In 1988, Tokyo was shattered by a catastrophic explosion caused by a boy with psychic abilities, which triggered the chain of events that eventually led to World War III. To prevent any further destruction, the boy was captured and locked away, never to be seen again. Fast forward to 2019, and Neo-Tokyo, a revitalized version of the city, now overrun by criminal gangs and under siege from terrorist attacks, has taken over from the remains of the old metropolis. Shoutarou Kaneda, leader of "the Capsules," a group famous for their customized motorcycles and their ongoing war with their rivals, "the Clowns," is one of the misfits residing in this dystopian reality. During one of their confrontations, Shoutarou's closest friend, Tetsuo Shima, finds himself caught up in a mishap involving an esper who managed to escape from a government facility. Through this unexpected encounter, Tetsuo begins to unravel his own inexplicable powers, while teams of government officials strive to contain the runaway psychic in a last ditch attempt to prevent him from unleashing his potentially deadly strength, which could once again reduce Tokyo to rubble.