The anime with the greatest impact on Western society is...

daze23

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You guys are forgetting Speed Racer, Astro Boy, Voltron and fukking Pokemon :laugh:

exactly. I was gonna mention Voltron

any cartoon that was syndicated in the US is gonna have way more exposure than something like Akira
 

Carr

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exactly. I was gonna mention Voltron

any cartoon that was syndicated in the US is gonna have way more exposure than something like Akira

Plenty of cartoons have come and gone however very few have left the impact of AKIRA. Look at the examples I put, there are plenty more out there and I can continue. Think of any of the shows you named and then think about how many times you have seen them referenced in other forms of media....ill wait.

Then consider that AKIRA is a movie that was released in the 80s and still is being referenced in the 2000s.

Exposure is just something being seen. Impact is what happened after it was seen. Think of AKIRA like a Super Bowl commercial that everybody talks about for years to come.
 

StatUS

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True. I remember staying up way late at night to catch episodes of Speed Racer. That was my shyt before I even knew what anime was. I don't think it had as much of a cultural impact tho
Pokemon had the biggest impact. It's a cultural phenomena that probably will never be topped. The Toonami block itself is second. Speed Racer was the anime back in the 70s and it had a huge resurgence in the 90s. What Akira did was show the potential of Japanese animation at its best. Plus the whole mindfukk plot was something Americans weren't used to. But it's really not as popular as people make it out to be. It basically did what Princess Mononoke and Spirted Away did in the late 90s.
 

acri1

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By the way can anybody explain the ending to Akira? I watch it as a kid and to this day I don't know what was going on :dwillhuh:

I never really got it either.

From what I've heard the manga explains things a lot better and makes more sense. Apparently when they adapted Akira into a movie they cut out a lot of the backstory and explanations of things.

Personally I've always thought Akira was overrated (even made a thread about it on :hamster: ) . Animation was top notch but the story was mediocre at best.
 

daze23

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Plenty of cartoons have come and gone however very few have left the impact of AKIRA. Look at the examples I put, there are plenty more out there and I can continue. Think of any of the shows you named and then think about how many times you have seen them referenced in other forms of media....ill wait.

Then consider that AKIRA is a movie that was released in the 80s and still is being referenced in the 2000s.

Exposure is just something being seen. Impact is what happened after it was seen. Think of AKIRA like a Super Bowl commercial that everybody talks about for years to come.

first of all, I'm a huge Akira fan. I own it on VHS and DVD (and I have the bluray rip :scheme: )

but that being said, I think more people would relate to a Speed Racer or Voltron reference. Akira is most well known for being a cryptic movie that people don't understand. Speed Racer has a fast car and a catchy song. it should be clear what's gonna resonate with most people
 

Carr

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first of all, I'm a huge Akira fan. I own it on VHS and DVD (and I have the bluray rip :scheme: )

but that being said, I think more people would relate to a Speed Racer or Voltron reference. Akira is most well known for being a cryptic movie that people don't understand. Speed Racer has a fast car and a catchy song. it should be clear what's gonna resonate with most people

just cuz people dont understand doesnt deny its impact in society. Remember Marvel comics picked up AKIRA in the 80's/90's and a movie was directed in vain of AKIRA 15+ years after AKIRA came out.
 

Dafunkdoc_Unlimited

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Ain't That Something said:
By the way can anybody explain the ending to Akira? I watch it as a kid and to this day I don't know what was going on :dwillhuh:

You have to read the manga, but, basically, Tetsuo creates another Universe in another dimension thereby becoming a 'G-d'. All the flashing and explosions at the end are a 'Big Bang'.​
 

Carr

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two cartoons that reference a lot of pop culture and a movie = cultural impact? :shaq2:

look at my examples I touched mainstream ...and I have plenty more.

The Matrix creators were inspired by AKIRA
A spaceship in Star Trek was named after AKIRA
Sean Lennon (John Lennon's son) brings it to LA for their animation festival last year

Sean Lennon Brings Akira and Other Favorites to Los Angeles Animation Festival - Los Angeles - Arts - Public Spectacle

I got more where that came from...
 

StatUS

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two cartoons that reference a lot of pop culture and a movie = cultural impact? :shaq2:

look at my examples I touched mainstream ...and I have plenty more.

The Matrix creators were inspired by AKIRA
A spaceship in Star Trek was named after AKIRA
Sean Lennon (John Lennon's son) brings it to LA for their animation festival last year

Sean Lennon Brings Akira and Other Favorites to Los Angeles Animation Festival - Los Angeles - Arts - Public Spectacle

I got more where that came from...
Matrix creators did the Speed Racer movie.

A Grammy nominated band did a song called Mach 5.

and so on...
 

Carr

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Matrix creators did the Speed Racer movie.

A Grammy nominated band did a song called Mach 5.

and so on...

Matrix creators wouldnt have careers without The Matrix (Thanx to AKIRA) - checkmate.:win:

why dont u name the band?...maybe because they are not a household name...like Kanye West/Hype Williams, who put AKIRA in his video.

...much greater impact fam...we still see AKIRA reference/inspiration in top tier mainstream media to this day.
 
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