Akira Library

Some of the most admired illustrators and comics artists in the world have come together to pay tribute to Akira masterpiece, in a beautiful tribute art book.

This 168-page collection began life as a limited-edition tribute to Otomo given only to attendees of the prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival, where Otomo was recipient of the Grand Prize in 2015. Now it's available to readers and collectors around the world, with additional content from a list of more than 80 fine artists, illustrators, and comics legends.

An all-new, complete 35th anniversary hardcover box set of one of the most acclaimed and influential comics of all time, with the original Japanese art and right-to-left reading format for the first time! The science fiction epic that changed anime and manga forever is presented in six beautiful hardcover volumes, plus the hardcover Akira Club art book and an exclusive patch with the iconic pill design.

Akira is widely considered to be a pinnacle of the form - a work of astonishing power and visionary scope, with unsurpassed artistry. Featuring more than 100 full-colour, full-size title-page illustrations not included in the original manga reprints, as well as rarely seen alternate art, preliminary sketches, production drawings and a variety of posters, advertisements and products - all accompanied by commentary from Otomo himself - "Akira Club" is the ultimate companion to Otomo's masterpiece!

This book is the first of a two-volume compilation of the vast amount of storyboards drawn by Otomo himself during the production of Akira anime. Originally published in two volumes by Young Magazine's editorial department in 1988, it went out of print shortly after release and became a long-sought-after rare item. Now, it is finally being reprinted as the first title in the first phase of the “Katsuhiro Otomo Complete Works” series. This marks its first standalone release in over 30 years.

This book approaches Katsuhiro Otomo's work from a philosophical-religious point of view, based on three fundamental concepts: King, Priest, and Prophet, offices through which, according to the Old Testament, God made his will known, in addition to governing and shepherding his people. Through this perspective, the author reflects on the film's plot, characters, and icons, without neglecting the historical context of its production and the fascinating mind behind the film.

AD 2019: The year the world caught up to AKIRA. Two years before this milestone, author Katsuhiro Otomo worked with artist Kosuke Kawamura to enrobe a Tokyo city block in a collage of gripping moments from the manga that revolutionized an art form. Then, over the next two years, he did it twice more. The result: three electifying compilations of Otomo's art, meandering across the city.

The subtitle of this book says it all: "How Katsuhiro Otomo’s Vision Redefined Animation and Global Cinema". You'll find not only a review, but a complete journey into the heart of our beloved anime. Discover the revolution that transformed anime and its perception for Western audiences forever, the symbolism behind the decaying metropolis, the tragic fate of Tetsuo Shima... And understand why Akira remains a timeless force of rebellion, rebirth, and relevance.

This book exclusively features more than 150 Posters all of which use Otomo's great illustration works. All posters are finely finished by professional graphic designers, so that this title includes a variety of great hybrid works of Otomo's illustrations and professional graphic design works. Roughly half of inclusive works are the posters of his movies such as Akira, Steamboy or Short peace, while the rest of the works consist of various advertisements. Special bilingual (Jpn/Eng) interview with Otomo and a graphic designer is also included in the last pages.

The Akira Book is a complete critical study which includes chapters on: Katsuhiro Otomo’s other manga and movies; his inspirations and influences; the contemporary anime industry; and a section of the views of critics and fans. Every aspect of the Akira movie is explored (animation, sound, music, voices, story, themes, etc). Fully illustrated, including many images of the Akira movie, the Akira manga, Otomo’s other works in comics and cinema, inspirations, etc.

This is a book about the genius Japanese artist Katsuhiro Otomo. Best-known for the Akira manga of 1982-90 and the Akira movie of 1988, Otomo is also an all-round artist who writes fiction, writes and directs short and feature movies, produces commercial art, and design projects. Among Otomo’s works are the movies Steamboy, Mushishi, Metropolis, Memories and Roujin Z, and manga such as Domu, The Legend of Mother Sarah, Hansel and Gretel and Sayonara Japan. The works of Otomo have been celebrated with awards - he won the Kodansha Comic-Strip Award in 1984 for Akira, and the Science Fiction Grand Prix Award in 1983 for Domu.

A global manga phenomenon in the early 1990s, Akira is a futuristic depiction with apocalyptic elements set in a Neo-Tokyo on the brink of civil war. Katsuhiro Otomo's work is a graphical and narrative treasure trove, confronting the revolutionary views of a disillusioned youth with the danger of scientific progress spiraling out of control.

This book provides the social and historical context of Katsuhiro Otomo's manga, which is reflected in its themes, and is intended to help the Western reader get a better grasp of this major Japanese comic book's essence.