Japanimation is often perceived in America as being gratuitously gory, having characters that make wacky facial expressions and noises, and as being generally just bizarre in concept. Akira is no different, but in the right time and place, it proves to be a truly mind-bending experience.

A few weeks ago, I hesitantly took a friend's advice to watch this film, unsure of what to expect. Like much of America, I was skeptical of this foreign genre. Within 15 minutes, I realized I was watching the right film to desensitize me to the world of anime.

Released in 1988, Akira takes place in what at first appears to be a post-nuclear war Tokyo. The city is overrun by motorcycle gangs but is slowly on its way to recovery under strict military control.

Two of the gang members are Tetsuo and Kaneda, teen rebels without a cause. Their relationship is the only trite aspect of the film, with a frustrated Tetsuo always being helped out by the more powerful and mature Kaneda.

Things begin to get strange when Tetsuo is abducted by a secret military organization after encountering a strange looking boy during a motorcycle chase. Any description of the plot must stop here, as the rest of the film turns into a wild and engaging trip that will leave your head spinning even after its extraordinary conclusion.

One strong recommendation is to see this film subtitled rather than dubbed.

It takes a little more work on the part of the viewer, but few foreign films can be truly appreciated unless watched in their native tongues.

Viewers will more than likely have to rewind a few times to catch all the magnificent visuals, but it's well worth the extra effort.

The animation may be nearly 15 years old, yet it still manages to knock just about anything we've seen here in America out of the water. Created before the use of digital or computer-rendered animation, Akira brings astounding hand-drawn images to the screen that will keep your eyes on edge for the full length of the film. From the futuristic Blade Runner-esque cityscapes of Tokyo to the explosions that rock the city later on in the film, the animation could easily teach American animators a thing or two even today.

Admittedly, this film isn't for everyone. It may come off as relatively bizarre to those accustomed to traditional American animation. Unlike most of American animated features, Japan's Akira leaves you with only hints as to what the final minutes of the movie mean.

However, for anime virgins interested in expanding their cinematic horizons, Akira still has enough thrilling visuals, excitement and plot twists to keep an open-minded American more than enthralled.