Set in 2030, Neo-Tokyo is recovering from World War III, and teenage delinquents Kaneda and Tetsuo encounter a telekinetic child, Number 26, leading to Tetsuo's transformation into a powerful and violent being. As Tetsuo's powers grow, he becomes a threat, prompting Kaneda and a resistance group to confront him while uncovering the secrets of a government project involving another powerful entity, Akira. The story unfolds with themes of power, madness, and the consequences of unchecked abilities in a dystopian world.