Akira Budget
AnimationScience FictionAction2h 4mUpdated
Synopsis
2019. 31 years after being destroyed during World War 3, Tokyo (now 'Neo-Tokyo') has been rebuilt and is a thriving metropolis. Shotaro Kaneda is the leader of a biker gang. His friend Tetsuo is injured in an accident and taken to a top-secret government facility. He develops telekinetic powers but decides to use them for evil rather than good. He has the same powers as Akira, the force that destroyed Tokyo in 1988, and now it appears that history will repeat itself.
What is the budget of Akira?
"Akira," a animation released in 1988, was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and stars Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki. The production budget was $5,700,000, placing it in the low-budget range for animation productions of the 1980s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a animation production like this include:
- Animation Production Pipeline: The bulk of an animated film's budget funds the multi-year production pipeline: storyboarding, character modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
- Voice Talent: Celebrity voice casting has become standard for studio animation, with A-list actors earning $5 to 15 million for voice roles.
- Music, Songs & Sound Design: Original songs and orchestral scores are central to animated storytelling. Sound design for animated worlds must be created entirely from scratch.
- Production: While working on the Akira manga, Katsuhiro Otomo did not intend to adapt the series; however, he became "very intrigued" when the offer to develop his work for the screen was put before him.
What were the major cost factors in Akira?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Akira."
- Animation Production Pipeline: Animation Production Pipeline is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
- Voice Talent: Voice Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
- Music: Music, Songs & Sound Design is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
How Does Akira's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $5,700,000, Akira sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019): Budget $5,740,000, Worldwide Gross $9,923,127
- Planet of the Apes (1968): Budget $5,800,000, Worldwide Gross $32,589,624
- The Sting (1973): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $159,616,327
- Show Dogs (2018): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $38,830,219
- 47 Meters Down (2017): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $62,198,461
The median budget for wide-release animation films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Akira Box Office Performance
"Akira" earned $1,114,009 domestically and $49,000,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $5,700,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Akira," that break-even threshold was roughly $11,400,000. With worldwide earnings of $49,000,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $5,700,000
- Worldwide Gross: $49,000,000
- Net Return: $43,300,000
- ROI: approximately 759.6%
At 759.6%, "Akira" earned roughly $8.6 for every $1 invested in production.
Akira Production History
AKIRA: Original Soundtrack (Symphonic Suite AKIRA) was recorded by Geinoh Yamashirogumi (芸能山城組). The music was composed and conducted by musical director Shōji Yamashiro (pseudonym of Tsutomu Ōhashi), and performed by the collective Geinoh Yamashirogumi. It features music that was additionally re-recorded for release.
Awards and Recognition
1 win total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Akira (1988)?
The production budget was $5,700,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $2,850,000 - $4,560,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $8,550,000 - $10,260,000.
How much did Akira (1988) earn at the box office?
Akira grossed $1,114,009 domestic, $47,885,991 international, totaling $49,000,000 worldwide.
Was Akira (1988) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $5,700,000 and estimated total costs of ~$14,250,000, the film earned $49,000,000 theatrically - a 760% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Akira?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama); multi-year animation production, celebrity voice talent, and original musical compositions.
How does Akira's budget compare to similar animation films?
At $5,700,000, Akira is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release animation films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, $5,740,000); Planet of the Apes (1968, $5,800,000); The Sting (1973, $5,500,000).
Did Akira (1988) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for Akira?
The theatrical ROI was 759.6%, calculated as ($49,000,000 − $5,700,000) ÷ $5,700,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Akira (1988) win?
1 win total.
Who directed Akira and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, written by Izo Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Otomo, shot by Katsuji Misawa, with music by Shoji Yamashiro, edited by Takeshi Seyama.
Where was Akira filmed?
Akira was filmed in Japan. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Akira
Official Trailer
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
