I love the big picture message of Akira. It really is about Japan's post-nuke fears, but it's also admitting that possession of such super weapons is appealing and not something that is just easily forsaken for the moral high ground like we would like to think it would be.
@@AlphaWasSpotted yeah it feels cheesy to say it so simply but i also think that was one of the main points of the manga. Ive just finished it recently and Ive looked up a lot about it and everyone seems to be raving about how akira, tetsuo and the other psychics reach a new plane of existence, the next step of evolution, become living gods and transcend from this world. Sure its nice to theorize about this big picture stuff but I dont think that was the main message at all. I personally felt like that “The Power” or “The Stream” or whatever that everyone on the internet seems to overanalyze was simply a metaphor for human existence and the constant struggle of humanity to survive and evolve. Many get corrupted by life, others make bonds and prevail. In the end the most important stuff in life ends up not being the infinite power of destruction, but the simple thing of a bunch kids playing together in kindergarden or two small boys becoming friends. For example when Kaneda is in “The Stream” and his consciouness is mixed together with Tetsuo and the other psychics, he questions the value of “The Power” (aka he questions the everyday struggle of human existance), he tells the psychics that all “The Power” caused was harm, destruction and misery (Which is a sad truth about human life in general albeit a little pessimistic). However the psychics correct him. Even though they dont say it, they do admit that “The Power” caused destruction but they also reveal that if it werent for “The Power” (Life) most of the main characters wouldnt have met and wouldnt have made the strong bonds they have today. “The Power”/Life while being full of suffering, is also full of love and beauty where a bunch a people can make strong connections and persevere through the tough times, making it into a better future of mutual understanding, which is also symbolized in the last panels of the manga. Kaneda and his friends heading off into a better future which they can create on their own terms (hence Neo-Tokyo shedding the destruction) with the memories of their friends pushing them forward.
I see your point - the powers of Akira, much like nuclear fission, was something that was never intended to be wielded by human hands: the very possession of this power is a corrupting influence even in the hands of the best and brightest - in the hands of a damaged teenager with severe psychological problems it’s all but guaranteed death for anything he comes in contact with.
Tetsuo's story is the antithesis of the Spider-Man mantra "With great power comes, great responsibility". Peter Parker had the love and support of a family, whereas Tetsou faced childhood trauma of family abandonememt, and it really fucc'ed him up.
Based on this video, I'd argue his environment (social circle, best friend, and gang life) played the heaviest hand in him turning out that way. The abandonment was what put him in the right place at the right time for his life to go down that path.
That's pretty much my take on Tetsuo, he was easily corrupted with the incredible amount of power he received. He acted like the teenager that he was and just used it to meet any of his desires
I feel that Tetsuo's drug problem in the manga pre-Akira's influence actually makes him more sympathetic - it's done in an effort to cure his uncontrollable pain, and the toxic cycle with his powers serves as a metaphor for the cycle of addiction.
Yeah, the Manga was at least 15 years ahead of anything released in the 80’s: The part dealing with his drug-abuse and “kicking the shit”, then going through unholy levels of withdrawal was so realistic and brutal. No other form of media then ever touched the subject the way AKIRA had.
I interpreted Akira as a boy that had been fully consumed by his immense psychic powers. His mind and individuality having been completely blanked out by them, so he's not really human anymore but more like a force of nature.
I think the movie makes Tetsuo more sympathetic by far. He's more of a victim of his circumstances and it seems that his mind gets warped by the experiments rather than having evil in his nature. Taking out the sexual deviance and drugs from the film also contributes to him being a more sympathetic character.
Yes. He was just abused and obviously would lash out when given the chance. He's more interesting in the manga but you can still feel sorry for him in the film in spite of what he does. It doesn't make what he did right and he had to pay for it but his creators are worse than he is.
The begining and end of his story are the same in the books and in the movie. He gets more powerful, megalomaniac, and more evil in the manga which has way more time for character developement. But his story arc stays the same.
It helps to know that the manga was years from being finished when the movie came out, though Otomo had a general idea of where he would taking the manga eventually. The specifics of getting to the giant baby on paper were fleshed (ha) out over years.
@@samuelhatlestad6676 Kaori got the shortest end of the stick throughout the film and I get that that's the point but god I felt so bad to see her end like that.
Tetsuo is one of my favorite characters. I feel the movie presents him as a vulnerable youth corrupt by society and unable to cope with getting so much power. On the manga however, it REALLY feels like he chose to continue down the same path. In both instances, Tetsuo didn't have the tools necessary for what came to him.
He's pretty much the same in both in my view. Part of the reason why the government used children as their test subjects must have been because children are generally more impressionable and compliant under the authority of adults. I mean, Masaru, Kiyoko and Takashi alone could probably pop the heads of every government official, soldier or scientist that subjected them to these experiments with a mere thought if they wanted. But since they're just kids with child like minds, the relatively less powerful adults can still tell these children to do what they're told and go along with the experiments. Tetsuo however is brought in as a test subject during his teenage years. It's naturally for teenagers to be rebellious and questioning of adults and authority, and in Tetsuo's case it's ramped up to 11 on account of already living as a juvenile delinquent before that crash with Takashi on the highway which awakened Tetsuo's own abilities. Tetsuo can't be brought to heel because he's in a stage of his life where he rebells against adult society, and since he's fully aware of his powers, he knows that there's nothing any of the adults can do to stop him. It basically explores the dangers of having a juvenile delinquent, already troubled by various character flaws with godlike powers. The combination of lack of maturity coupled with the powers makes an extremely dangerous cocktail for everyone in the vicinity.
@@sevenproxies4255 That is true to an extent, at least mentally. Kids can usually be compliant, though I still think that depending on the personality, one child with the same powers as Tetsuo could still see every human being as a bug to squash, or hold under a magnifying glass for the sun to fry. The government had been experimenting on those kids for decades, so in a lot of ways it's a miracle that Akira was the *only* one that snapped on them. But regarding this kind of science, little kids would be the lynchpin of their research specifically because of their brains. It's said that all babies enter this world as weird little geniuses, because of their ability to absorb and use a ton of information. It's why the most talented musicians and composers are so memorable that they wind up having an impact on human culture itself, because they basically became music savants from before they even had memories. This idea can be seen in any number of other fields as well. It's a lot harder to unlock the brain's potential after it's already had decades of lifetime experience; it's grown stuck in its own ways and become inflexible, and has already developed all the talents that came naturally to that person. It's also why Tetsuo wound up becoming powerful so quickly - he's got the brain of your typical 80s delinquent, but because he's actually had his share of a *lot* of street drugs, his powers developed in a slightly different way from the esper kids.
The manga is great , and of course is better than the movie, but the movie alogsidei with the ost that plays during certaint times, it gives a chill and super cool moment
@@sevenproxies4255 there's a line in the movie i don't remember word for word, by it's when the psychs are talking to Kaneda via the girl, they say something like "what would a ameba do if they get the power of a human? That's why the government only allow kids (to be psychs)" the ameba even if reaches consciousness would look to eat and reproduce and would use all their new found habilities to do so, same as a human if he gets god's power, he would pursue his selfish desires but without any restrains since there's nothing stronger to stop him (like Bruce Almighty but in a more cruel way), Tetsuo was born in a world of pain where he was picked on for being the weakest and desperatly wanted to be strong and command respect like Kaneda, so when he gets the power that's what he tried to be, thou through inflicting pain like many have done into him. With the kids the government would always try to treat them kind and shield them from having those selfish desires
I call villains like these "Baby with a chainsaw". It is difficult to tell if they are evil, or if they simply do not comprehend the ramifications of their actions. Especially considering the fact that Tetsuo is still a child in many ways, and that his brain did not have time to fully develop before it was flooded with drugs. This does not change what happened, nor does it absolve him were it to be the case, but it may help explain why it happened the way it did.
@@vulkantheprimarch8905 As soon as I hit send I realized that I'd very much like the same thing. The one he did on Col. Landa is one of his most viewed. I'd be willing to bet that would hold true with Candy as well.
@@radm.pesoskrew it would be great if he included a section on the head house slave (his name escapes me). If I recall, samuel l Jackson guessed that that character would be "the most hated black man in movie history".
Honestly in another note kaneda is one of the most badass characters in anime no wonder tetsuo had so much jelousy towards him,in the face of the circunstances and facing an almost god like being he stood his ground and gave him a fight and almost won just being a normal teenager.
@jango papo and the biggest trick the devil ever pulled off was convincing people he didnt exist. point being if you assume the weak minded are the only ones who will fail, you are most likely weak minded. we could sit and spin in a thousand pointless platitudes, but im okay. Enjoy continuing to believe only the "weak minded" can become corrupted. heh, tool.
It also an archetype that chracterizes stories long before - it's the hostile brother archetype. Much like cain and abel, osiris and seth, it's a story of the two paths we can take. We can either show resilience like kanaeda or show nihilism like tetsuo. However, despite all that, you can see the jelousy from tetsuo that despite him gaining more power kanaeda still had the upperhand in life.
I like the panel where Miyako says "Compared to the power of your will, the energy mankind has used to date is no more than puffs of air". That's an unfathomable amount of energy.
It certainly is, if only for the animation and stuff. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is still good on other places, but the manga just fleshes out the characters and plot so much
@@JorgeGomez-hx5uu Yes. He only had the manga half done when he made the film so it's understandable that it's not as in depth. There has been talk about doing an anime short series that would follow the manga more. We'll see. For condensing a big manga into one film the best attempt at it would be Miyazaki's Nausicaa. Not only is the manga better than Akira but the film does a better job at wrapping everything together without loosing too much.
The biker rumble shows Tatsuo's true character. He has something to prove wants to be respected and when he sets a goal he will pursue it even to his own destruction
Holy shit... The Manga version is Tetsuo is a monster... Edit: It's neat that he was redeemed at the end of the manga. Finally found friends in Akira and the other espers.
@@joshuagraham2843 Sorry. Yeah! Not knocking on the animated film cause it is something that tests the sands of time. Hell, I watch it bi-weekly cause of how fluid the animation is, and the director told the animators to follow the voice actors' lips, which has never been replicated.
I'm going through a point in my life where I am making a lot of changes. Watching this video has made me realize just how much I've grown as a person, because I used to be just like Tetsuo in my teens. Your video has brought a lot of positivity. Felt a chill just listening to you describe him. Good job, and thank you for this.
I was actually sad when this ended. I was so deep into it. I've watched Akira half a dozen times over the years since it's release. This has convinced me to go buy the manga. Great stuff, man. This channel is knocking it out of the park.
I personally never saw Tetsuo as being particularly more evil than any other person, but rather I feel that Tetsuo is basically a realistic interpretation of what would happen to 99 percent of the human race if they suddenly got extreme powers such as this. What's really frightening too, is I don't think Akira or the other psychics, in the manga, were interested in stopping Tetsuo but rather they wanted Tetsuo to almost reach the next level of human evolution so that they could collectively become gods together, after they transcended beyond our universe. It's almost as if the psychics used Tetsuo and Kei and everyone else, which explains why Kaneda never seemed to die and he always got super lucky, to push Tetsuo to the point of transcending and opening the doorway to the next realm of existence.
@@mrboerger1620 Give them enough power and you won't have to wait that long. People always underestimate how easily governments can become tyrannical if the people can't put the government into check. Checks and balances.
@@mrboerger1620 u can look at power the same way as money u can’t become a billionaire without getting into the harsh reality of sweat farms and things, radical changes in ones position can be harmful on ones mind and actions just like if a homeless person one the lottery they would go splurge while a millionaire would put it in the bank the could be said if u had the ability to take over the world with a wave of a finger especially if u felt negative feelings towards society like tetsuo with an upbringing like his
Being a child and coming from cartoons like He Man, GI Joe and TMNT to then seeing this movie blew my fucking mind and totally changed my idea of what cartoons could be. Still is one of the best experiences of my life. I immediately tried to find all the "japanimation" (as we called it back then) as I could and that passion still goes on today solely because of this film.
I also loved those shows, excluding He Man (I loved Thundercats and old Hanna Barbara cartoons, Care Bears lol Rainbow Brite and JEM).. I saw Akira when I was about 10 and followed it with Wicked City (we - my mother and I - rented them from Blockbuster). I had never been so boggled, yet invigorated in my life and it was the most violent, Touching thing I had ever seen. I definitely cried for Tetsuo- I lamented that even the power of friendship couldn't save him. His lack of family reminded me of my mother (she was adopted by horrible people and was a runaway in 80's NY, a vicious place like Japan, in Akira). I was so heartbroken I have never watched, it again.
Recommendations: Johann Liebert from Monster (Anime) Griffith/Fento from Berserk (Anime) Lee Woo-jin from OldBoy Katherine Tramell from Basic Instinct Esther from Orphan Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects
I’m glad you analysed both the film & manga. As someone who only watched the film, it’s good to have a more in-depth focus on his character motivations that are shown more in the manga.
FINALLY ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE CHARACTERS. Tetsuo shima is such a well written character one that is built on tragedy and envy I love it! I’d definitely recommend you to do an analysis of Gustavo Fring or Walter White aka Heisenberg from breaking bad
Just favorite character. You dont need to say more favorite...just saying. Let me guess you wish your were more powerful. Smh the grammar is more horrifying than the actual villain
I’d like to see an analysis on Chip Douglas the cable guy. Yes I know Jim Carrey is a silly villain in this movie but he practically dismantles Matthew Broderick’s life with his obsession and invasion of his personal relationships.
This is the first episode of Analyzing Evil I watched and I've been hooked ever since! This channel rocks and is criminally underrated. Keep up the great work!
Oh my God, you sir are a champion of good content. This was the first dark and messed up manga I read/anime I watched. Thank you for such good content!
I feel like a little bit of the wording in this script downplays the film in regards to the manga. For the one person who hasn’t seen Akira, the film is very VERY good because it manages to develop this same character significantly quicker. Although much detail is lost in the translation from manga to film, it is cleverly adapted in such a way that the detail is no longer necessary
He's only downplaying it plot-wise though. Film was still an animation/cinematic masterpiece which is an influence even today. It's crazy it happened so long ago. Color schemes were also really fucking crazy in the film. Overall, the film is what put it as a big world influence. Manga is more niche, however it tells the full story with more time with no movie compression.
I always love it when I watch an anime, and I learn that it isn't a direct adaptation of the source material, and vice versa. It's like getting to see what you love twice, but it's fresh each time
my absolute favourite moment of his in the movie is when hes making his way downtown fucking up tanks n shit and then pauses to make himself a cool lil cape out of a curtain in the wreckage of a store. thats the moment i forget about everything else and just look at him like a kid playing around too rough but look at him hes having so much fun aww adorable. oop there he goes annihilating a buildingworth of people, haha oh the little rapscallion
How did you get the clerk to let you rent the tape? I remember seeing a "youth restricted programming" sticker on the display copies of Akira and Ghost in the Shell at the nearest Blockbuster back in the day.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Also King Bradley is an incredible villain really great anime villains are Kureo Mado from tokyo ghoul, Bondrewd from made in abyss (must watch it's incredible) and Light Yagami from death note.
Funny Valentine is also a great villain. He is a president with good intentions but his action are not hence he has a super power named "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". Enrico Pucci is also a another great villain, he also has a good intentions but again his actions are not but he is more of a corrupted person than actual evil because someone was influencing his mind. Yoshikage Kira, another great villain, he has a very simple goal and that is to have a quiet life which by that makes quite unique. These three are all from JoJo`s bizarre adventure for those wondering.
So, I can't read Japanese and thus have no way on speaking on the accuracy of either translation, but I've read the comic in English and French. There's an interesting difference in when Tetsuo is having flashbacks from Akira digging through his mind. One of these flashbacks involves an adult hand, perhaps belonging to school or state care faculty, grabbing a crying young Tetsuo and pulling him along, and the present version of Tetsuo subconsciously reacts to it. In the English he says "No! I don't want to go" which sounds very sad, like he's expecting discomfort or ostricization, but in the French he says "No! I don't want it! Not that" which sounds much more desperate and fearful. Just what the fuck were they doing to him?
Watching this and Ghost in the Shell when I was younger, I had zero clue what was going on so I love watching videos really explaining the movies/manga because there is way more to them.
Amazing analysis! Akira is such a good story and Tetsuo Shima is one of my favorite fictional characters ever... On the surface Akira might seem to be all just action and aesthetic but it can get surprisingly deep if you look into it.
Before watching, I didn't think Tetsuo was evil as much as a deeply depressed child. But, the result was evil actions and a last moment regret. There's a quote about this somewhere hahah
I think a kid desperate for love, abandoned by those meant to care for him, drowning in drugs and his own mind, feelings of inadequacy, racked with constant pain, only wanting to feel love, connection, meaning, is a deeply emotional character that a lot of people will either sympathize with or want to save, and that's ultimately what makes him a compelling villain. He's not evil for fun. He's evil because that's what the world calls broken people.
In the ending, as Tetsuo transcended, his friend who was inside the creatin event with him was shown the memories of Tetsuo and the Esper children, then after, Tetsuo finally gains full control of his skills/powers and either becomes another galaxy/dimension or initiates the start of one. This is why in the end you hear, "I...am Tetsuo!" and then we see the start of a galaxy.
Yeah, he literally became a god of the new universe, just like he wished to be (which is the irony, because he also finally calmed down and went back to his true, much more gentle nature).
@acidous where does Tetsuo wish this? I always felt he just wanted to be taken seriously and not treated as a throw away. His upbringing left him full of anxiety which turns into anger.
@@Choom89 He does not wish this, it's simply what was going to happen. The graphic novel goes into more detail as to what happens during up to and during the Akira/Tetsuo creation event and the ending of the movie expands on the ending. What you felt about him was true.
I... feel deep connection with Tetsuo and his issues since I've been through most of his psychological process again recently, and did a really bad job at it. Wanting the ease pain, being look up to, severing bonds and brought close people down. The manga and anime was very accurate with their subject and they have special place in my heart for that. Great video and analysis. Thank you for that.
@@nowhereman6019 Yeah, i just read the comics recently (ReadComicOnline). The cartoons are great and its interesting how different from the television show it is
@@2ndlegend125 What about the Police girl, or Integra? Heck, I'm not even really sure if *Anderson* counts as a villain. Other than his willingness to sacrifice the self-- and thus, his ideological differences to Alucard-- I can't think of any outright villainous stuff he does? The dude mostly just kills supernatural creatures, and raises orphans. And hates Protestants.
@@fvckoff2698 Rival/antagonist. One could argue that the three sides of Hellsing are designed to mirror each other. Hellsing org has Alucard, and Integra. The papacy has... Maxwell? And Anderson, and the last battalion has the Major, and... the werewolf?
I feel like Tetsuo is one of the strangest anime villains I've seen. In a way his back story connects to many people who may have read the manga or seen the anime.
A good villain idea I had is the villain from Watchmen, Ozymandias, who had such a unique interpretation of heroes and their roles in a possible cataclysmic nuclear war and why he chose to do the things he did.
One could argue the Comedian is the worst villain. The difference between them is that Veidt kills people because it is necessary to the greater good of saving everyone. The Comedian uses the excuse of the greater good to kill for shits and giggles.
@@keith6706 this is also a good idea, I could go as far as to say Rorschach too! Only because of his moral compass and beliefs (he’s not a villain, I know) but the decision he made to hastily tell the world about Ozymandias’ plan was something that I felt was wrong/good too.
its interesting you didnt mention during the arena fight in the manga how tetsuo regains stability and sense for a breif moment during his final mutations when the army hits him w a bioweapon- from that and my point of view it seems that tetsuo's attempt to break away from addiction was the thing that broke the balance and lead to his mutation
Hey K’9999 and since then they pretend he didn’t exist despite he’s friends with Angel also the character is also voiced by Tetsuo so theres that mini tidbit.
Among my favorite anime villains that are worth you doing videos of Analyzing Evil on is Dio Brando, Frieza, Younger Toguro and Vicious. Thankfully you already covered Griffith. And your video on Tetsuo was nothing short of amazing.
I think categorizing Tetsuo as evil is dismissive. Akira wasn't "evil," and he triggered an explosion large enough to wipe Tokyo off of the map and kick off WW3. (And another one later that destroys Neo-Tokyo.) Akira was raised in a laboratory, and conditioned to tap into "the stream." Tetsuo was forced into it, like throwing an infant into a river. He should have died. But moving through the criminal world, he was able to seek out narcotics to dull the pain. This led to an addictive cycle of finding other gangs with narcotics, just to numb the pain for a few moments. And then Kaneda allies with the remaining gangs in a plot to take Tetsuo down. It culminates in Kaneda threatening Tetsuo at gunpoint. Tetsuo taunts Kaneda by saying that Kaneda is too afraid to kill him because of their friendship. This is actually a projection from Tetsuo, as moments later he will kill Yamagata, another former friend, as he picks up Kaneda's pistol and attempts to shoot Tetsuo. As Tetsuo tries to recover from his psychic attack, Kaneda shoots Tetsuo in the gut. Tetsuo runs from Kaneda, as Kaneda tries to run him down with his bike and then proceeds to beat Tetsuo with a metal pipe. When Tetsuo retaliates, Kaneda drops the government drug. Tetsuo, bleeding to death, takes the drug and proceeds to die, his last memories being of his best friend trying to kill him. And he wakes up again, completely tapped into "the stream." The runt has become a living God. And a ticking time bomb. Lady Miyako explains that once a person is in the stream, there is an inevitable conclusion; a singularity event, as the subject becomes pure energy. Akira briefly regains touch with the physical world, and tells Tetsuo that he has to embrace the pain and learn to live with it. And in the end, he couldn't do it. Every time he used his power he lost a little bit of himself until the only thing that was left was blind anger. And when his singularity was finally triggered by SOL, the last bit of him that remained was the memory of the day that Kaneda became his friend. Tetsuo is not innocent by any metric, but with perspective, this was a 16 year old kid from a life of violence who was suddenly plugged into the ultimate force that governs the universe. Ultimately, it would seem more apt to compare Tetsuo to a rabid dog than a willfully evil human being.
Few problems with this analysis: -ignores Tetsuo as a heavily defensive individual. He acts in reaction toward others attacking him. -the world he existed in wasn’t good. If anything he saves it from its own destruction, in both iterations. There’s already a decay in society, ESPer powers already exist, and the government barely had any control. If anything he either sped up the decline, or forced a rebirth to occur. -while he is the antagonist of the story, the notion that his own friend prioritizes killing him over helping never seeks to get brought up. Why is Kaneda, who shoots to kill without holding back, not seen in the same light as Tetsuo who retaliates? Is it because of his superior abilities? -we see several times in the manga that Tetsuo doesn’t want to have Akira in his mind and yet forces him to do things. The moon was because of Akira. -the film Tetsuo was basically slated for a death sentence by everyone before even doing anything bad. Thus they created him as a monster. -manga Tetsuo also had moments of levity with certain characters and only regressed when he knew he would become less human inevitably. In the end, given the situation and abilities, I think Tetsuo is restrained in his lack of morality given how he could have done far worse if he were truly evil.
@@eliassanti5728 bingo. He didn’t have intentions on being evil. He was forced in his situation to just carry out poor choices. Be it the drugs, Akira, other ESPers, Kaneda, Kei, The military, the scientists… dude was trying to be controlled for something he didn’t even understand. He could have basically forced everyone to do his bidding, but he didn’t really care. He just wanted certain things, but mostly to be left alone. But his existence was a threat, and thus he was forced by others to defend himself in very extreme ways… Honestly, who wouldn’t have done the same in his exact situation? He never had the chance to make a positive impact. But Neo-Tokyo showcases that everyone is on a gray scaling in Akira. If anything Tetsuo is the ultimate balance, the yin and Yang in a single character. If he were evil, he’d be a truly menacing person.
I've only seen the anime, but the coverage of the manga really helped the character exposition. Much appreciated. Great content. Definitely think you could do 'justice' to Kira and L from Deathnote. Only 32 episodes, each one around 20-ish minutes from what I remember. I mention L as well as Kira because I do not find it so clear cut.
The futuristic cyberpunk rock music throughout Akira is just iconic. It really adds to the suspense and atmosphere of Akira. Music that almost tells its own story. Akira is masterpiece of animation.
Funny enough I only just read the manga in 2023 despite watching the movie years ago. One thing that struck me was the irony. In the anime, tetsuo could be seen as achieving that power he and leadership he envied and becoming superior to all which makes sense due to his inferiority complex. In the manga, not only is he pure evil, but the irony is that even with his powers he still played second fiddle to akira. Which to me (despite him being an evil sob) even made it more sad.
great analysis, Definitely pieced a bunch of things I didn't understand about the movie. I like how you went into testsuo's faults but also measured them in contrast to his upbringing and made distinction of what made the character a villain, beyond the point of a misunderstood character.
Just found this channel with this episode; one of the rare times the YT algorithm has suggested something I actually ended up liking. I'm watching one or two more but you've earned my sub, keep up the good work.
I really adore Akira - it's such an amazing movie. I haven't read the manga still but I plan to rectify that soon. But I really do have a lot of sympathy for Tetsuo and I think had it been Kaneda, he would have near the same reaction to the powers, but with far more arrogance. But I'm not sure that's even true, probably again, my sympathy for Tetsuo which seems to be what the movie set out to do. I can't wait to read the manga though. Heading to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to get it, finally. Another brilliant video. Love your channel! I hope one day you do a video on Lisa from Girl, Interrupted.
1:04 They werent 'cut' They simply werent written yet The author started making the manga, it was picked up for a movie, he quickly wrote the end, and they had to use the footnotes for the middle parts and then he finished the manga after the movie came out
Tetsuo in the manga (the original and “truest” version of AKIRA) was by FAR more irredeemable: there was a point with his wanton psychopathic, homicidal outbursts that I was rooting for him to have a bitter taste of his own Karmic medicine, especially as I became older. In the end, he ended up painfully mutating when his own powers formed a sentience and will of its own, and ended up costing him his life and humanity. Tetsuo died and his spirit was separated from his powers, which were channeled elsewhere to become a creative rather than a destructive force, in another universe. His remaining ghost (along with Yamagata) was then visible to Kaneda at the very end, as they “crossed over” to wherever they needed to be. I just hope in the end that Tetsuo learned something from all of his irresponsible actions during the short time he was gifted with such godlike power.
You can never go wrong with Hannibal lecter, Darth vader, thanos, Dracula, Griffith, euron, and then throw in an analysis of a “good guy” who actually is evil upon rational reflection (insert many examples here)
I feel Tetsuo tried to master his own destiny, but lacked the maturity and education to do so properly. He was abandonned, by his parent, then by the system, then got his power by accident. Further, his drugs addiction didn't do anything to make thing better. I always feel that Miyako trapped him by stopping taking the drugs and making him go on the road of self destruction and that misfired, but I can make a mistake of judgement about that.
Miyako was definitely trying to get him to realize the full potential of his power. Whether she knew he wouldn't handle it and yearned for the destruction or believed in his potential and hoped he would overcome and find contention, is the question.
I always felt that Akira was a story about bullying. They boy everyone picks on receives ultimate power. As a kid who was always picked on myself, I’ve always related to Tetsuo. I don’t see him as the good guy of course, but I can understand him.
FMA Brotherhood is my favorite Anime of all time and the villains are amazing, but for an episode of Analyzing Evil I would recommend taking a look at Prince Meruem from Hunter X Hunter. He's a really complex and fascinating character.
Akira is like a masking (ASPD), 80’s Japanese guys acid-trip meditation on power. Though if you have a Pathology, or have traits close to one, you sort of have to work them out somehow I guess. Acid + Writing are both ways to get it outside yourself, so you can see what it is. Therapy is supposed to accomplish this too, but it’s hard to find the right one.
Hey The vile eye i found your channel recently and i have fallen in love and have binged like crazy. I seriously think you should do Handsome Jack from the game borderlands 2. Im aware you do not do many games but he is widely considered one of the best game villains and is incredibly interesting would definitely recommend!
One of the best manga panels I have ever seen was when the solider went to get Tetsuo and he saw all of the dead soldiers while passing through the hallway, and he saw that tetsuos rights side was completely fine while his left side was immensely deformed because Kaori was sleeping on his right side. It showed that even though he became a force of nature, he still desires that human connection. It shows a lot about his character in that one panel.
"How are you feeling, Tetsuo ?" "Fine, Unless i die of Boredom, Why dont you put on some music ? " Im Tetsuo for real, Lifes feels bored without them music
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I hope you all enjoy this episode. Reply to this comment letting me know some of your favorite anime villains and shows!
Pain - Naruto. I know it probably won’t happen because the length of the Ark. but dang would it be cool to see.
Light from Death Note is a fascinating character to me. Attempting to look noble in the beginning, but very quickly devolving into a villain.
Check out "Monster" Vile. It has the greatest anime villain I've ever seen.
Hisoka or someone like Chrollo from hunter hunter
Kai Chisaki from My Hero. He's cool, I like him.
The manga made me tear up when Kaneda goes through Tetsuos memories and says “Testuo you had it all wrong. I just wanted to be your friend..”
“You mean this whole time we could have been friends?” -Baby Jane
OMG I know 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I never forgot that
Anime these days are not what they use to be
@@derricksallie2538 Not by a long shot
I love the big picture message of Akira.
It really is about Japan's post-nuke fears, but it's also admitting that possession of such super weapons is appealing and not something that is just easily forsaken for the moral high ground like we would like to think it would be.
Its also that friendship is very powerful, and that everyone deserves to be loved.
@@AlphaWasSpotted yeah it feels cheesy to say it so simply but i also think that was one of the main points of the manga. Ive just finished it recently and Ive looked up a lot about it and everyone seems to be raving about how akira, tetsuo and the other psychics reach a new plane of existence, the next step of evolution, become living gods and transcend from this world. Sure its nice to theorize about this big picture stuff but I dont think that was the main message at all. I personally felt like that “The Power” or “The Stream” or whatever that everyone on the internet seems to overanalyze was simply a metaphor for human existence and the constant struggle of humanity to survive and evolve. Many get corrupted by life, others make bonds and prevail. In the end the most important stuff in life ends up not being the infinite power of destruction, but the simple thing of a bunch kids playing together in kindergarden or two small boys becoming friends. For example when Kaneda is in “The Stream” and his consciouness is mixed together with Tetsuo and the other psychics, he questions the value of “The Power” (aka he questions the everyday struggle of human existance), he tells the psychics that all “The Power” caused was harm, destruction and misery (Which is a sad truth about human life in general albeit a little pessimistic). However the psychics correct him. Even though they dont say it, they do admit that “The Power” caused destruction but they also reveal that if it werent for “The Power” (Life) most of the main characters wouldnt have met and wouldnt have made the strong bonds they have today. “The Power”/Life while being full of suffering, is also full of love and beauty where a bunch a people can make strong connections and persevere through the tough times, making it into a better future of mutual understanding, which is also symbolized in the last panels of the manga. Kaneda and his friends heading off into a better future which they can create on their own terms (hence Neo-Tokyo shedding the destruction) with the memories of their friends pushing them forward.
I see your point - the powers of Akira, much like nuclear fission, was something that was never intended to be wielded by human hands: the very possession of this power is a corrupting influence even in the hands of the best and brightest - in the hands of a damaged teenager with severe psychological problems it’s all but guaranteed death for anything he comes in contact with.
All that while also being a tale of two friends neglected by society and pitted against each other
@@wilberwhateley7569 Wanna go carbon neutral? You need fission.
Tetsuo's story is the antithesis of the Spider-Man mantra "With great power comes, great responsibility". Peter Parker had the love and support of a family, whereas Tetsou faced childhood trauma of family abandonememt, and it really fucc'ed him up.
Based on this video, I'd argue his environment (social circle, best friend, and gang life) played the heaviest hand in him turning out that way. The abandonment was what put him in the right place at the right time for his life to go down that path.
Growing up in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic society doesn't help matters either.
That's pretty much my take on Tetsuo, he was easily corrupted with the incredible amount of power he received. He acted like the teenager that he was and just used it to meet any of his desires
I sometimes imagine what happen if Kaneda is the one who got the power instead. Would it have a better ending or situation get worse instead.
@@hafirenggayuda that's honestly an interesting what if scenario, bc it can go good or absolutely terrible if kaneda gets corrupted
I feel that Tetsuo's drug problem in the manga pre-Akira's influence actually makes him more sympathetic - it's done in an effort to cure his uncontrollable pain, and the toxic cycle with his powers serves as a metaphor for the cycle of addiction.
I noticed that I know nothing about this movie or manga first video but the way it describes his drug use I related on a human parent
Yeah, the Manga was at least 15 years ahead of anything released in the 80’s:
The part dealing with his drug-abuse and “kicking the shit”, then going through unholy levels of withdrawal was so realistic and brutal.
No other form of media then ever touched the subject the way AKIRA had.
“Remember before attempting to kill someone. Yell their name as loud as possible.”- Kaneda
Tetsuo!
@@lemoy1101 Kaneda!
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." - Tuco
KAGOME!!!
KAH-NEY-DAH!
I interpreted Akira as a boy that had been fully consumed by his immense psychic powers. His mind and individuality having been completely blanked out by them, so he's not really human anymore but more like a force of nature.
Yeah that was the impression the manga gave me.
@Jango Lale No, I didn't.
@Jango Lale why are you attacking him instead of explaining your side? Just seems childish imo
@Jango Lale just state your side or no one will believe you
@Jango Lalelol you came off worse than he did. Explain why you think he's wrong instead of insulting ppl.
I think the movie makes Tetsuo more sympathetic by far. He's more of a victim of his circumstances and it seems that his mind gets warped by the experiments rather than having evil in his nature. Taking out the sexual deviance and drugs from the film also contributes to him being a more sympathetic character.
I agree. I like him being a good kid twisted by power he can't control.
Yes. He was just abused and obviously would lash out when given the chance. He's more interesting in the manga but you can still feel sorry for him in the film in spite of what he does. It doesn't make what he did right and he had to pay for it but his creators are worse than he is.
The begining and end of his story are the same in the books and in the movie. He gets more powerful, megalomaniac, and more evil in the manga which has way more time for character developement. But his story arc stays the same.
It helps to know that the manga was years from being finished when the movie came out, though Otomo had a general idea of where he would taking the manga eventually. The specifics of getting to the giant baby on paper were fleshed (ha) out over years.
It's been long since the movie came out. Good analysis though 👍
When he killed his friends in the pub I really stopped giving a shit about him but his ending was nothing short of horrific.
The crazy thing is to me, he never was very likable tbh nobody in that movie was very likable and I still enjoy the movie
In the manga, he technically rapes Kaori so. That was when I fully became a Kanada stan 😂
Idc about that. What bothered me is him telling him gf to shut up when she cried to him about being sexually assaulted.
@@samuelhatlestad6676 Kaori got the shortest end of the stick throughout the film and I get that that's the point but god I felt so bad to see her end like that.
Tetsuo is one of my favorite characters. I feel the movie presents him as a vulnerable youth corrupt by society and unable to cope with getting so much power. On the manga however, it REALLY feels like he chose to continue down the same path. In both instances, Tetsuo didn't have the tools necessary for what came to him.
In
He's pretty much the same in both in my view.
Part of the reason why the government used children as their test subjects must have been because children are generally more impressionable and compliant under the authority of adults.
I mean, Masaru, Kiyoko and Takashi alone could probably pop the heads of every government official, soldier or scientist that subjected them to these experiments with a mere thought if they wanted.
But since they're just kids with child like minds, the relatively less powerful adults can still tell these children to do what they're told and go along with the experiments.
Tetsuo however is brought in as a test subject during his teenage years. It's naturally for teenagers to be rebellious and questioning of adults and authority, and in Tetsuo's case it's ramped up to 11 on account of already living as a juvenile delinquent before that crash with Takashi on the highway which awakened Tetsuo's own abilities.
Tetsuo can't be brought to heel because he's in a stage of his life where he rebells against adult society, and since he's fully aware of his powers, he knows that there's nothing any of the adults can do to stop him.
It basically explores the dangers of having a juvenile delinquent, already troubled by various character flaws with godlike powers. The combination of lack of maturity coupled with the powers makes an extremely dangerous cocktail for everyone in the vicinity.
@@sevenproxies4255 That is true to an extent, at least mentally. Kids can usually be compliant, though I still think that depending on the personality, one child with the same powers as Tetsuo could still see every human being as a bug to squash, or hold under a magnifying glass for the sun to fry. The government had been experimenting on those kids for decades, so in a lot of ways it's a miracle that Akira was the *only* one that snapped on them.
But regarding this kind of science, little kids would be the lynchpin of their research specifically because of their brains. It's said that all babies enter this world as weird little geniuses, because of their ability to absorb and use a ton of information. It's why the most talented musicians and composers are so memorable that they wind up having an impact on human culture itself, because they basically became music savants from before they even had memories. This idea can be seen in any number of other fields as well. It's a lot harder to unlock the brain's potential after it's already had decades of lifetime experience; it's grown stuck in its own ways and become inflexible, and has already developed all the talents that came naturally to that person. It's also why Tetsuo wound up becoming powerful so quickly - he's got the brain of your typical 80s delinquent, but because he's actually had his share of a *lot* of street drugs, his powers developed in a slightly different way from the esper kids.
The manga is great , and of course is better than the movie, but the movie alogsidei with the ost that plays during certaint times, it gives a chill and super cool moment
@@sevenproxies4255 there's a line in the movie i don't remember word for word, by it's when the psychs are talking to Kaneda via the girl, they say something like "what would a ameba do if they get the power of a human? That's why the government only allow kids (to be psychs)" the ameba even if reaches consciousness would look to eat and reproduce and would use all their new found habilities to do so, same as a human if he gets god's power, he would pursue his selfish desires but without any restrains since there's nothing stronger to stop him (like Bruce Almighty but in a more cruel way), Tetsuo was born in a world of pain where he was picked on for being the weakest and desperatly wanted to be strong and command respect like Kaneda, so when he gets the power that's what he tried to be, thou through inflicting pain like many have done into him. With the kids the government would always try to treat them kind and shield them from having those selfish desires
I call villains like these "Baby with a chainsaw".
It is difficult to tell if they are evil, or if they simply do not comprehend the ramifications of their actions. Especially considering the fact that Tetsuo is still a child in many ways, and that his brain did not have time to fully develop before it was flooded with drugs.
This does not change what happened, nor does it absolve him were it to be the case, but it may help explain why it happened the way it did.
You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention.
Speaking of, I'd love to see an episode about Calvin candy
Here I was expecting a hellsing abridged reference
@@vulkantheprimarch8905 As soon as I hit send I realized that I'd very much like the same thing. The one he did on Col. Landa is one of his most viewed. I'd be willing to bet that would hold true with Candy as well.
@@radm.pesoskrew it would be great if he included a section on the head house slave (his name escapes me). If I recall, samuel l Jackson guessed that that character would be "the most hated black man in movie history".
Co signed
Honestly in another note kaneda is one of the most badass characters in anime no wonder tetsuo had so much jelousy towards him,in the face of the circunstances and facing an almost god like being he stood his ground and gave him a fight and almost won just being a normal teenager.
Very true!! 😂. Hes like what Obi Wan was to anakin!
“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”
“It is not necessarily that Power corrupts but rather that Power attracts the easily corruptible”
I love the technoblade reference
@jango papo and the biggest trick the devil ever pulled off was convincing people he didnt exist. point being if you assume the weak minded are the only ones who will fail, you are most likely weak minded. we could sit and spin in a thousand pointless platitudes, but im okay. Enjoy continuing to believe only the "weak minded" can become corrupted. heh, tool.
“Power doesn’t Corrupt, it Enables.”
"Power reveals, absolute power reveals absolutely"
It also an archetype that chracterizes stories long before - it's the hostile brother archetype. Much like cain and abel, osiris and seth, it's a story of the two paths we can take. We can either show resilience like kanaeda or show nihilism like tetsuo. However, despite all that, you can see the jelousy from tetsuo that despite him gaining more power kanaeda still had the upperhand in life.
Fourth time watching FMA? You gotta pump those numbers up. Those are rookie numbers.
This is how i am with "Death Note" and "Berserk".
@@CK...... I am in agreement lol.
I love the OG
(Begins to thump chest and hum rhythmically) hmmm hmm (thump chest) hmmm hmm (thump chest) hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm, hmmm hmm (thump chest)
@@CK...... Since you mentioned Berserk. I have a bad news.
I like the panel where Miyako says "Compared to the power of your will, the energy mankind has used to date is no more than puffs of air".
That's an unfathomable amount of energy.
This anime is a timeless masterpiece.
You're a timeless masterpiece.
@@carltonbauheimer lmfao
It certainly is, if only for the animation and stuff. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is still good on other places, but the manga just fleshes out the characters and plot so much
@@JorgeGomez-hx5uu 100% the movie doesnt cover 1/3 of the story.
@@JorgeGomez-hx5uu Yes. He only had the manga half done when he made the film so it's understandable that it's not as in depth. There has been talk about doing an anime short series that would follow the manga more. We'll see. For condensing a big manga into one film the best attempt at it would be Miyazaki's Nausicaa. Not only is the manga better than Akira but the film does a better job at wrapping everything together without loosing too much.
The biker rumble shows Tatsuo's true character. He has something to prove wants to be respected and when he sets a goal he will pursue it even to his own destruction
Thats basicaly every gangster ever. A product of rough and poor environment.
Holy shit... The Manga version is Tetsuo is a monster...
Edit: It's neat that he was redeemed at the end of the manga. Finally found friends in Akira and the other espers.
both the anime and manga
no need debate
the anime had godlike animations
while the manga has very extended interesting plot
@@joshuagraham2843 Sorry. Yeah! Not knocking on the animated film cause it is something that tests the sands of time. Hell, I watch it bi-weekly cause of how fluid the animation is, and the director told the animators to follow the voice actors' lips, which has never been replicated.
Yooo dope inuk syllabics
@@GregBoughtaTripod Thanks!
I'm going through a point in my life where I am making a lot of changes. Watching this video has made me realize just how much I've grown as a person, because I used to be just like Tetsuo in my teens. Your video has brought a lot of positivity. Felt a chill just listening to you describe him. Good job, and thank you for this.
Ur drunk
I was actually sad when this ended.
I was so deep into it. I've watched Akira half a dozen times over the years since it's release.
This has convinced me to go buy the manga.
Great stuff, man. This channel is knocking it out of the park.
Akira is a great anime film i've watched it like 20 times
The manga is just as incredible
You could have just looked up Akira Manga online, idiot. Lol you wasted a lot of money, bruh.
I personally never saw Tetsuo as being particularly more evil than any other person, but rather I feel that Tetsuo is basically a realistic interpretation of what would happen to 99 percent of the human race if they suddenly got extreme powers such as this. What's really frightening too, is I don't think Akira or the other psychics, in the manga, were interested in stopping Tetsuo but rather they wanted Tetsuo to almost reach the next level of human evolution so that they could collectively become gods together, after they transcended beyond our universe. It's almost as if the psychics used Tetsuo and Kei and everyone else, which explains why Kaneda never seemed to die and he always got super lucky, to push Tetsuo to the point of transcending and opening the doorway to the next realm of existence.
Most people don't turn to murders when they get power
@@mrboerger1620 Give them enough power and you won't have to wait that long. People always underestimate how easily governments can become tyrannical if the people can't put the government into check. Checks and balances.
@@mrboerger1620 u can look at power the same way as money u can’t become a billionaire without getting into the harsh reality of sweat farms and things, radical changes in ones position can be harmful on ones mind and actions just like if a homeless person one the lottery they would go splurge while a millionaire would put it in the bank the could be said if u had the ability to take over the world with a wave of a finger especially if u felt negative feelings towards society like tetsuo with an upbringing like his
Look up the book steelheart it has pretty much the same premise. A bunch of humans suddenly got powers and basically brought the apocalypse.
@000000000 power doesnt corrupt but rather reveals peoples true nature
Akira in the manga:🧒🏻
Akira in the movie:🧬⚗🔋🧠
Akira's physically in literal pieces in the film. While the manga he's just..kind of a lifeless doll.
lmao! i was soconfused xD
lol
Being a child and coming from cartoons like He Man, GI Joe and TMNT to then seeing this movie blew my fucking mind and totally changed my idea of what cartoons could be. Still is one of the best experiences of my life. I immediately tried to find all the "japanimation" (as we called it back then) as I could and that passion still goes on today solely because of this film.
I also loved those shows, excluding He Man (I loved Thundercats and old Hanna Barbara cartoons, Care Bears lol Rainbow Brite and JEM)..
I saw Akira when I was about 10 and followed it with Wicked City (we - my mother and I - rented them from Blockbuster). I had never been so boggled, yet invigorated in my life and it was the most violent, Touching thing I had ever seen.
I definitely cried for Tetsuo- I lamented that even the power of friendship couldn't save him. His lack of family reminded me of my mother (she was adopted by horrible people and was a runaway in 80's NY, a vicious place like Japan, in Akira).
I was so heartbroken I have never watched, it again.
u need to watch Ghost in the shell 1995 movie and manga
Heh, "Japanimation", thanks for the nostalgia trip that triggered. "Japanese Cartoons" was another term back then.
Recommendations:
Johann Liebert from Monster (Anime)
Griffith/Fento from Berserk (Anime)
Lee Woo-jin from OldBoy
Katherine Tramell from Basic Instinct
Esther from Orphan
Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects
Lee-Woo Jin 100%
Griffith 100%
Esther 100%
Griffith for me please!
Griffith 100%
I’m glad you analysed both the film & manga. As someone who only watched the film, it’s good to have a more in-depth focus on his character motivations that are shown more in the manga.
FINALLY ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE CHARACTERS. Tetsuo shima is such a well written character one that is built on tragedy and envy I love it! I’d definitely recommend you to do an analysis of Gustavo Fring or Walter White aka Heisenberg from breaking bad
Yes!!! Absolutely!!!
Just favorite character. You dont need to say more favorite...just saying. Let me guess you wish your were more powerful. Smh the grammar is more horrifying than the actual villain
@@yoshijb9428 god your attitude is unbearable
@@code6843 You know they have zero sex life even if there asexual
The most horrible thing about Tetsuo is that he could have been a good guy...
OW OWIE
@Blask Riker whoa bro, that's so edgy.
@@D27k 😂
@Blask Riker "nothing personnel kid" teleports behind him
Maybe he became one in the other world
I’d like to see an analysis on Chip Douglas the cable guy. Yes I know Jim Carrey is a silly villain in this movie but he practically dismantles Matthew Broderick’s life with his obsession and invasion of his personal relationships.
Scary because it's more believable.
What's the one with Reese Witherspoon and Matt Broderick??? That would be a wonderful one, as well.
Little known fact, Chris Farley was actually supposed to play the role of the cable guy!
This is the first episode of Analyzing Evil I watched and I've been hooked ever since! This channel rocks and is criminally underrated. Keep up the great work!
Oh my God, you sir are a champion of good content. This was the first dark and messed up manga I read/anime I watched. Thank you for such good content!
I feel like a little bit of the wording in this script downplays the film in regards to the manga. For the one person who hasn’t seen Akira, the film is very VERY good because it manages to develop this same character significantly quicker. Although much detail is lost in the translation from manga to film, it is cleverly adapted in such a way that the detail is no longer necessary
He's only downplaying it plot-wise though.
Film was still an animation/cinematic masterpiece which is an influence even today. It's crazy it happened so long ago. Color schemes were also really fucking crazy in the film. Overall, the film is what put it as a big world influence.
Manga is more niche, however it tells the full story with more time with no movie compression.
Never clicked on anything so fast in my life. Never did I think you would ever cover an anime/manga character.
This. Changes. Everything...
You mentioned Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON FATHER...
I always love it when I watch an anime, and I learn that it isn't a direct adaptation of the source material, and vice versa. It's like getting to see what you love twice, but it's fresh each time
I always wanted psychic powers, but seeing Tetsuo self-destruct I changed my mind.
I think that power is only specific to tetsuo
my absolute favourite moment of his in the movie is when hes making his way downtown fucking up tanks n shit and then pauses to make himself a cool lil cape out of a curtain in the wreckage of a store. thats the moment i forget about everything else and just look at him like a kid playing around too rough but look at him hes having so much fun aww adorable. oop there he goes annihilating a buildingworth of people, haha oh the little rapscallion
Omg I never thought this day would come. Tetsuo scared the shit out of me as a kid. ....and as an adult, too.
He is the Thanos of anime.
@Ashutosh Mishra because he is awesome, and those who are not awesome fear awesome
@Dyler Preserve the Patriarchy Turden ...exactly
@Ashutosh Mishra that hairline and forehead combo...
@@Zz-mb5ru Reminds of a dragonball character but Akira was first I think.
I remember renting this from blockbuster when I was 7. I grabbed it cause the cover looked awesome. Man did it fck with me
I watched it as a kid and was eating sausage rolls during the final action sequence 🤢🤮
How did you get the clerk to let you rent the tape? I remember seeing a "youth restricted programming" sticker on the display copies of Akira and Ghost in the Shell at the nearest Blockbuster back in the day.
I didn't puke from that scene, but I lost my appetite for several days after my initial viewing of that scene from Akira.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Also King Bradley is an incredible villain really great anime villains are Kureo Mado from tokyo ghoul, Bondrewd from made in abyss (must watch it's incredible) and Light Yagami from death note.
"Absolute power attracts the corruptible." - Frank Herbert
Doflamingo is also a great villain, he throws away his humanity in hopes to go back to being a god
Funny Valentine is also a great villain. He is a president with good intentions but his action are not hence he has a super power named "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". Enrico Pucci is also a another great villain, he also has a good intentions but again his actions are not but he is more of a corrupted person than actual evil because someone was influencing his mind. Yoshikage Kira, another great villain, he has a very simple goal and that is to have a quiet life which by that makes quite unique. These three are all from JoJo`s bizarre adventure for those wondering.
Great list but a shame you didn’t put Johan libert from monster super complex villain right there
He was already corrupted, he just didn’t have powers yet.
So, I can't read Japanese and thus have no way on speaking on the accuracy of either translation, but I've read the comic in English and French. There's an interesting difference in when Tetsuo is having flashbacks from Akira digging through his mind. One of these flashbacks involves an adult hand, perhaps belonging to school or state care faculty, grabbing a crying young Tetsuo and pulling him along, and the present version of Tetsuo subconsciously reacts to it. In the English he says "No! I don't want to go" which sounds very sad, like he's expecting discomfort or ostricization, but in the French he says "No! I don't want it! Not that" which sounds much more desperate and fearful. Just what the fuck were they doing to him?
Holy shit
@@deadlyninja112 pooiiiiiioooooop
Do you remember the page number or at around what part of the story this happened? I want to check what he says in the Italian translation.
Woah, I just watched this movie for the first time yesterday - so glad to see you covering this!
Lady Miyako had a key role in the story, as she convinces Tetsuo to stop consuming the drugs to control his power
Hell Yes! One of my favorite Films/Animes! And Great Job Once Again Vile!
🤘🔥🤘
I fucking love Akira. Thank you for this. Tetsuo is such a fantastic character. Underrated if you ask me.
Watching this and Ghost in the Shell when I was younger, I had zero clue what was going on so I love watching videos really explaining the movies/manga because there is way more to them.
Amazing analysis! Akira is such a good story and Tetsuo Shima is one of my favorite fictional characters ever... On the surface Akira might seem to be all just action and aesthetic but it can get surprisingly deep if you look into it.
Before watching, I didn't think Tetsuo was evil as much as a deeply depressed child. But, the result was evil actions and a last moment regret. There's a quote about this somewhere hahah
I think a kid desperate for love, abandoned by those meant to care for him, drowning in drugs and his own mind, feelings of inadequacy, racked with constant pain, only wanting to feel love, connection, meaning, is a deeply emotional character that a lot of people will either sympathize with or want to save, and that's ultimately what makes him a compelling villain. He's not evil for fun. He's evil because that's what the world calls broken people.
11:17 "this tactic immediately goes Ahri however"
I was guilty of this when I had only ever read the word and never said it around anyone before lol
Awry or a rye.
Was about to put this in the comments
Awry*. A rye is a type of bread
@@Loonaticx they’re pointing out the pronunciation :/
In the ending, as Tetsuo transcended, his friend who was inside the creatin event with him was shown the memories of Tetsuo and the Esper children, then after, Tetsuo finally gains full control of his skills/powers and either becomes another galaxy/dimension or initiates the start of one. This is why in the end you hear, "I...am Tetsuo!" and then we see the start of a galaxy.
Yeah, he literally became a god of the new universe, just like he wished to be (which is the irony, because he also finally calmed down and went back to his true, much more gentle nature).
@acidous where does Tetsuo wish this? I always felt he just wanted to be taken seriously and not treated as a throw away. His upbringing left him full of anxiety which turns into anger.
@@Choom89 He does not wish this, it's simply what was going to happen. The graphic novel goes into more detail as to what happens during up to and during the Akira/Tetsuo creation event and the ending of the movie expands on the ending. What you felt about him was true.
I... feel deep connection with Tetsuo and his issues since I've been through most of his psychological process again recently, and did a really bad job at it. Wanting the ease pain, being look up to, severing bonds and brought close people down. The manga and anime was very accurate with their subject and they have special place in my heart for that.
Great video and analysis. Thank you for that.
Analyzing evil: Homelander from the boys
Yes!
The show isn't done yet, but the comic also has a pretty great Homelander.
@@nowhereman6019 Yeah, i just read the comics recently (ReadComicOnline). The cartoons are great and its interesting how different from the television show it is
Analyzing both Homelanders would be great!
Yes please
I started reading this manga a few weeks ago, and then I found your channel literally the day before you uploaded this. What a coincidence!!!
Alexander Anderson from hellsing and lady Une from Gundam Wing are some of my favorite anime villains.
Agreed. Also, Enrico Maxwell would make for a compelling video.
Every character from helsing is a variation of evil and worthy of a video.
@@2ndlegend125 What about the Police girl, or Integra?
Heck, I'm not even really sure if *Anderson* counts as a villain. Other than his willingness to sacrifice the self-- and thus, his ideological differences to Alucard-- I can't think of any outright villainous stuff he does?
The dude mostly just kills supernatural creatures, and raises orphans.
And hates Protestants.
@@fvckoff2698 Rival/antagonist.
One could argue that the three sides of Hellsing are designed to mirror each other. Hellsing org has Alucard, and Integra. The papacy has... Maxwell? And Anderson, and the last battalion has the Major, and... the werewolf?
@@fvckoff2698 We need a villain analysis on the flying geese.
I feel like Tetsuo is one of the strangest anime villains I've seen. In a way his back story connects to many people who may have read the manga or seen the anime.
You’re doing a really good job churning out videos man, also congrats on getting a sponsorship. Requesting Ben from Burning again, third time I think.
A good villain idea I had is the villain from Watchmen, Ozymandias, who had such a unique interpretation of heroes and their roles in a possible cataclysmic nuclear war and why he chose to do the things he did.
One could argue the Comedian is the worst villain. The difference between them is that Veidt kills people because it is necessary to the greater good of saving everyone. The Comedian uses the excuse of the greater good to kill for shits and giggles.
@@keith6706 this is also a good idea, I could go as far as to say Rorschach too! Only because of his moral compass and beliefs (he’s not a villain, I know) but the decision he made to hastily tell the world about Ozymandias’ plan was something that I felt was wrong/good too.
its interesting you didnt mention during the arena fight in the manga how tetsuo regains stability and sense for a breif moment during his final mutations when the army hits him w a bioweapon- from that and my point of view it seems that tetsuo's attempt to break away from addiction was the thing that broke the balance and lead to his mutation
I highly recommend you do Griffith from Bereserk, he's so easy to hate yet so interesting to learn about, he's definitely up your league
2nd video of asking Vile eye to analyze Lou Bloom from Nightcrawler
PLEASE PLEASE
Please soon.
Definitely it's a must
yes, this needs to happen
Excellent movie.
Tetsuos hairline is the true villain of akira 😂
Hey K’9999 and since then they pretend he didn’t exist despite he’s friends with Angel also the character is also voiced by Tetsuo so theres that mini tidbit.
I didn't know that about Angel!
Among my favorite anime villains that are worth you doing videos of Analyzing Evil on is Dio Brando, Frieza, Younger Toguro and Vicious.
Thankfully you already covered Griffith. And your video on Tetsuo was nothing short of amazing.
Wow, Wasn't expecting this but really enjoyed it. I'd love to hear your take on the manga/anime "Berserk" at some point
Sup Nanaki
I think categorizing Tetsuo as evil is dismissive. Akira wasn't "evil," and he triggered an explosion large enough to wipe Tokyo off of the map and kick off WW3. (And another one later that destroys Neo-Tokyo.) Akira was raised in a laboratory, and conditioned to tap into "the stream."
Tetsuo was forced into it, like throwing an infant into a river. He should have died. But moving through the criminal world, he was able to seek out narcotics to dull the pain. This led to an addictive cycle of finding other gangs with narcotics, just to numb the pain for a few moments. And then Kaneda allies with the remaining gangs in a plot to take Tetsuo down. It culminates in Kaneda threatening Tetsuo at gunpoint. Tetsuo taunts Kaneda by saying that Kaneda is too afraid to kill him because of their friendship. This is actually a projection from Tetsuo, as moments later he will kill Yamagata, another former friend, as he picks up Kaneda's pistol and attempts to shoot Tetsuo. As Tetsuo tries to recover from his psychic attack, Kaneda shoots Tetsuo in the gut. Tetsuo runs from Kaneda, as Kaneda tries to run him down with his bike and then proceeds to beat Tetsuo with a metal pipe. When Tetsuo retaliates, Kaneda drops the government drug. Tetsuo, bleeding to death, takes the drug and proceeds to die, his last memories being of his best friend trying to kill him.
And he wakes up again, completely tapped into "the stream." The runt has become a living God. And a ticking time bomb.
Lady Miyako explains that once a person is in the stream, there is an inevitable conclusion; a singularity event, as the subject becomes pure energy. Akira briefly regains touch with the physical world, and tells Tetsuo that he has to embrace the pain and learn to live with it. And in the end, he couldn't do it. Every time he used his power he lost a little bit of himself until the only thing that was left was blind anger. And when his singularity was finally triggered by SOL, the last bit of him that remained was the memory of the day that Kaneda became his friend.
Tetsuo is not innocent by any metric, but with perspective, this was a 16 year old kid from a life of violence who was suddenly plugged into the ultimate force that governs the universe. Ultimately, it would seem more apt to compare Tetsuo to a rabid dog than a willfully evil human being.
Evil need not know it's evil. In fact, it's almost guaranteed it doesnt
@@louiepooh1510I fully agree with you! Evil is always conscious of itself.
I think it is just interpretation then
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
@@lowinterrence people quoting that is the reason the government keeps getting away with it
Few problems with this analysis:
-ignores Tetsuo as a heavily defensive individual. He acts in reaction toward others attacking him.
-the world he existed in wasn’t good. If anything he saves it from its own destruction, in both iterations. There’s already a decay in society, ESPer powers already exist, and the government barely had any control. If anything he either sped up the decline, or forced a rebirth to occur.
-while he is the antagonist of the story, the notion that his own friend prioritizes killing him over helping never seeks to get brought up. Why is Kaneda, who shoots to kill without holding back, not seen in the same light as Tetsuo who retaliates? Is it because of his superior abilities?
-we see several times in the manga that Tetsuo doesn’t want to have Akira in his mind and yet forces him to do things. The moon was because of Akira.
-the film Tetsuo was basically slated for a death sentence by everyone before even doing anything bad. Thus they created him as a monster.
-manga Tetsuo also had moments of levity with certain characters and only regressed when he knew he would become less human inevitably.
In the end, given the situation and abilities, I think Tetsuo is restrained in his lack of morality given how he could have done far worse if he were truly evil.
so tetsuo would not be a villain and is more of a tragic antagonist?
@@eliassanti5728 bingo. He didn’t have intentions on being evil. He was forced in his situation to just carry out poor choices. Be it the drugs, Akira, other ESPers, Kaneda, Kei, The military, the scientists… dude was trying to be controlled for something he didn’t even understand. He could have basically forced everyone to do his bidding, but he didn’t really care. He just wanted certain things, but mostly to be left alone. But his existence was a threat, and thus he was forced by others to defend himself in very extreme ways…
Honestly, who wouldn’t have done the same in his exact situation? He never had the chance to make a positive impact. But Neo-Tokyo showcases that everyone is on a gray scaling in Akira. If anything Tetsuo is the ultimate balance, the yin and Yang in a single character. If he were evil, he’d be a truly menacing person.
@@avatarmikephantom153 wow i see it now but this also applies to manga
@@avatarmikephantom153 mmmh
Oh
I've only seen the anime, but the coverage of the manga really helped the character exposition. Much appreciated. Great content.
Definitely think you could do 'justice' to Kira and L from Deathnote. Only 32 episodes, each one around 20-ish minutes from what I remember.
I mention L as well as Kira because I do not find it so clear cut.
Tetsuo is the out come of a child who didn’t revive enough love, care and attention, who’s been gifted godlike powers.
The futuristic cyberpunk rock music throughout Akira is just iconic.
It really adds to the suspense and atmosphere of Akira.
Music that almost tells its own story.
Akira is masterpiece of animation.
Yes, the music felt other worldly as a kid. Absolute work of genius.
Funny enough I only just read the manga in 2023 despite watching the movie years ago. One thing that struck me was the irony. In the anime, tetsuo could be seen as achieving that power he and leadership he envied and becoming superior to all which makes sense due to his inferiority complex. In the manga, not only is he pure evil, but the irony is that even with his powers he still played second fiddle to akira. Which to me (despite him being an evil sob) even made it more sad.
great analysis, Definitely pieced a bunch of things I didn't understand about the movie. I like how you went into testsuo's faults but also measured them in contrast to his upbringing and made distinction of what made the character a villain, beyond the point of a misunderstood character.
I would like to see an Analyzing Evil episode on Faust from the 1926 silent horror from F.W. Murnau, "Faust"
I'll see your Faust and raise you a Hans Beckert from "M"
M, the forbidden movie?
Just found this channel with this episode; one of the rare times the YT algorithm has suggested something I actually ended up liking.
I'm watching one or two more but you've earned my sub, keep up the good work.
No freaking way! This video is such a gift!!
Soooo, how about a video on Daniel Plainview?
Reading Akira 1-6 over the course of two days in middle school definitely rewired my brain
LEAVE ME ALONE [shock] AKIRA! [happy]
I really adore Akira - it's such an amazing movie. I haven't read the manga still but I plan to rectify that soon. But I really do have a lot of sympathy for Tetsuo and I think had it been Kaneda, he would have near the same reaction to the powers, but with far more arrogance. But I'm not sure that's even true, probably again, my sympathy for Tetsuo which seems to be what the movie set out to do.
I can't wait to read the manga though. Heading to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to get it, finally.
Another brilliant video. Love your channel!
I hope one day you do a video on Lisa from Girl, Interrupted.
”KANEDAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!”
Excellent choice of music 😘 Kurotokage, in Theme of Tetsuo Shima’s power madness!
1:04 They werent 'cut'
They simply werent written yet
The author started making the manga, it was picked up for a movie, he quickly wrote the end, and they had to use the footnotes for the middle parts and then he finished the manga after the movie came out
Tetsuo in the manga (the original and “truest” version of AKIRA) was by FAR more irredeemable: there was a point with his wanton psychopathic, homicidal outbursts that I was rooting for him to have a bitter taste of his own Karmic medicine, especially as I became older.
In the end, he ended up painfully mutating when his own powers formed a sentience and will of its own, and ended up costing him his life and humanity.
Tetsuo died and his spirit was separated from his powers, which were channeled elsewhere to become a creative rather than a destructive force, in another universe.
His remaining ghost (along with Yamagata) was then visible to Kaneda at the very end, as they “crossed over” to wherever they needed to be.
I just hope in the end that Tetsuo learned something from all of his irresponsible actions during the short time he was gifted with such godlike power.
You can never go wrong with Hannibal lecter, Darth vader, thanos, Dracula, Griffith, euron, and then throw in an analysis of a “good guy” who actually is evil upon rational reflection (insert many examples here)
Oh man, I did not see this coming but this is by far one of my favorite characters ever
He becomes omnipresent at the end how can he even be beaten this man is op
I feel Tetsuo tried to master his own destiny, but lacked the maturity and education to do so properly.
He was abandonned, by his parent, then by the system, then got his power by accident. Further, his drugs addiction didn't do anything to make thing better.
I always feel that Miyako trapped him by stopping taking the drugs and making him go on the road of self destruction and that misfired, but I can make a mistake of judgement about that.
Miyako was definitely trying to get him to realize the full potential of his power.
Whether she knew he wouldn't handle it and yearned for the destruction or believed in his potential and hoped he would overcome and find contention, is the question.
Thanks The Vile Eye this is just what I wanted to see!!!
I always felt that Akira was a story about bullying. They boy everyone picks on receives ultimate power.
As a kid who was always picked on myself, I’ve always related to Tetsuo. I don’t see him as the good guy of course, but I can understand him.
Basically he have the mindset of a bullied who became a school shooter
I think the bullying was to reinforce that Tetsuo felt thrown away and really relied on his gang of friends like a family.
FMA Brotherhood is my favorite Anime of all time and the villains are amazing, but for an episode of Analyzing Evil I would recommend taking a look at Prince Meruem from Hunter X Hunter. He's a really complex and fascinating character.
Been looking forward to someone doing this.
the victim becomes the villain, a story as old as time.
Your channel is gold
What a strange coincidence. The other day I had watched Akira for the first time, and now this. Great vid btw.
Akira is like a masking (ASPD), 80’s Japanese guys acid-trip meditation on power. Though if you have a Pathology, or have traits close to one, you sort of have to work them out somehow I guess. Acid + Writing are both ways to get it outside yourself, so you can see what it is. Therapy is supposed to accomplish this too, but it’s hard to find the right one.
Hey The vile eye i found your channel recently and i have fallen in love and have binged like crazy. I seriously think you should do Handsome Jack from the game borderlands 2. Im aware you do not do many games but he is widely considered one of the best game villains and is incredibly interesting would definitely recommend!
One of the best manga panels I have ever seen was when the solider went to get Tetsuo and he saw all of the dead soldiers while passing through the hallway, and he saw that tetsuos rights side was completely fine while his left side was immensely deformed because Kaori was sleeping on his right side. It showed that even though he became a force of nature, he still desires that human connection. It shows a lot about his character in that one panel.
I am glad this channel exists. Hope you keep this going!
Hope you decide to do the Homunculi from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Knives from Trigun, or Vicious from Cowboy Bebop :)
"How are you feeling, Tetsuo ?"
"Fine, Unless i die of Boredom, Why dont you put on some music ? "
Im Tetsuo for real, Lifes feels bored without them music
I really need to read this manga.
It's been on my 'to do' list for about 10 years. 😁
Where can I get English coloured version ?
I think this one should definitely be on the "remastered video" list.