the aristocrats otherworldly adventure serving gods who go too far
had scheduled the film for release on May 21, 2021,[114] and filming was planned to
start in California in July 2019. [115] However, Warner Bros. put the work on indefinite hold just prior to filming as Waititi had chosen to first direct Thor: Love and Thunder, the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok, which he had also directed. [116] Legacy[edit] Further information: Akira (franchise) and Akira (manga) § Legacy Akira is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated movies of all time and prompted an increase in popularity of anime movies in the US and, generally, outside Japan. It is still admired for its exceptional visuals. In Channel 4's 2005 poll of the 100 greatest animations of all time featuring both film and television, Akira came in at number 16. [117] On Empire magazine's list of the 500 greatest movies of all time, Akira is number 440. [118] It showed again on Empire's list of The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema, coming in at No. 51. [119] IGN also named it
14th on its list of Top 25 Animated Movies of All-
Time. [120] The Akira anime also made Time magazine's list of top 5 anime DVDs.
Through Ledo, the venture acquired Kawasaki's 81. 25% stake in SNK Playmore for $63. 5 million. The reason given for the acquisition was to gain rights to SNK Playmore's intellectual property, and further develop them by following Marvel Entertainment's
approach to
mass media. The joint venture planned to integrate games, comics, film, and television in a media franchise. [47][48] With the purchase completed, SNK Playmore signaled a shift in the company's strategy, which had previously been focused more on the production of pachislot and mobile games than its traditional area, console and arcade games.
Guts, having spent a year training to become a better swordsman, is warned by a mysterious being known as the "Skull Knight" that his actions have instigated an "Eclipse". Learning of the Hawks' predicament, Guts rejoins them to rescue Griffith, while he and
Casca consummate their feelings for each other. Despite a successful rescue while fleeing to Midland’s borders, the Hawks learn Griffith has become
physically incapable to lead them due to his torture as they, Casca, and Guts determine how to proceed. When Griffith regains his Behelit while injuring himself during a solar eclipse, the pendant uses his blood to establish a temporary convergence of the physical world and the supernatural astral realm in the form of a hellscape. The Hawks encounter a quartet of archdemons known as the "Godhand" who have gathered for a ritual known as the Eclipse, revealing that Griffith has been chosen to become their final member and can only transcend his humanity if he offers his comrades as sacrificial offerings. Griffith accepts once reminded of the person he has always been. The Hawks are branded with demonic sigils, marking them for sacrifice and are subsequently slaughtered by the Godhand's Apostles—humans like Zodd who attained power by sacrificing their loved ones and humanity. Only Guts and Casca survive the massacre, but Griffith's first act as the fifth Godhand Femto is to rape Casca in front of Guts, with an enraged Guts losing his left forearm and right eye in his attempt to save her. They are rescued by the Skull Knight, but the ordeal traumatizes Casca enough to regress her mind to a childlike state. Guts learns from the Skull Knight that their "Brands of Sacrifice" makes them targets for specters and other beings of darkness on a nightly basis. Guts leaves Casca in the care of the blacksmith Godo, his adoptive daughter Erica, and Rickert, the last and youngest member of the Band of the Hawk, who survived by not being present at the Eclipse.
