How different are the manga and movie versions of Akira?


After seeing the _Akira_ [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094625/)
(directed by Otomo Katsuhiro) I later found out about the existence of the
manga series on which it had been based.

Is the movie adaptation faithful to the manga, with only minor variations? Or
will I get a lot more detail from the story by reading the manga (and if so,
just how much more)?

Basically, **how different are the manga and movie versions of _Akira_?**




The manga is totally more extensive. The movie is generally based on the
manga, and follows the same characters and themes, but severely shortens it
(the end of the manga has "suffered" most). The film's makers didn't have much
choice though: the manga is over 2000 pages long, so of course the movie lost
some background.

There is a discussion on this matter on
[myanimelist](http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=4829). It is mentioned
there that the movie covers the beginning and the very end of the manga,
leaving behind some background and side-stories. The manga has a vaster range
of characters, side-plots, and covers a larger timespan.




The manga is totally more extensive. The movie is generally based on the
manga, and follows the same characters and themes, but severely shortens it
(the end of the manga has "suffered" most). The film's makers didn't have much
choice though: the manga is over 2000 pages long, so of course the movie lost
some background.

There is a discussion on this matter on
[myanimelist](http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=4829). It is mentioned
there that the movie covers the beginning and the very end of the manga,
leaving behind some background and side-stories. The manga has a vaster range
of characters, side-plots, and covers a larger timespan.

