One of the favorite cult anime classics is returning to select theaters in the form of the sci-fi classic AKIRA, courtesy of Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The classic anime will be featured in 4K and IMAX on September 4, 2026.

The 1988 Japanese anime was based on Katsuhiro Otomo’s 19982 manga. It earned over $80 million worldwide in home video sales and is widely known for its adult animation and Japanese cyberpunk. Some people credit the film with helping Western audiences grow to love anime culture.

Here’s the full synopsis:

Iconic and game-changing, AKIRA is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look into the future. AKIRA’s arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for future generations of ground-breaking movies.

July, 1988—World War III breaks loose. Then, in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo…

As the leader of a group of young robust delinquents, Kaneda spent his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy—the product of human experimentation—and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research facility. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…

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Katsuhiro Otomo also directed the anime film.

The film’s re-release in theaters will be featured in two versions: Japanese with English subtitles and English dub.

Reserve your tickets now for AKIRA on September 4 in the United States and Canada.

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Source: Crunchyroll