favorite is at the end of the whole manga where kaneda confesses that all he ever wanted was to be tetsuos friend. the friendship between tetsuo and kaneda is so simple and also complex, its so bittersweet. i truly believe they both cared about each other dearly but due to many misunderstandings and horrible choices it all degenerated into tragedy. love how you commented on every single aspect, it was such a joy to watch and many things especially the historical context of japan were uknown to me. this is probably the best analysis of akira ive ever seen.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Wow (4 month late reply) but I’m glad you really liked the video!! I agree that the personal relationship between Kaneda/Tetsuo should be talked about more!! Thanks for watching, and for your kind words!

[@BradyPostma]

Yes, I watched you for a whole hour. Well done!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks for watching!!!!

[@illGatesMusic]

That was pretty solid. The Akira project is my favourite piece of human art and your analysis of it brought a little joy to my world today. Big ups!

[@oznerolizaro7918]

I just watched the most amazing media product about Akira. You was able to touch every single aspect of this masterpiece. Great production! Congrats.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!! I hope that maybe you'll enjoy my next video I'm posting about Kimi no Na wa later today!!

[@landoe2846]

Hoping to see more like this.

[@staticcorvette5998]

I already liked everything about Akira, but after watching this I love it even more! I can see where your takes come from and the final message is very powerful, great interpretation! From my experience watching and reading Akira I also believe that one of the most important themes that it touches is the struggle for power, how humans react when we are shown or given set power, everything in Akira is a struggle of power; the army trying to maintain control and hiding Akira from the world for maybe giving him use in a future, Nezu and the resistance trying to get a hold if him, the Neo Tokyo empire using the kid to build their cult to his image and their army of fanatics, or lady Miyako who aspires to kill Akira himself, ending once and for all his influence, when dealing with a work like this every point of view is worth taking into account!

[@vamvalley6964]

really this is the most accurate analysis about everything in Akira that I've got in mind so far. You have created a one hour video essay that is literally worth every second of it. I profoundly respect your hard work man 😤

[@miinyoo]

I am glad to have had your take on Akira. Everyone finds something a little different in it.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks! It really is a very enigmatic film! *also im reading through old comments cuz I just made a new 2 hour video about Squidward from SpongeBob, if that interests you hehe

[@chantelledeclercq9882]

And here you create. And people gained something from what you created. Thank you and great work!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks for watching!!!! And for creating this comment!

[@normalguy9610]

You explain Akira very good

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!!

[@WhiteTulip2002]

Thank you so much for this analysis. At first I was puzzled by the strong Messianic imagery in Akira, and now it all makes sense 🧡

[@jojomatsuo9739]

You're so underrated man! I love the effort!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! (replying 9 months later cuz I'm posting a significant video for the first time in over 9 months today haha)

[@theokhoetha1913]

Dude is dropping bars for days here,amazing script

[@TheLocalMangaka]

HAHA thanks a bunch!! Glad you liked it *just seeing this now, cuz I'm reading old comments after I just recently finished another large video project about Squidward from SpongeBob haha

[@fire.smok3]

Oh wow, I love Akira so much, I’m happy to see such a thorough analysis of it, because Akira can actually get surprisingly deep beneath its shiny surface of style and action. My favorite point you made in this video was how we appreciate the depth of creation only when we see it crumble down in destruction, and how we appreciate the miracle of life only when we see blood and death. That’s poignant. Also really great to see you make connections with the historical and social factors of Japan at the time. I believe every story is shaped by its real-life context.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! I'm glad you liked these observations!! ...also dang i can't believe I made this video over two years ago haha (I still randomly check comments on this video every now and then--so hi!!! even if it's three months after you commented 😂)

[@fire.smok3]

@@TheLocalMangaka hi after three months 😂

[@mox.kartal]

Magnificent video essay. One of the greatest I have ever seen. Enjoyed every second of it, learned so much and got new ideas to think about and new ways to think in. Thank you very much!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you very much for watching!!! Since you liked this, maybe you might like another video I just made about Squidward from SpongeBob (if you like SpongeBob, at least)!! Thanks again, and I'm glad you liked this video!!

[@Shamilscorner]

how is a video so good and so well made on low views damn youtube fucking up again this video is great

[@TheLocalMangaka]

haha glad you liked it! I think the algorithm is actually recommending this video a lot more. for like three months, it had less than 1000 views. but after crossing 1000 views last week, it gained like 700 views in one week. So that's been pretty cool

[@naringrass]

3 months to understand energy very well done

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!!

[@LightCyrus]

A great video with a few points I hadn't heard before. Great job. 👍

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!!

[@DravekMusic]

Ahead of its time and extremely impactful for the Anime films that followed!🏍️🏍️

[@sky44david]

Thanks for this in depth consideration. Jin-Roh, 1999, primarily hand drawn animation is on of the last of hand made animations and thus unique. It does not fit anime. It is made with the same attention to detail and complex themes.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Oh I didn’t know who Jin-Roh was! Nice!

[@aleksandrarievva6468]

Exceptional video analysis, thanks a lot! Beautiful

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!!!

[@Cain_the_artist]

Watched the whole video you did a great job on this

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you for watching! Check out my next video I'm posting about Kimi no Na wa later today!!!

[@larrymondello7488]

This was excellent. I do believe that Akira was synonymous with Christ. You can't negate the spiritual aspect of this film.

[@tentsio]

Read about buddhism.

[@thetruth9783]

that was great. you deserve more recognition and Akira is the best film ever

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!!! I hope you'll like the next video I'm posting about Kimi no Na wa later today. And yep, Akira is also probably in my top 10 favorite movies. Definitely by far one of the most influential movies on my life as well.

[@RatsAreNice222]

nice video, you really put your effort into this one it seems

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thank you, my most loyal subscriber!! But yeah, this is my most high-effort video I've made yet. I've spent literally HUNDREDS of hours writing and editing this...and I'm glad it's finally done haha.

[@thebeerbaron01]

Really enjoyed this in depth look into Akira. Awesome job mate.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Replying four months later, but thanks for watching and for commenting!!!

[@victorgeorgiev637]

i watched til the very end. very well made video brother thank you

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! *just seeing this now, cuz I'm reading old comments after I just recently finished another large video project about Squidward from SpongeBob haha

[@mayalovesgir1]

This is so beautifully done. Wow.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thanks!!! i hope you also like the next video I'm posting about Kimi no Na wa later today!!

[@oriinbjornson5865]

I absolutely LOVED this! You're seriously under appreciated on KZbin. Incredible quality! Thank you!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! My next video about Kimi no Na wa that I'm posting today I've put even more effort into haha. But thank you for your kind words!!

[@xdearlifex]

Absolutely amazing video. Fantastic job!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!!

[@larzyhanselman9935]

Never seen this movie. But thanks for making this video. I gotta go watch it now. Please make more.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks for watching!!! The next video will come out maybe within around a month. I don’t think it will be an hour long though

[@sirokko8407]

This was brillantly done. Congratulations!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!

[@EldritchSkies]

My main takeaway from the film was that creation = destruction and vise versa. The motif of energy hammering home that nothing is ever truly lost or created, only changed. That and how we as humans, however bad or good we consider humanities "nature" to be - are part of that same universality. In other words my main takeaway is that, it would be with great hubris that we consider humanity to be "unnaturally bad" or "unnaturally good"... "unnaturally destructive" or "unnaturally creative"

[@lukecharlton]

Honestly enjoyed that video and when you popped up at the end pointing out we've just listened to you for an hour, I was honeslty surprised it was that long lol Great work fella! Gonna check out your content now because of it.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Checking old comments cuz i just recently finished a new video--thanks for watching and for your nice comment! If you wanna see a longer video I just made, I just released a 2 hour video about Squidward haha

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

impressive video The Local Mangaka. I shattered that thumbs up on your video. Keep up the very good work.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks so much for watching and for the very kind comment!! I do intend to keep it up with more videos to come!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

If anyones wondering when my next video will be…. I think it will definitely be done within the next month! Because I have been working on something! But it will take a little while longer. Cuz it's a really big video. Also I saw I recently hit 250 subscribers (even though I haven't uploaded in eight months)! Hooray!!! Thanks for subscribing/watching!

[@rakeemkoroma2398]

great video dude!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!! *just seeing this now, cuz I'm reading old comments after I just recently finished another large video project about Squidward from SpongeBob haha

[@landoe2846]

Beautifully done

[@OK2BeFat]

This is really great!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! *just seeing this now, cuz I'm reading old comments after I just recently finished another large video project about Squidward from SpongeBob haha

[@anthonydef3000]

Beautiful mind dude❤ my 3rd time watching

[@melodybrown306]

This is love ❤

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Akira is love, Akira is life

[@schumerus6786]

3:24 yeah pretty much the same for me, I watched it, found the animation and visuals stunning but the story just moved too fast… When I read the Manga all cleared up and I even found some parts they did better in the Movie, especially Tetsuo’s character motivations near the beginning

[@knight449]

🤘Great job, a fantastic passion projekt. 💊

[@anthonydef3000]

Badass video..like holy shit that was great❤

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!!

[@queeffairy]

You did a great job but I couldn't help but laugh with the " Good for health Bad for Education." That's currently on me along with the decals on his bike 😂. Wearing my Akira hoodie not the jacket but I do have that to which is OK I like the hoodie for the decals.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

That's probably a sick hoodie!!

[@queeffairy]

@@TheLocalMangaka it's definitely flashy used to never be my style but I love it and when covid hit I decided to live outside my box

[@benmingle2615]

please talk to me more, whisper sweat nothings to me. Bomb ass video, the hard work shows, Akria has a lot to say and im glad to see someone go into a more Philosophical analysis of it because there is a lot going on beneath the explicit story of the manga and movie.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

LOOOLL Just seeing this comment now cuz I'm reading old ones after I just recently finished a new 2 hour video about Squidward (so there's more sweet nothings there if you want LOL) But thanks! I'm glad you liked it!!

[@ludmilamansfeldkic]

You Rule Dude!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thank you!!!

[@Nitroade24]

Great video, well done

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@tentsio]

Interestingly Akira can also be analyzed perfectly from a Buddhist point of view.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

I can definitely agree with that. It's honestly probably much much more likely that Otomo was actually influenced by eastern philosophies than like any of the Nietzschean stuff I mentioned. I think that...even though it still fits might speak to...maybe a sort of an underlying universal truth shared among different philosophies in even vastly different cultures.

[@tentsio]

​@@TheLocalMangaka I think that Otomo consciously put both philosophies, eastern and western, front to front and even mashes them somehow. The cleverness of Akira is something outstanding, it reaches really deep.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

Great analysis. Thanks a lot.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@j.s.t.6515]

Bravo!

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thanks!!

[@j.s.t.6515]

@@TheLocalMangaka to you, for the hard and fantastic work you did!

[@duynguyenquang2731]

great

[@TheLocalMangaka]

thanks!!

[@dandywaysofliving]

Nohowdy: .. Yeeboii: the windchimes 10mins into this vid

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Which moment are you talking about? Is it the one ~10min before the end when I say “such is the art of creation”? That was pretty extra I’ll admit haha

[@RardTangler]

Indeed, “God is dead” comes to mind. And to aptly finish the quote “And we have killed him.”

[@itsdantaylor]

I just decided to binge read through the Akira manga. It was........probably one of the better manga I've read but it had NOTHING to do with characters, or plot, or anything. Just the sheer SPECTACLE of everything that happens in the level of detail and care put into the manga itself is enough to elevate it to something real special. I couldn't really get into the characters and the story kind of lost me a few times but I don't think you really need to go to Akira for that. It's like........James Cameron's Avatar. I admit the story for that movie was generic and bad but I went multiple times because of the sheer visual spectacle of that movie was enough. Not saying there isn't something to get from Akira in terms of it's characters or story, I'm just saying for me it was definitely not the reason I was enjoying myself while reading it.

[@tsunaahm3814]

TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@StaindHand]

Tetsuo- that pea brain

[@mindset9102]

Subscribed

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Ahhh! Thank you!!!!! I'm very slow with videos. But more long-form videos will come out....eventually! Thanks for subscribing!

[@themff]

Fantastic analysis. Really underlines why I enjoy the story so much. If you are interested in an alternate version of Akira with a new original synthwave score, in the style of American 80s movies like The Terminator, Escape from New York, Videodrome, and Blade Runner: trailer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX-7eYhubd5jgsk full film in HD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJeqeomJZtimh5Y

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@mstinyj9460]

0 to

[@MicahBuzanMUSIC]

What is the animation at 3:10 from? The art style looks like Akira but I don't recognize it from the movie.

[@TheLocalMangaka]

It’s from Akira! It’s from when tetsuo starts to break into Akira’s chamber in the Olympic stadium

[@MicahBuzanMUSIC]

@@TheLocalMangaka Seriously !? I've watched this movie like 100 times, guess I need to rewatch it lol. Thank you for the reply! This is a really thought-provoking video essay.

[@darkwhy3930]

l've seen most things implode.

[@StaindHand]

It is a criticism of American subjugation and the forceful Democratization of Nihon- you are likely too young to understand why this might be, especially if you weren’t sapient during the Cold War and the constant concern of another deployment of nuclear armaments

[@StaindHand]

What you call contradictions, nature considers the binary reality of existence

[@darkwhy3930]

l think that graffiti artist's dog has worms.

[@herotime3726]

i have to shit now

[@jeromebrown6626]

Dear Host: please shut up

[@grympzofficial1256]

One video, one video too many (and long)

[@mariavictoriamartinez9387]

I loved how you explained everything, on a philosophical level. You made me think that maybe Akira is the inverse of Litle boy. A possibility of being able to reverse the ching and chang. man woman.war

[@TheLocalMangaka]

Thank you!!! Also yin and yang I think haha *also im reading through old comments cuz I just made a new 2 hour video about Squidward from SpongeBob, if that interests you hehe