Human Experiments
The film is set 31 years after WW3, and in a new Tokyo. The old Tokyo was destroyed by a government experiment on human beings called Akira. The experiment caused an atomic explosion that destroyed Tokyo and the consequences of that experiment are still affecting the society.
Friendship
Kaneda and Tetsuo's friendship is a major theme in the movie. Kaneda feels obligated to stop and kill Tetsuo as he loses control. This then turns into an attempt to save his friend and Kaneda even enters the deadly sphere of energy in a final attempt save him.
Becoming Independent
Tetsuo in the beginning is told that he is too weak to handle the advanced motor bike that Kaneda has. He then tries to become independent and every time someone tries to help him, he rebuffs their help and tries to do it on his own. This changes in the end as he realizes he needs a friend and he then calls out to Kaneda.
