Kaneda’s iconic red bike from Akira has now officially become a reality thanks to Barcelona artisans. Since its first animated appearance in 1988, the bike has been adored by anime fans as one of the most interesting vehicles to be dreamed up. While the bike has been reproduced before, this will be the first time customers will be able to buy one, rather than painstakingly build one from scratch.
The reproduction is the work of Bel and Bel, a studio that upcycles vehicle parts. However, their expertise with cars and bikes extends past static pieces, as they have experience creating vehicles inspired by various anime franchises, with Kaneda’s bike being their latest endeavor.
The bike is no toy either, with revealed statistics promising a robust bike that’s able to do everything promised during its appearance in the film. Interestingly, a version of Kaneda’s bike was supposed to appear in the live-action Akira movie, a project that has however been postponed and held off for a long time.
Kaneda’s Bike Is Worthy of Any Street, Present Or Future
Original film produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
Originally reported by news sites like Forbes and StartupSelfie, the reproduction is priced at 24,000 Euros, roughly $26,000 in USD. It is built around a metal chassis with fiberglass and carbon fiber. As an electric vehicle, it runs on a 72-volt, 5,000-watt engine that will supposedly give it an acceleration of 100 km/h (62mph) within six seconds, and a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). It will also boast LED lighting on the rims, a digital control panel similar to the anime’s bike, and a pop-up headlight. It certainly is no pale imitation.
Bel and Bel was founded by Carles and Jesus Bel in 2005, and started out building artworks and furniture from vehicle parts. Their catalog has since expanded to include custom bikes, including imitations of Dragon Ball‘s monowheel and Capsule No. 9. Their Akira reproduction is their first to be sold commercially to others. Kaneda’s bike, being so iconic, has been custom-built by fans in the past. However, these were personal, one-off projects. Bel and Bel’s version changes things by providing a recreation that can be built and ordered on demand.
Owning Kaneda’s bike has been a fantasy for many ever since it slid onto the screen in the movie’s opening. This is also a major change in strategy for Bel and Bel, since they are going all in on anime merchandise, rather than merely name-dropping inspirations. Electric vehicles are a growing market, and Kaneda’s bike is a perfect fit for it, with the movie visibly showing sparks discharging from between the wheels and rims. Bel and Bel is currently working on two orders, so it is safe to say that love for Akira and its legendary bike remains alive and well.
Sources: Forbes, StartupSelfie
Akira is available on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
Watch on Crunchyroll
