Akira
Japanese LaserDisc · SF070-1550
Exceptional archive significance: the original 1988 Japanese Laserdisc release of one of the defining works of cyberpunk animation, issued in the film's release year, with Katsuhiro Otomo jacket artwork, elaborate gatefold presentation, digital/analogue Dolby Surround audio and the original metallic OBI. The OBI's '200-cut complete retake / international film festival' messaging is itself a particularly strong period artefact.
Read the catalogue note →- Catalogue number
- SF070-1550
- Country
- Japan
- Publisher / label
- Laser Disc Co. Ltd. / Pioneer
- Format
- 12-inch NTSC CLV LaserDisc · 2-disc / 3-side set · letterboxed widescreen
- Video standard
- NTSC
- Discs
- 2
- Recorded sides
- 3 recorded sides
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85:1 letterboxed
- OBI
- EX- — fully intact and complete; slight natural lift/curl when unsupported
- Condition
- EX- overall · complete as photographed
- Completeness
- Complete as photographed: gatefold jacket, fully intact original metallic OBI, original insert, Disc 1 (Sides 1–2) and Disc 2 (Side 3 + unused reverse) all verified present.
Catalogue note
Exceptional archive significance: the original 1988 Japanese Laserdisc release of one of the defining works of cyberpunk animation, issued in the film's release year, with Katsuhiro Otomo jacket artwork, elaborate gatefold presentation, digital/analogue Dolby Surround audio and the original metallic OBI. The OBI's '200-cut complete retake / international film festival' messaging is itself a particularly strong period artefact.
Edition details
Original Japanese Laserdisc release, dated 15 December 1988. The front illustration/jacket design is by Katsuhiro Otomo. The metallic OBI promotes the 200-cut complete-retake / international-film-festival version. This edition predates the later Japanese Special Collection and the Criterion editions.
Condition note
Front and reverse jacket present very cleanly with only minor age/edge handling visible. Gatefold interior is exceptionally clean. Original metallic OBI is fully intact and complete; it naturally lifts/curls slightly when unsupported. Original insert appears EX. Disc 1 Sides 1 and 2 and Disc 2 Side 3 all appear EX visually with no obvious scratches; playback remains unverified.
Audio
Japanese Dolby Surround — digital | Japanese Dolby Surround — analogue
Subtitles
None
Why this object matters
The release-year Japanese LaserDisc preserves Akira's early home-video presentation, Otomo imagery and distinctive retake/festival OBI messaging with its documented components. The combination of publication state and the film's continuing cyberpunk significance sustains high Gold.
Evidence limits: No new physical inspection or collation was performed. Copy-specific conclusions remain limited to the retained catalogue and accession evidence.
Score and assessment method
Archive Importance: 9.6 / 10 · Gold Star.
This is a curatorial judgement, not a measurement accurate to one tenth or a market valuation. Read the explanation and its evidence limits together.
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