The Neon Vortex. Akira Redux
ROLE:
Design & Art Direction
Identity and design for album art ‘Akira Redux’ by The Neon Vortex. Neon pink cassette with transparent purple cover. Post Records ︎
In Neo Tokyo, music is central to teens' lives, but for The Capsules biker gang they have their own soundtrack music that is created from their own imaginations by a mind-reading rogue AI named the Neon Vortex, that materialises in the Harukiya bar where the gang congregate and there links with them.
It is a raw, visceral sound that captures the anger, frustration, and hope of a generation lost in a world of chaos. This music is crucial for Neo Tokyo teens to resist oppressive forces and find identity.
It is a raw, visceral sound that captures the anger, frustration, and hope of a generation lost in a world of chaos. This music is crucial for Neo Tokyo teens to resist oppressive forces and find identity.
For this project, the artist created a new original soundtrack for the classic manga and anime Akira. To guide the visual direction, we wrote a narrative that provided context for the design, helping ensure the final product felt authentic to the Akira universe. For example, the cassette’s colour matched Kaneda’s iconic red biker jacket, the logo was designed to feel at home anywhere in Neo-Tokyo, and the cover illustration featured a stylised girl inspired by a psychedelic, rebellious teenager.
© Asif Khan 2025