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Akira and the Peak of 80s Cyberpunk

Ts

(Romanian)

After 1987, it seems that “Science Fiction” cinema had reached the peak of the 80s, entering a kind of “preparation” period of the 90s…

But this perception does not mean that “Science Fiction” does not manifest itself significantly.

1988 is noted “from afar” by the animation “Akira”, a Japanese animated film that amplified the revolution of the cyberpunk genre, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture.

It is a complex work with a captivating story and stunning visual aesthetics, presenting a dystopian version of Tokyo in the year 2019, marked by violence, corruption, and psychic powers (which are central to the narrative line), a vision of the future that it influenced numerous other works of art and became a symbol of the cyberpunk genre.

As “overall” details, the animation is of exceptional quality, and the action scenes are full of energy and creativity, with the soundtrack helping to create an intense and memorable atmosphere.

In “conclusion,” Akira is not just an animated film but a true work of art that has influenced and will continue to influence generations of creators, and its legacy is felt in all forms of art and popular culture.

“Perceptible” influence in many animated and live-action films that borrowed visual, thematic, or narrative elements from Akira, such as films such as Ghost in the Shell (both the original version, the 1995 animation Kôkaku kidôtai, as well as the film version “Ghost in the Shell”, from 2017) and “The Matrix” (from 1999), which were influenced by Akira’s dystopian vision and exploration of themes of identity, reality, and technology.

In the anime world, Akira’s legacy is even more evident, with numerous series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion (the 1995–1996 series and its “follow-ups”) and Serial Experiments Lain (the 1998 miniseries) taking elements from the style visually, from the narrative complexity and exploration of Akira’s psychological themes.

Akira also deeply marked the video game industry, with games such as Metal Gear Solid and Cyberpunk 2077 borrowing elements from Akira’s cyberpunk universe as well as character and landscape designs.

In the world of comics, Akira inspired a new generation of authors who explored similar themes, comics such as Blade Runner and Transmetropolitan were influenced by Akira’s aesthetics and themes.

Even in the world of music, Akira left its mark, with many bands and artists taking inspiration from the film’s dark and futuristic atmosphere to create soundtracks and concept albums.

Otherwise, in the world of cinema, it is a year of “analysis” related to “alien” invasions or interactions.

We are talking about movies here:

• “The Blob”, is a modern reinterpretation of the 1950s horror classic (The Blob), with the Blob in this version being an extremely dangerous alien entity capable of adapting and growing at an alarming rate, and why not
• “Alien Nation”, is an interesting sci-fi film that combines elements of a crime thriller with an original science fiction premise, the action takes place soon, when aliens, called Newcomers, have been integrated into human society after a period of quarantine, a human detective is forced to work with an alien partner to solve a crime (quite similar to 2017’s Bright), or
• “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”, where a group of alien clowns lands in a small American town, intending to capture and turn people into ice cream, which they then consume, combining elements of horror and comedy uniquely, creating a macabre carnival atmosphere, full of bright colors and eccentric characters.

But in the world of “Science Fiction” TV series, 1988 is the year of the launch of “Red Dwarf” (which “reached” 75 30-minute episodes), a series that follows the adventures of Dave Lister, the only human survivor of a spaceship, Red Dwarf, that has been put into suspended animation for three million years.

Alongside him on a chaotic cosmic journey is a hologram of his deceased roommate, Arnold Rimmer, an intelligently evolved cat, and a malfunctioning robot, Kryten, “resulting” in a unique combination of absurd humor, memorable characters, and an original sci-fi premise…

And, also this year, we can discuss “Probe” (7 one-hour episodes), “Something is Out There” (1988–1989, 8 one-hour episodes), and “War of the Worlds” (1988–1990, 44 episodes of 45 minutes) …

In terms of video games, it was a landmark year for the video game industry, and the sci-fi genre began to make its mark on the imagination of gamers, beginning to take on a strong identity (although the graphics and complexity of today’s games are superior, the titles released that year laid the foundation for iconic franchises and introduced concepts that still fascinate today).

And we “discuss” about:

• Star Control (with a global “presence” only in 1990), considered by many to be one of the best space strategy games of all time, this video game puts us in the shoes of a captain exploring the galaxy, encountering various alien civilizations, being necessary to make decisions that will influence the fate of the galaxy (the game stood out for its complexity, excellent script, and a vast and captivating universe).
• Bionic Commando is an action platformer that puts you in the shoes of a bionic commando who uses an extendable arm to cling to various objects and eliminate his enemies (the game was known for its elevated level of difficulty and innovative level design).
• Phantasy Star II (released “globally” in 1989), the sequel to the famous Japanese RPG (Phantasy Star), took you on an epic adventure in a post-apocalyptic future, notable for its turn-based battle system, captivating story, and colorful graphics for that time, and
• Double Dragon II: The Revenge, a beat ’em up classic that puts you in the shoes of brothers Lee and Billy fighting to avenge their murdered friend, a game known for local co-op and intense fight sequences (something like Golden Axe, which was fantasy).

Finally, here are the main titles of “Science Fiction” literature from the year 1988:

• Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh is a complex and engaging science fiction novel, “set” in the Alliance-Union universe, exploring themes such as cloning, identity, loyalty, and genetic manipulation (the novel raising important questions about scientific ethics, genetic manipulation, and the consequences of technology on society), in a tense political and social context; the basis of the story is a complex political intrigue, involving assassinations, manipulation and the struggle for power in a society strongly influenced by genetic technology, one of the most important themes of the novel being cloning and its implications on identity, characters grappling with fundamental questions about what it means to be human and the nature of identity; the universe Cherryh has created is complex and detailed, with a layered society and rich history, the relationships between different social classes and interest groups being strained and full of conflicts; as “assets”, the characters in Cyteen are complex and difficult to categorize into simple “good or bad” categories, their motivations often being mixed, evolving throughout the story.
• Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card is the second novel in the series “The Tales of Alvin Maker”, representing a fascinating continuation of the adventures of Alvin, the seventh son of the seventh son, introducing us to an alternative America, where magic and technology coexist, and Alvin begins to discover his true potential; in this “part”, we witness Alvin’s growth and maturation as he better understands his powers and his role in the world, becoming a central figure in a world full of mystery and danger; the novel explores a fascinating world where magic and science coexists in a delicate balance (“describing” a highly detailed alternate world with a rich history and fascinating geography, the reader being transported to an America that could have been but wasn’t, exploring in depth the culture and Native American traditions, offering a unique perspective on American history, where Alvin, as a kind of Messiah for Native Americans, becomes a symbol of unity and hope), Alvin, with his unique powers, becoming a bridge between these two worlds, causing significant changes.
• Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold is “part” of the Vorkosigan Saga series, but with an independent story (a true adventure), exploring themes such as genetic engineering, ethics, interpersonal relationships (the theme of family and identity, asking questions about what it means to be part of a group and about how the past influences our present) and survival in an extreme environment (discussing issues such as the creation of genetically modified organisms, the ethics of these experiments and the long-term consequences), the action taking place in a low-gravity environment, which requires characters and technologies adapted to these conditions (giving the novel a unique atmosphere and creating interesting challenges for the characters); the characters are complex and multidimensional, and the relationships between them are strongly influenced by the environment they live in and the decisions they make, facing extreme challenges.
• Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling is a cyberpunk novel (published in 1988) that provides a vision of a near future dominated by global corporations and technology, exploring the consequences of this development, the action taking place in a highly interconnected world where computer networks play a role central to everyday life, exploring both the benefits and risks of this interconnectedness and society’s reliance on technology; the novel presents a world dominated by powerful global corporations (constituted as a critique of consumer society and materialism, presenting a world in which people are alienated from each other and dependent on material goods), which have control over the economy and, by implication, on people’s lives, corporations presented as main actors on the international political stage, influencing events at the global level, a central element being terrorism and information warfare (hackers and terrorists use technology to attack computer systems and destabilize society); Laura Webster, the protagonist of the novel, is a strong and intelligent woman who struggles to survive in a constantly changing world, becoming a kind of example of a woman who overcomes her limits and adapts to a constantly evolving reality.
• Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson is the third and final novel in the Sprawl trilogy, which continues the exploration of a world dominated by technology, giant corporations, and a ubiquitous virtual reality, continuing to explore the central themes of cyberpunk (technology as an extension of the self, virtual reality, powerful corporations, subcultures urban and social marginalization), where the boundaries between reality and the virtual world blur even more, and characters interact fluidly between the two worlds; the story follows the intersection of the lives of two women, Mona, a young woman with a mysterious past, and Angie Mitchell, a star of Sense/Net, who discovers special abilities, the plot is complex and full of twists and turns, with characters well-defined and memorable, facing dilemmas about their own identity and how they are perceived by others in the digital age; Gibson predicts a world where entertainment is personalized and interactive, and virtual reality offers unique sensory experiences.

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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