AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Book Review

Posted By yonghow on June 8th, 2023

TLDR : Vol 2 is just as good as Vol 1. Get it !

Note : If you haven’t read my review for Vol 1 ( with suggestions on how to best enjoy the contents as an animation flip-book ), go here.

After a fairly substantial delay of more than a month ( due to the complicated printing process ), Vol 2 of the AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames book was finally released on May 17th 2023. Running at a sumptuous 710 pages, this book is even thicker than the voluminous Vol 1 by 60 pages, and covers genga ( key animation drawings ), layout and hi-quality reproduction anime cels of select shots from around the 2nd act of Katsuhiro Otomo’s magnum opus animated film AKIRA. A third volume ( release date as yet unannounced ) is also on the way.

Release date delay notwithstanding, Vol 2 boasts the same excellence in technical quality as Vol 1, with the showcased genga drawings and layouts looking extremely crisp and clean and not unlike seeing the original pieces up-close. The featured hi-quality reproduction cels, printed on glossy plastic film and split into different layers look absolutely stellar as well.

Although AKIRA is an adrenaline packed movie from start to end, act 2 includes some of my favorite scenes including Kaneda’s attempted rescue of Tetsuo at the Baby Room as well as the latter’s rampage across Neo-Tokyo as his psychic powers grow, and many of the art work and drawings from these sequences are found in this book.

AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Book Review 大友克洋全集レビュー

Currently writing the book review for AKIRA Layouts & Keyframes Vol 2 ( https://t.co/23TQewnjjW ), and yes, this is me now just realizing that the mural in the Baby Room is a foreshadowing of Akira's return at the end of the film. Friggin' Otomo ??? – pic.twitter.com/iJ77Lpiie7

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) June 5, 2023

AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Book Review 大友克洋全集レビュー

I had very little doubt that this 2nd volume would suffer any drop in quality from Vol 1, and the publisher Kodansha has certainly delivered yet another winner. This book needs a rightful place on the shelf of any AKIRA fan and comes very highly recommended. Next up, Vol 3 !

“AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 ( Otomo Complete Works ) 大友克洋全集” art book details :

Dimensions – 6.97 x 1.38 x 9.76 inches
Softcover with dust jacket, 710 pages
Full color with select pages of reproduction anime cel printed on glossy plastic sheet, In Japanese language

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Posted in Animation, Anime, Book Reviews, Filmmaking, Manga/comics

6 Responses to “AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Book Review”

Will
June 8th, 2023 at 5:02 am

Any risk of these actually selling out before Volume 3 is released? With high cost to ship internationally, I’m thinking of waiting until I can buy the complete set.

yonghow
June 8th, 2023 at 5:09 am

Will – I’m getting the feeling Kodansha has learned their lesson since Vol 1 and have printed more stock this time round, but that’s just my guess !

March
June 8th, 2023 at 6:57 am

I hope the cels in these books last longer than my production cel … Which has severely faded despite my best efforts. Sorry Doctor Onishi.

Also I struggled to work out how the fold-out sections worked. Take my advice and be patient – don’t force it or you will rip them!

Chris
June 8th, 2023 at 12:17 pm

I have my copy of volume 2 now as well. These really are incredible productions. Can’t wait for volume 3 to come out.

Pas
June 8th, 2023 at 4:48 pm

@Will : if you ultimately plan on ordering them from amazon, in my experience it makes no difference whether you order one or three books, shipping costs will remain the same per copy and add up, there’s unfortunately no shipping discount for ordering more.

Beautiful new volume as usual, thanks for keeping your reviews coming yonghow!

yonghow
June 9th, 2023 at 4:11 am

March – I was just having the same conversation the other day with a friend who has a good collection of cels and how they are fading out. Good news is the cels in this book are actually painted with the same kind of inks, so hopefully they last longer !

Chris – Same ! :]

Pas – Thanks for the support !