AKB0048

AKB0048
Poster featuring the Kenkyūsei members (from left to right: Suzuko, Makoto, Sonata, Mimori, Chieri, Kanata, Orine, Nagisa, and Yūka)
Genre	Science fiction, Japanese idol, music, mecha
Anime television series
Directed by	Shōji Kawamori, Yoshimasa Hiraike
Produced by	Toshimichi Ōtsuki (executive), Yasushi Akimoto
Written by	Shōji Kawamori, Mari Okada
Studio	Satelight
Licensed by	AUS Hanabee NA Sentai Filmworks
Original network	JAITS, TBC, IBC (JNN), TVQ (TXN), HTB (ANN), FTB (FNN/FNS), HTV (NNN/NNS), BS11, NOTTV one
Original run	April 29, 2012 – July 22, 2012
Episodes	13(List of episodes)
Anime television series
AKB0048 next stage
Directed by	Shōji Kawamori, Yoshimasa Hiraike
Produced by	Toshimichi Ōtsuki (executive), Yasushi Akimoto
Written by	Shōji Kawamori, Mari Okada
Studio	Satelight
Licensed by	AUS Hanabee NA Sentai Filmworks
Original network	tvk, HTB, TBC, FTB, Tochigi TV, GTV, TV Saitama, Chiba TV, Tokyo MX, Mie TV, Sun TV, KBS, Hiroshima TV, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, NOTTV one
Original run	January 5, 2013 – March 30, 2013
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)

AKB0048, stylized AKB∞48, is a 2012 Japanese science fiction anime television series based on the popular AKB48 idol group. The anime is produced by Satelight, with Shōji Kawamori as chief director and writer. The first season aired in Japan between April and July 2012 whilst the second season aired between January and March 2013.

At the start of the 21st century, an interplanetary war broke out. Earth's ecosystem was severely damaged, and humanity was forced to flee the planet, hence begin a new history with the Star Calendar starting from the year 0000. In several planets of this new society led by a totalitarian government, the Deep Galactic Trade Organization [DGTO], things that "disturb the heart" like music and art are forbidden. The legendary idol group AKB48 is later resurrected as the interplanetary troupe AKB0048, made up of girls who carry on the title and spirit of the original members. Since the government sees the existence of the idol group as illegal, the idol group cannot hold their concerts officially. AKB0048 also changed their concept from "idols you can meet" to "idols who see fans". Held as heroines by some and labeled as terrorists by others, they take up arms to bring their music to their fans wherever they are. The story follows a group of young hopefuls as they train to become the next generation of AKB0048.

Four years prior to the story, Chieri Sono, while visiting Lancastar with her father, invites Nagisa Motomiya, Orine Aida and Yuuka Ichijo to watch AKB0048's dangerous performance at the planet's mining site as they battle the DES soldiers which attracts and inspires them to join the idol group. Four years later, Star Calendar Year 0048, Nagisa, Orine and Yuuka pass the idol group's first found audition and thus embark on a journey to Akibastar, the homeland of AKB0048 despite Nagisa's father disapproval to join the idol group. Meanwhile, Chieri escapes her father who does not approve her the same way as Nagisa's father and joins Nagisa, Orine and Yuuka. Also joining are Makoto Yokomizo, the timid girl, Suzuko Kanzaki, a bespectacled girl and Sonata Shinonome, an energetic young girl. All of them pass the second round audition conducted by Tsubasa Katagiri, the manager of AKB0048 and are chosen as the 77th generation trainees.

Arriving at Akibastar, the chosen 77th generation trainees settle down. Joining them are 75th generation trainees, Kanata Shinonome who is Sonata's sister and Mimori Kishida who is Kanata's teammate. Kanata's relationship with her sister is hostile at first because she does not want the latter to risk her life, but soon she comes to accept her as part of the idol group. And so, the trainees undergo a life of concert performance training, singing and dancing, although sometimes they have a monthly day off. All the choreographies are planned by Mr. Ushiyama, a cross dressing man. Inside AKB0048, the trainees come into close relationships with successors Minami Takahashi the 5th (Shiori Arisawa), Yuuko Ooshima the 9th (Hikari Kimishima), Mayu Watanabe Type 3, Sayaka Akitomo the 10th (Akira Igarashi), Yuki Kashiwagi the 6th (Ayako Kuroki), Haruna Kojima the 8th (Chiharu Sakuragi) and Sae Miyazawa the 10th (Youko Asamiya) as they train and perform concerts together, meet fans at both handshake events and concerts held at entertainment-banned planets. Orine meets her hater, who is hostile to her at first but slowly gives her constructive suggestions to help her improve.