{"product_id":"akira-1982-1993-original-spanish-promotional-poster-1993-size-68-x-87cm-copy","title":"“AKIRA \/ アキラ” (1993) – ORIGINAL SPANISH LARGE-FORMAT LICENSED ART POSTER – KATSUHIRO OTOMO \/ 1000 EDITIONS Rare Vintage Edition | Premium Canson Textured Art Paper | Officially Licensed by Kodansha | c. 68 × 87 cm (26.8 × 34.3 in) | Very Good+ \/ Excellent","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eA striking original \u003cstrong\u003e1993 licensed art poster\u003c\/strong\u003e featuring artwork by \u003cstrong\u003eKatsuhiro Otomo\u003c\/strong\u003e, published in Spain by \u003cstrong\u003e1000 Editions\u003c\/strong\u003e. The printed credits carry \u003cstrong\u003e©1993 MASH-ROOM Co., Ltd.\u003c\/strong\u003e and expressly state that the poster was \u003cstrong\u003eproduced under licence from Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo\u003c\/strong\u003e, preserving the publishing identity of this authorised period edition. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe artwork presents \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e through an extraordinary contrast of human vulnerability and architectural scale: \u003cstrong\u003eKaneda, dressed in red, stands amid broken concrete beneath a towering, damaged cityscape\u003c\/strong\u003e. The surrounding darkness and red-orange building façades create an atmosphere of unease, allowing the city itself to become as compelling as the figure within it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePrinted on \u003cstrong\u003epremium, thick, textured art stock\u003c\/strong\u003e, this edition has a distinctive tactile quality and a substantial presence. \u003cstrong\u003eThis is an original vintage licensed art print—not a theatrical-release poster or an original hand-drawn artwork.\u003c\/strong\u003e Its appeal lies in the combination of Otomo’s illustration, the large format and the character of its early-1990s publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOffered by \u003cstrong\u003eJapan Poster Shop\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ \/ Excellent condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, it is an impressive piece for collectors of \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e, manga illustration and vintage Japanese graphic art published internationally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eDate \u0026amp; Original Publication\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis poster belongs to the \u003cstrong\u003e1993 Spanish art-poster edition published by 1000 Editions\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose imprint identifies its location as \u003cstrong\u003eRasquera, Tarragona, Spain\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe lower portion carries the prominent \u003cstrong\u003e“AKIRA 1982–1993”\u003c\/strong\u003e designation, together with the MASH-ROOM copyright notice, Kodansha licensing statement and Otomo’s name in both Roman lettering and Japanese characters. These details distinguish the edition from an anonymous decorative print. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe date range also sits meaningfully within \u003cem\u003eAkira’s\u003c\/em\u003e publication history. \u003cstrong\u003eKodansha published the manga’s first chapter in 1982\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the sixth and final volume of the original Japanese collected edition appeared in \u003cstrong\u003e1993\u003c\/strong\u003e. The printed range therefore spans the work’s emergence and the completion of that collected edition; it should not be mistaken for the release date of the animated film. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe distinction is important: this is a Spanish-published, officially licensed art poster from 1993—not a Japanese first-release cinema poster from 1988.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Manga, Film \u0026amp; Their Place in Popular Culture\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA defining vision of the futuristic city—and the people overwhelmed by it.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eCreated by \u003cstrong\u003eKatsuhiro Otomo\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e established an extraordinarily detailed world of urban destruction, motorcycle gangs, experimental science and dangerous psychic power. Its setting, \u003cstrong\u003eNeo-Tokyo\u003c\/strong\u003e, is not merely a backdrop: the city’s density and instability are inseparable from the story. The manga became a lasting reference point for artists, writers and filmmakers, combining intricate drawing with forceful visual storytelling. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOtomo subsequently directed the animated adaptation himself, which opened in Japan on \u003cstrong\u003e16 July 1988\u003c\/strong\u003e. That direct connection between the manga’s creator and its cinematic interpretation makes \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e particularly significant as a work extending across both media. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis print foregrounds one of the work’s most compelling qualities: \u003cstrong\u003ethe relationship between a recognisable human figure and a built environment of overwhelming scale\u003c\/strong\u003e. Kaneda’s red clothing draws the eye, but the surrounding architecture refuses to remain secondary. Broken structures, deep shadows and towering façades make the city feel both immense and precarious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor collectors, the result is more than a familiar character image. It is a piece that conveys the atmosphere of \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e through \u003cstrong\u003espace, colour and architectural detail\u003c\/strong\u003e, making it especially effective as a standalone display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eDesign Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis is an atmospheric \u003cstrong\u003eKaneda-and-ruined-city composition\u003c\/strong\u003e, built around a dramatic contrast between the individual and his surroundings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKaneda amid the rubble:\u003c\/strong\u003e His red clothing establishes a concentrated focal point within the dark lower passages. His upward gaze draws attention beyond his immediate position, suggesting danger or spectacle elsewhere in the immense environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArchitecture as the dominant presence:\u003c\/strong\u003e The red-orange building rises above him in a dense arrangement of windows, structural divisions and damaged openings. In the foreground, fractured concrete and exposed metal interrupt the space, giving the scene depth and a convincing sense of physical weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA restrained, dramatic palette:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rust-red and orange tones emerge from charcoal, brown and muted violet shadows. Rather than relying on a bright, all-over colour scheme, the image uses concentrated illumination to establish its mood. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe premium textured stock:\u003c\/strong\u003e The substantial paper is an important part of this edition’s appeal. Its visible grain gives the printed image a tactile, art-paper finish, particularly noticeable across the darker passages. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe lower-margin design:\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003cstrong\u003eAKIRA\u003c\/strong\u003e title, \u003cstrong\u003eOTOMO KATSUHIRO\u003c\/strong\u003e lettering, Japanese name characters and intricate mechanical motifs form a carefully arranged publishing panel beneath the illustration. These are \u003cstrong\u003eprinted elements of the design.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAt this scale, the print rewards two kinds of viewing: the immediate impact of its ominous cityscape, and close examination of the small architectural details that make the setting persuasive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Large-Format Spanish Edition and Why It’s Hard to Find\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eMeasuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e68 × 87 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, this is a substantial \u003cstrong\u003eEuropean art-poster format\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than a standard Japanese B1 or B2 theatrical sheet. Its proportions and heavyweight Canson paper give it a distinct identity within an \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe collecting interest lies in the \u003cstrong\u003especific vintage edition\u003c\/strong\u003e, not simply in the availability of the underlying image. An original licensed publication from the early 1990s offers a different connection to \u003cem\u003eAkira’s\u003c\/em\u003e history from a newly produced decorative print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor an Otomo collection, it offers a rewarding alternative to theatrical advertising: \u003cstrong\u003ethe artwork presented as the principal subject, with the artist’s name and licensing information retained as part of the composition\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eAbout the Artist: Katsuhiro Otomo\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKatsuhiro Otomo \/ 大友克洋\u003c\/strong\u003e is both a manga artist and a filmmaker. He made his professional manga debut in \u003cstrong\u003e1973\u003c\/strong\u003e, with subsequent works including \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eDomu\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAkira\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e establishing his reputation. His move into animation culminated in directing the \u003cstrong\u003e1988 adaptation of his own manga\u003c\/strong\u003e, followed by other projects including \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteamboy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis illustration demonstrates the strength of his architectural imagination. Buildings are not vague scenery: their windows, surfaces, structural divisions and damaged edges make them feel constructed—and therefore capable of collapse. The figure within that environment remains expressive, but never escapes the pressure of the world around him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe composition is especially effective because it resists turning Kaneda into a conventional oversized promotional portrait. \u003cstrong\u003eHis relative smallness is the point.\u003c\/strong\u003e The city dominates, making the viewer look more closely to locate the human experience within it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor collectors interested in Otomo as an illustrator as well as a filmmaker, this is a particularly compelling aspect of the print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOverall presentation: \u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ \/ Excellent.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn attractive original example on \u003cstrong\u003epremium thick textured Canson art paper\u003c\/strong\u003e, with strong colour and an atmospheric printed image. The contrast between the red-orange architecture, darker surroundings and Kaneda’s clothing remains particularly effective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSurface and handling wear:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light surface marks, small handling impressions and paper undulations are visible on close examination. The broad dark passages show some fine scuffing, consistent with the stated vintage condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdges and corners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Localised edge wear and creasing are present. The reverse photographs show \u003cstrong\u003epaper abrasion near the upper edge\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with \u003cstrong\u003ea small puncture near an upper corner\u003c\/strong\u003e and some wear along the side edge. These details are included in the \u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ \/ Excellent\u003c\/strong\u003e assessment. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe print retains an impressive overall appearance, with the artwork remaining the clear focus. \u003cstrong\u003eIt is offered as a well-preserved vintage example with minor handling wear—not as a mint or flawless sheet.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthenticity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original \u003cstrong\u003e1993 Spanish licensed art-poster edition published by 1000 Editions\u003c\/strong\u003e, reproducing artwork by \u003cstrong\u003eKatsuhiro Otomo\u003c\/strong\u003e—\u003cstrong\u003enot a modern copy of this vintage edition\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication:\u003c\/strong\u003e Printed MASH-ROOM copyright and \u003cstrong\u003eKodansha licensing credit\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaper:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePremium Canson paper - thick textured art stock; unbacked.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDocumentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Please refer to the images provided—these show the \u003cstrong\u003eexact poster offered\u003c\/strong\u003e, including front and reverse details, and the poster you will receive. Additional imagery available on request.)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57297041981818,"sku":null,"price":985.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/man-looking-at-an-art-gallery-wall_14_af4d84a5-9683-47cb-b343-ac4a64abac9f.jpg?v=1790153476","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/akira-1982-1993-original-spanish-promotional-poster-1993-size-68-x-87cm-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}