For the opening of AKIRA the camera moves in on this aerial view of Tokyo and pans up from the bottom of the artwork. At about half way through the title »1988.7.16 TOKYO« is superimposed on the background which marks both the beginning of the movie's plot and the date of the film's theatrical release in Japan. Centered in the shot, we see a cluster of skyscrapers, which is the Shinjuku subcenter of Tokyo. Something of mystic power explodes around Mitaka City, just behind Shinjuku. The blast illuminates the entire city in a harsh glare and then expands toward the viewer, sweeping away the city, until the light fills the frame.

Although this is the first cut of the film, the background was drawn as the last piece of the production by art director Toshiharu Mizutani. Takashi Watabe, one of the most prolific concept and layout designers, prepared the layout. Usually the layout drawing would be transferred to the background paper but, because time was running out, Mizutani painted directly on the layout. Remaining details of the Watabe's  pencil drawing can still be seen towards the outer areas of the coloured background. It took the art director two and a half days and nights to finish this oversized piece.