In the 21st Century, Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes of a Tokyo obliterated by a monstrous psychokinetic power known only as Akira, a being who yet lives, secretly imprisoned in frozen stasis. Those who stand guard know that Akira's awakening is a terrifying inevitability. Tetsuo, an angry young man with immense-and rapidly growing-psychic abilities, may be their only hope to control Akira when he wakes.

But Tetsuo is becoming increasingly unstable and harbours a growing obsession to confront Akira face to face.