AKIRA 4K IMAX Release Date (2026): Formats and What to Collect

AKIRA 4K IMAX Release Date (2026): Formats and What to Collect

AKIRA 4K IMAX release date confirmed for September 4, 2026

The AKIRA 4K IMAX release date is confirmed: Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment are bringing Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 cyberpunk landmark back to theaters across the United States and Canada on September 4, 2026. It screens in a 4K restoration, at select IMAX locations, in both original Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub.

Here is what North American fans need to know at a glance:

  • Date: Opens September 4, 2026. Some theaters list showtimes beyond opening day, so check local listings.
  • Where: United States and Canada.
  • Formats: 4K restoration in standard auditoriums, plus select IMAX screens.
  • Audio: Original Japanese with English subtitles, or the English dub.
  • Distributors: Crunchyroll with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

IMAX is limited to participating theaters, so screen counts and showtimes vary by city. If you want the largest-format presentation, confirm the format on your local box office page before buying, because not every location carries the IMAX version.

Nerdtropolis — AKIRA Returns to Theaters in 4K and IMAX This September
Image: Nerdtropolis - Movie News, Reviews, Interviews, and Trailers

What is actually new: the 4K restoration reaches North American IMAX

The print itself is not brand new. It is the same 4K restoration that first premiered in Japan in May 2020, then reached U.K. cinemas earlier in 2026. This September rollout is its wider North American IMAX debut. In other words, the news is the format and the reach: the biggest screens available, in 4K, for a film most Western fans have only ever seen on home video.

Run length has not been announced as a fixed engagement, and IMAX allocation is by location. Treat this as a limited window rather than an open-ended run, and buy early if a nearby IMAX screen is showing it.

OtakuKart — Akira Returns to U.S. and Canadian Theaters in IMAX and 4K This September
Image: OtakuKart

Why AKIRA still matters in 2026

AKIRA is the 1988 animated film that Katsuhiro Otomo directed from his own manga, which he began serializing in 1982. It opened in Japan on July 16, 1988, on a reported 700 million yen budget that made it one of the most ambitious anime productions of its era.

The story unfolds in Neo-Tokyo, a rebuilt megacity set in the year 2019, and follows biker-gang leader Shotaro Kaneda and his childhood friend Tetsuo Shima, who develops volatile psychic powers after a motorcycle crash. Kaneda's red motorcycle, with its long slide into frame, became one of the most recognizable images in all of anime and has been referenced endlessly ever since.

That influence is why the re-release is an event and not a curiosity. AKIRA is routinely credited with shaping how the world sees anime and the cyberpunk aesthetic, feeding later works from Ghost in the Shell to Cowboy Bebop to The Matrix. Decades on, anime's box-office standing has only grown: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle went on to become the highest-grossing anime film ever, a milestone that would have been hard to imagine when AKIRA first stunned Western audiences.

What AKIRA collectibles can you actually buy?

AKIRA has never had the wall-to-wall merchandise of a long-running shonen franchise, which is exactly why its figures are prized. The two pieces most collectors chase are a matched set from Bandai and Medicom's Project BM! line: a 1/6 Shotaro Kaneda figure and his motorcycle. Both were reissued in 2021 after their original 2010 runs.

Medicom Project BM! Shotaro Kaneda 1/6 figure

The AKIRA Kaneda figure from the Real Action Heroes line is a 1/6-scale piece standing roughly 30 cm, about 12 inches. It wears his signature faux-leather outfit and includes removable goggles that change the hairline, multiple interchangeable hands, a figure stand, and the ABS laser cannon with its shoulder-slung battery pack. At its June 2021 reissue it retailed for 24,800 yen, around 239 US dollars at the time.

Soul of Popynica Project BM! Kaneda's Bike

The AKIRA Kaneda motorcycle figure is the showpiece. The 1/6 Soul of Popynica model measures about 50 cm wide and is built from ABS, PVC, and die-cast metal. It has working front suspension, LED lighting, and engine and brake sound triggered by the accelerator and brake pedals, with an output port to route the audio through an external speaker. Roughly ten panels and cowls come off to reveal the mechanism, and it is scaled to pair with the RAH Kaneda figure. Its May 2021 reissue price was 59,400 yen, around 573 US dollars at the time.

Here is how the two compare:

Piece Scale Size Key features 2021 reissue price
RAH Kaneda figure 1/6 ~30 cm tall Faux-leather outfit, removable goggles, swap hands, laser cannon and battery pack 24,800 yen (~$239)
Kaneda's Bike (Soul of Popynica) 1/6 ~50 cm wide Die-cast body, LED lights, engine and brake sound, working suspension, removable panels 59,400 yen (~$573)

Both were limited reissues rather than open stock, so today they mostly circulate on the secondary market and prices move with demand. Akibato does not currently stock AKIRA figures, but it ships Japanese figures and collectibles worldwide, so if the re-release has you eyeing imports you can browse the full figure catalog Akibato sends from Japan.

How to buy AKIRA figures from Japan without getting burned

Because the Kaneda set is out of general production, importing carefully matters more than usual. A few ground rules:

  • Confirm the release. The pieces above are the 2010 originals and the 2021 Project BM! reissues. Match the box art and lot numbers before paying reissue-plus prices.
  • Watch for bootlegs. High-value AKIRA items get copied. Buy from sellers who show real photos and clear provenance, not stock renders.
  • Mind condition and box. For a die-cast display piece, an intact box and working electronics move resale value more than minor paint wear.
  • Budget for shipping and duties. A 50 cm die-cast motorcycle is heavy, so factor freight and any import tax into the true landed cost.

New to importing from Japan? Our primer on how to buy Japanese collectibles from outside Japan walks through proxy services, shipping, and what to expect on cost. The same logistics apply to figures, not just ichiban kuji.

Frequently asked questions

Is AKIRA showing in IMAX everywhere?

No. The 4K restoration plays broadly, but IMAX is limited to participating theaters. Check your local listings to confirm the format before you buy.

Is the re-release dubbed or subtitled?

Both. Screenings are offered in original Japanese with English subtitles and in an English dub; which one is available depends on the theater.

How big is the 1/6 Kaneda figure?

About 30 cm, or 12 inches, tall. The matching Kaneda motorcycle figure is roughly 50 cm wide at the same 1/6 scale, so plan shelf space for the pair.

How much did the Kaneda bike figure cost?

At its 2021 Soul of Popynica reissue it was 59,400 yen, around 573 US dollars. Secondary-market prices vary today and are often higher.

The bottom line

AKIRA on an IMAX screen in 4K is the rare chance to see a foundational anime the way almost no Western fan ever has. Quick recap:

  • AKIRA returns to U.S. and Canadian theaters on September 4, 2026 in 4K and select IMAX, subbed and dubbed, via Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures.
  • It is the 2020 4K restoration reaching North American IMAX for the first time, so treat it as a limited window rather than an open run.
  • The collectibles to know are the Project BM! 1/6 Kaneda figure and his die-cast motorcycle, both 2021 reissues now living on the secondary market.
  • Import carefully: verify the release, avoid bootlegs, and budget for freight on heavy die-cast pieces.

If the big-screen return sends you hunting Japanese collectibles, Akibato ships figures, gashapon, and kuji worldwide, so you can browse everything Akibato sends from Japan.

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