World War III was sparked in Tokyo in 1988 by a boy possessing psychic powers. In hopes of preventing further damage, the authorities detained the boy. Decades later, Neo-Tokyo emerged from the rubble, infested with governmental terror and gang violence. Led by the fearless Shoutarou Kaneda, the notorious rebel gang, "the Capsules," engage in ongoing rivalry with their adversary, the Clowns, all while zipping around on their signature motorcycles. During a confrontation, Tetsuo Shima, Shoutarou's loyal comrade, collides with an escaped esper, awakening Tetsuo's hidden powers and compelling the government to hastily imprison him, to avert additional mayhem in the city.