Skip to content 
July 14, 2026
·
0 comments
FIRST NEW WORLDWIDE PRINT IN DECADES: ON TOUR STARTING THIS SUMMER
★★★★★ – Total Movie ★★★★★ – The Guardian ★★★★★ – Get your comic
“Simply put, no AKIRA, no Matrix. It’s that important” – EMPIRE
“The history of contemporary popular culture is incomplete without it” – The times
Glasgow, United Kingdom, July 14 2026 – Anime Limited is excited to announce an unprecedented celebration of an influential masterpiece with an experience you can only find in theaters. After breaking records and becoming the highest-grossing classic release of the year, Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s groundbreaking akira returns in a new 35mm print hit from the 4K master – the first new print of the film created worldwide in decades. Premiered at BFI Southbank from August 14-19the new 35mm print will tour select theaters across the country throughout the year.
One of the most influential science fiction stories ever told. akira introduced anime to audiences in the United Kingdom and Ireland for the first time in 1991, and it remains a cultural milestone that captivates audiences to this day. Anime Limited is honored to continue its mission of championing exciting and innovative releases of original and fan-favorite anime.
“We are incredibly excited to bring AKIRA back in 35mm,” said Anime Limited Technical Director Robbie Duncan. “There’s something special about film running through a projector and there’s something special about AKIRA. I can’t wait for audiences to experience both and get a taste of what it was like to see them in 1988. I can’t thank our partners at The Cinema Printing Company (CPC London) and ORWO Studios enough for their expertise and extra effort to make AKIRA look its best.”
“Since its inception, Anime Limited has worked hard to earn the trust of valued partners to move into new and engaging areas to deliver the best experiences to audiences,” said Kerry Kasim, General Manager of Anime Limited UK & IRE. “The success of our recent theatrical re-release has demonstrated our ability to revitalize one of the most influential and iconic animated films. We were given free rein to create a different way for audiences to experience this film – a new 35mm print to tour the UK and Ireland – and we are delighted to be able to bring this fantastic way to see AKIRA in cinemas.”
Set in a neon-lit metropolis rebuilt from the ashes of World War III, akira It follows Kaneda and Tetsuo, two criminals and members of a motorcycle gang who collide with a secret government plot, resulting in an explosive and riveting animated masterpiece that would be widely regarded as “a vital cornerstone of the cyberpunk genre” (British Film Institute) Released in IMAX earlier this year, AKIRA broke all previous records by earning over £1 million at the UK and IRE box office, confidently proving that there is no better way to experience iconic films, new or old, than on the big screen.
Stay tuned for updates on when you can experience AKIRA in 35MM at a theater near you.
Synopsis:
Iconic and revolutionary, AKIRA is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk classic erased the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look to the future. The arrival of AKIRA broke traditional thinking and created space for future generations of innovative films.
July 1988: World War III breaks out. Then, in 2019, in the megalopolis of Tokyo…
As the leader of a group of young, rugged criminals, Kaneda spent his nights traversing the urban wastelands, racing his motorcycle against rival groups. One night, while traveling with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange child, a product of human experimentation, and is injured in the ensuing accident. Shortly after, a military squad appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo to an army research center. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army’s research laboratory. However, a regime of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…
He akira The 35mm print will be presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Japanese stereo audio and English subtitles. The print will premiere at London’s BFI Southbank from Friday August 14 until Wednesday the 19th, and will be on tour in select cities throughout the year.
For more informationplease contact Get publicity | Josh A. Stevens | josh@fetch.fm
Continue limited anime in Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | www.alltheanime.com
About limited anime:
Founded in 2012, Glasgow-based Anime Limited is a subsidiary of TOHO GLOBAL and represents the interests of Japanese animation in the UK, France and beyond. With a carefully curated selection of films, series and soundtracks, Anime Limited has earned the title of Europe’s favorite anime distributor. Whether through fan-focused cinema screenings, beautifully packaged collector’s editions, or sharing the best of anime music on vinyl, we offer personalized experiences for all fans of titles like Attack on Titan, BELLE, Cowboy Bebop, JUJUTSU KAISEN, Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece Film: RED, Spy x Family CODE: White, Your Name, and Weathering with You.
Tagged with: