Initially Tetsuo is just a regular member of a biker gang: young, rebellious and with a point to prove. However, since the first time Kaneda helped him out in school, Tetsuo has felt as if he has been living in his friend’s shadow. Though Kaneda wants nothing more than to help his beloved friend, Tetsuo views every act of selflessness as further proof that everyone views him as a little kid. Over time this resentment grows and stirs with Tetsuo until he eventually refuses to be helped by anyone. Following his fateful meeting with Takashi, Tetsuo is taken in by the army and subjected to all kinds of intrusive tests. As new thoughts and powers race through his mind, Tetsuo is unable to control the energy that he now wields and seeks only to discover the truth about Akira and challenge whatever he finds.

Almost a loveable rogue, Kaneda is the leader of a small biker gang and Tetsuo’s friend and guardian. Ever since helping him with bully problems in school, Kaneda has always had his friend’s back and made sure he has stayed out of harms way. Even when Tetsuo clearly wishes to be allowed to fight his own battles Kaneda still dismisses him as a child and this only serves to infuriate him further. When his friend is abducted by the military, Kaneda begins a frantic hunt to discover his location and make a rescue attempt. Sadly, the power that overwhelms Tetsuo seems to be too much and the two friends quickly turn into enemies.

While being interrogated by the military after Tetsuo’s abduction, Kaneda comes across this out of place looking girl. After making the officers release her along with his gang, Kaneda begins to follow Kei around, seemingly harbouring some feelings for her. Kei is in fact an active member of an anti-government group that has been at the centre of many terrorist attacks. After learning of Tetsuo’s predicament, Kei and her fellow rebels help Kaneda to find his friend and try to save him from the military. When the final moments come it is up to Kei and Kaneda to stop Tetsuo.

The Colonel is the head of the military in Neo Tokyo and the man behind the Akira Project. His tall stature suits his authoritative nature and he often uses this imposing look to best advantage. Though he wishes to see the completion of the Akira project, he is not quite so determined as the scientists who will go to extreme measures to achieve their goal. He cares deeply about the welfare of the other test subjects and makes sure they are taken care of. After Tetsuo unleashes his power, the Colonel attempts to save the others and is willing to sacrifice his own life to do it.

Akira is a child, long dead, who showed incredible telekinetic abilities, far beyond those of the other test subjects. It is Akira’s brain waves that are compared to Tetsuo’s by the scientists of Neo-Tokyo as they search to find this same power again. All that remains of Akira is locked away in a high security vault deep inside a military installation in the city. Not knowing much about Akira, Tetsuo makes his way to the installation, wishing to challenge the boy with his incredible new powers. Akira is also the cause if more than just a continuing series of tests, as it was his incredible energy that destroyed Neo Tokyo.