The Best Instances Of The Akira Slide In Media

Key Takeaways

• The Akira Slide has been recreated across various media, from Sonic to Star Wars, showcasing its enduring impact.
• In modern pop culture, the Akira Slide continues to blend seamlessly into action scenes, becoming a familiar yet subtle reference.
• It’s subtle enough that it’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

The Akira Slide is one of the most iconic action moves in anime. In fact, this motorcycle slide has had such an impact on pop culture that it has been infinitely recreated and referenced in other anime, cartoons, and live-action films.

With so many versions of the Akira Slide out in the wild, there are quite a few worth mentioning across all mediums. While many references go for the usual motorcycle, there are some that get more creative with their tribute to Akira. From live-action video game adaptations to worldwide phenomenon, here are ten of the best Akira Slide references.

10

Sonic 3

Shadow’s Smooth Moves

Shadow the Hedgehog was initially presented as a cooler and darker version of Sonic. He can ride a motorcycle and use guns with a plot revolving around him possibly being bad to the bone.

The Akira slide strikes again in the third installment of the Sonic movie franchise. This is when Shadow the Hedgehog does his own Akira slide on his motorcycle. Sonic’s rival has never looked better, and he strikes one of the coolest poses in anime history.

9

Nope

The Show Must Go On

Seeing the Akira Slide in Nope is proof that as more time goes by, those familiar with anime will infiltrate modern media production. At the end of the film, Em performs a live-action Akira Slide as she rides her motorcycle away from the creature, Jean Jacket.

This is also one of those depictions where the Akira Slide will blend in with the action so well that you may not even notice it the first time you watch the film. It’s a sneaky little reference hidden in plain sight.

8

The Clone Wars

Two Geek Cultures Collide

Star Wars is one of the pillars of Sci-fi culture, with almost everyone knowing the names of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. So it is only natural that with all the films, spinoffs, and animated series, there would be a chance to squeeze in an Akira Slide.

This one can be found in the original Clone Wars series as a young Obi-Wan uses a speeder to make a dramatic stop after engaging in combat with a droid. With an ignited lightsaber in hand, the Akira Slide has never looked cooler.

7

Carmen Sandiego

Carmen Hot In Pursuit

The Akira Slide may change appearance and even style with every single reference made to it in pop culture. However, it always looks best in red. The Carmen Sandiego reboot has an Akira Slide that goes perfectly with her red attire and bike.

Having been trained on Vile Island to be a master thief, Carmen is skilled at all sorts of shady practices, such as making the perfect getaway and pursuing her targets. As Carmen tries to steal a car, she chases the sports vehicle up a garage. Before she catches up to it, though, it vanishes. This leads her to make a puzzled but very cool-looking Akira Slide to investigate the matter.

6

Batman The Animated Series

The Boy Wonder Knows How To Slide

Batman The Animated Series is a masterpiece of animation. It captures the brooding nature of Gotham’s greatest hero while also allowing the boy wonder to get his own time to shine. In the episode “Robin’s Reckoning,” the criminal responsible for the death of Robin’s parents is discovered.

This leads to Robin trying to get revenge. As the lines between justice and vengeance blur, Robin goes all out as he chases down his man. As he finally corners him on the dock, he performs the Akira Slide before hopping off the bike and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

5

Adventure Time

Marceline Shows Her Wild Side

Adventure Time grew to become something much bigger than it started off as. With Finn maturing from a battle-crazy ten-year-old to an adult who has grown from his mistakes, there are plenty of little nods to pop culture scattered around the post-apocalyptic world of Ooo.

In one of the earlier episodes where Finn tries to go to the movies with Marceline, they go running with wolves. Running on all fours, Marceline performs the Akira Slide to bring herself to a screeching halt. Having fun being feral, no motorcycle was needed for this trick.

4

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Bonds Beyond Time

A Trip Back In Time

One of the biggest events in Yu-Gi-Oh! history occurred during the 5Ds era of the game. In this movie, all three protagonists share the same screen as the evil Paradox travels through time, stealing some of the greatest ace Monsters.

This leads to Yusei teaming up with Jaden as they use his motorcycle to go back in time where they meet Yugi. As they arrive in the past, Yusei performs an Akira Slide to bring his motorcycle to a halt.

3

Pokemon

Officer Jenny On The Case

With over 1,000 episodes of Pokemon, there is bound to be at least one where they reference the Akira Slide. Who else to do it but Officer Jenny herself? However, if you’re trying to get to this scene in order, you’ll have to go 581 episodes deep to get there.

Chases ensue, Pokemon are stolen and retrieved, and Pikachu ends up briefly in Team Rocket’s possession. Like always, they don’t get away with it and get sent flying into the sky. With Pikachu free-falling, Officer Jenny performs a stunt to grab Pikachu before he hits the ground. To top it all off, she brings her bike to a halt with an Akira Slide and Pikachu safe in hand.

2

Lego Ninjago Movie

No Akira Sliding In The Halls

The Lego movies are filled to the brim with references. After all, they have plenty of IPs under their belt, such as Batman, Superman, the Gremlins, and anything that has ever had a Lego set. Lego Ninjago focuses on its own IP, but that doesn’t stop it from slipping in plenty of pop culture references along the way.

One such reference is when Nya performs the Akira Slide near the start of the movie as all the characters convene at school. Motorcycles may not be allowed in the school halls, but perhaps an exception can be made this time if it looks cool.

1

Steven Universe

Connie Makes A Big Entrance

Connie may be an underutilized character in the Steven Universe series. However, when she appears on-screen, she’s always ready to lend a hand. During the events of Steven Universe The Movie, she is away at a study camp for most of the plot.

When she arrives in the finale to lend a hand against Spinel, she Akira Slides on Lion while wielding Rose’s sword. That’s one way to make an entrance and one unique way of doing the iconic slide without the use of a Motorcycle.