Movie
Description
Colonnello, more formally known as Colonel Shikishima, is a prominent character in the anime Akira. He serves as the head of the military's secret project in Neo-Tokyo, a sprawling and unstable metropolis rebuilt after a catastrophic psychic explosion destroyed the original city. His full name is Shikishima, and he is a high-ranking officer in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the clandestine research and containment of dangerous psychic abilities.
In terms of background, the Colonel is a career soldier who has risen through the ranks to a position of significant power. He is directly responsible for the government facility where the three Esper children—Masaru, Takashi, and Kiyoko—are held and studied. This project is a continuation of the research that originally led to the creation of the entity known as Akira, who destroyed Tokyo decades earlier. The Colonel's life and career have been profoundly shaped by the aftermath of that disaster, and his actions are constantly driven by a deep-seated determination to prevent a second cataclysm.
The Colonel’s personality is defined by a stern, stoic, and authoritative demeanor. He is a pragmatic and disciplined leader who appears cold and ruthless, especially in his pursuit of Tetsuo Shima. He rarely displays emotion beyond anger or grim determination, and he holds a deep-seated contempt for the corrupt and self-serving politicians who govern Neo-Tokyo, seeing them as obstacles to his duty. Despite this harsh exterior, his motivations are not malicious. He is an honorable soldier who genuinely believes that his actions, however extreme, are necessary to protect the population of Neo-Tokyo from a repeat of history. He scoffs at the scientists' romantic theories about psychic powers being the next stage of human evolution, viewing such abilities as dangerous forces that must be studied, controlled, or eliminated. Notably, he treats the three Esper children with a gentle, fatherly care, showing a protective soft side that contrasts sharply with his otherwise brutal approach.
Within the story, the Colonel plays a critical role as the primary authority attempting to manage the psychic crisis. When Tetsuo is brought to his facility after a motorcycle accident, the Colonel recognizes the boy's immense and growing power. He is initially responsible for Tetsuo's containment and study but quickly concludes that the boy is too unstable and dangerous to be allowed to live. This sets him on a direct collision course with Tetsuo, leading him to orchestrate a military coup against the civilian government to gain a free hand in hunting the boy down. His primary goal throughout the narrative is to eliminate Tetsuo before he can unleash a disaster on the scale of the one that created Akira.
The Colonel's key relationships are central to his role. His most significant antagonistic relationship is with Tetsuo, whom he views as a threat that must be neutralized. He also interacts with the scientist Doctor Onishi, whom he disdainfully dismisses for his idealistic fascination with psychic evolution. While often at odds with the city's politicians, he finds an uneasy alliance with the resistance member Kei later in the story, as they share the common goal of stopping a greater threat. His relationship with the Esper children, however, is the most tender of his connections; they seem to trust and respect him, and they ultimately save his life by teleporting him to safety during the final destruction of Neo-Tokyo.
The character of the Colonel undergoes significant development, particularly when comparing his original manga portrayal to the anime film. In the condensed narrative of the anime, he largely fills the role of the pragmatic military archetype, a strict commander who will stop at nothing to achieve his objective. His development is less pronounced in the film, but he survives the cataclysm he sought to prevent, witnessing the ruins of the city he failed to protect. This is a point where his character shifts from being an untouchable authority figure to a survivor who must confront the consequences of his actions and the limits of his power. In the source manga, this arc is explored in far greater depth, where after his defeat, he is forced into humility and joins the resistance, fighting alongside former enemies to right the wrongs he helped set in motion.
Regarding notable abilities, the Colonel himself possesses no psychic powers. His abilities are those of a master strategist, a cunning military commander, and a resourceful survivor. He is a physically imposing figure, known for his distinctive crew cut and referred to as "the Skinhead" by the protagonist Kaneda. He relies on his tactical knowledge, advanced military hardware, and sheer force of will to confront threats far beyond ordinary human capability. His most defining ability is his relentless pragmatism; he makes difficult, morally ambiguous decisions with the cold calculation of a soldier, believing unquestioningly that the ends justify the means when the survival of Neo-Tokyo is at stake.
In terms of background, the Colonel is a career soldier who has risen through the ranks to a position of significant power. He is directly responsible for the government facility where the three Esper children—Masaru, Takashi, and Kiyoko—are held and studied. This project is a continuation of the research that originally led to the creation of the entity known as Akira, who destroyed Tokyo decades earlier. The Colonel's life and career have been profoundly shaped by the aftermath of that disaster, and his actions are constantly driven by a deep-seated determination to prevent a second cataclysm.
The Colonel’s personality is defined by a stern, stoic, and authoritative demeanor. He is a pragmatic and disciplined leader who appears cold and ruthless, especially in his pursuit of Tetsuo Shima. He rarely displays emotion beyond anger or grim determination, and he holds a deep-seated contempt for the corrupt and self-serving politicians who govern Neo-Tokyo, seeing them as obstacles to his duty. Despite this harsh exterior, his motivations are not malicious. He is an honorable soldier who genuinely believes that his actions, however extreme, are necessary to protect the population of Neo-Tokyo from a repeat of history. He scoffs at the scientists' romantic theories about psychic powers being the next stage of human evolution, viewing such abilities as dangerous forces that must be studied, controlled, or eliminated. Notably, he treats the three Esper children with a gentle, fatherly care, showing a protective soft side that contrasts sharply with his otherwise brutal approach.
Within the story, the Colonel plays a critical role as the primary authority attempting to manage the psychic crisis. When Tetsuo is brought to his facility after a motorcycle accident, the Colonel recognizes the boy's immense and growing power. He is initially responsible for Tetsuo's containment and study but quickly concludes that the boy is too unstable and dangerous to be allowed to live. This sets him on a direct collision course with Tetsuo, leading him to orchestrate a military coup against the civilian government to gain a free hand in hunting the boy down. His primary goal throughout the narrative is to eliminate Tetsuo before he can unleash a disaster on the scale of the one that created Akira.
The Colonel's key relationships are central to his role. His most significant antagonistic relationship is with Tetsuo, whom he views as a threat that must be neutralized. He also interacts with the scientist Doctor Onishi, whom he disdainfully dismisses for his idealistic fascination with psychic evolution. While often at odds with the city's politicians, he finds an uneasy alliance with the resistance member Kei later in the story, as they share the common goal of stopping a greater threat. His relationship with the Esper children, however, is the most tender of his connections; they seem to trust and respect him, and they ultimately save his life by teleporting him to safety during the final destruction of Neo-Tokyo.
The character of the Colonel undergoes significant development, particularly when comparing his original manga portrayal to the anime film. In the condensed narrative of the anime, he largely fills the role of the pragmatic military archetype, a strict commander who will stop at nothing to achieve his objective. His development is less pronounced in the film, but he survives the cataclysm he sought to prevent, witnessing the ruins of the city he failed to protect. This is a point where his character shifts from being an untouchable authority figure to a survivor who must confront the consequences of his actions and the limits of his power. In the source manga, this arc is explored in far greater depth, where after his defeat, he is forced into humility and joins the resistance, fighting alongside former enemies to right the wrongs he helped set in motion.
Regarding notable abilities, the Colonel himself possesses no psychic powers. His abilities are those of a master strategist, a cunning military commander, and a resourceful survivor. He is a physically imposing figure, known for his distinctive crew cut and referred to as "the Skinhead" by the protagonist Kaneda. He relies on his tactical knowledge, advanced military hardware, and sheer force of will to confront threats far beyond ordinary human capability. His most defining ability is his relentless pragmatism; he makes difficult, morally ambiguous decisions with the cold calculation of a soldier, believing unquestioningly that the ends justify the means when the survival of Neo-Tokyo is at stake.