In 1988 Japan, a young boy's psychic explosion triggers chaos in Tokyo, setting the stage for World War III. Fast forward to 2019 in Neo-Tokyo, a restored city plagued by gang violence. Shoutarou Kaneda leads 'the Capsules,' a rebellious group clashing with their rivals, 'the Clowns,' on custom motorcycles. In the midst of this turmoil, Shoutarou's best friend Tetsuo Shima encounters an escapee esper with psychic abilities, sparking Tetsuo's own enigmatic powers. As the government races to contain Tetsuo's potential destruction, a dangerous power struggle unfolds.