The third section of the archives is dedicated to the film's animation and production design. This includes concept art and model sheets for the film's iconic action sequences, as well as notes on the film's color palette and visual effects. This section provides a detailed look at the techniques and processes used to create the film's stunning animation.
The Archives catalog the horrifying design process of this sequence. We see the transition from Tetsuo’s human form to the "Great Tokyo Empire" monster. The sketches are visceral and clinical simultaneously; they treat the mutation not as a fantastical event, but as a biological disaster. The detailed notes on the transparency of the flesh, the mechanical wires intertwining with muscle, and the lighting effects of the laser satellite all demonstrate the peak of 1980s special effects animation. Access to these high-res pages allows animators to deconstruct how organic forms were merged with mechanical horror without the aid of CGI. Akira Animation Archives Pdf 11