Lots of "Akira" news coming out of the Anime Expo in Los Angeles

Katsuhiro Otomo, who directed the 1988 film "Akira" and created the original manga that inspired it, announced he will also direct a new anime series that will be a continuation of the steampunk cult classic.

And there will be a 4K remastering of the 1988 film. It will be released Japan in April 2020. We assume it will also be released internationally at a later date.

The new series will be produced by Bandai Namco's Sunrise, although no other details were mentioned.

Otomo is also working on "Orbital Era," his third anime feature. According to the project's website, it will be set "in the near future on a space colony under construction," and be "an action-adventure story of some boys in this peculiar environment and society who keep living their lives while they're being tossed about by fate."

Also look for a "Complete Works" collection chronicling his career since 1971. It will be released by Akira publisher Kodansha.

And, of course, the live-action Hollywood remake of "Akira" is finally happening with director Taika Waititi. It's set for release in May 2021.

[Via THR]