History Anime / AKB0048

* KangarooCourt: [[spoiler: Chieri, Sonata, and Yukirin]] find themselves in one after being captured by the DES in the first episode of season 2 which consists of almost nothing but blasting them for their alleged offenses. They are then sentenced, for the crime of "disturbing the heart", to almost half a century in prison.

->''"In a future where humankind has moved into space... the tears we shed become stars.''
->''AKB0048. We will fly through space to see you."''

''[=AKB0048=]'' is a 2012 Japanese anime television series based on the popular Music/AKB48 idol group. The anime is produced by Creator/{{Satelight}}, with ShojiKawamori as chief director and writer. The first season began airing on April 29, 2012 and ended on July 22, 2012. The second season started airing January 5, 2013 and ended on March 30, 2013. The series draws upon real-life AKB48's repertoire for its soundtrack, with composer Slavek Kowalewski arranging some of it and contributing some original works for the series's incidental music.

Young Nagisa Motomiya, Yuka Ichijo and Orine Aida had lived their whole lives on Lancastar, a planet fully under the Entertainment Ban. Their lives changed completely one day when their new friend Chieri Sono took them to a guerrilla concert held in defiance of the ban by AKB0048. Inspired by the singers' radiance, the four girls vow to become members of 00 themselves. Four years later, they leave home to take part in the AKB0048 auditions. Once they get there however, they find that AKB0048 isn't all about singing and dancing and looking pretty. Dangerous and possibly fatal endeavors are involved when going up against the Entertainment Ban and its Destroy Entertainment Soldiers (DES). And within the group, there is more going on behind the scenes than even the members realize.

Also has two manga adaptations: ''AKB0048 EPISODE 0'', a prequel that tells the story of Atsuko Maeda the 12th and serialized in Nakayoshi; and ''AKB0048 Heart-Gata Operation'', which follows Kanata, Acchan the 13th, Yuko the 9th, and Kojiharu the 8th in a mission to protect the group from the thief Elixir's menace, serialized in Bessatsu Friend.

* AbnormalAmmo: In keeping with their TechnicalPacifist beliefs, AKB0048 LAS mechas will shoot an incapacitating gel substance at piloted enemy robots to take them out of the fight.

-->'''Tsubasa''': "Can the 76th generation perform today's setlist? Though they weren't selected, everyone in the 77th generation practiced. What was the 76th generation doing?"

* AscendedExtra: The mobile game ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'' features some other successors that are only shown for a few seconds on screen in the main series, like Haruka Shimazaki the 8th, Yui Yokoyama the 7.5th or Ayaka Umeda the 7th.

* BandToon: Of the real AKB48, naturally. In a twist, the characters aren't the real life members of the group, but people who aspire to be just like them centuries later.

* BoardingParty: The DES have no qualm about forcing themselves into a civilian space ship by just smashing into it in order to capture Nagisa and company who are on their way to their second audition for AKB0048. For that matter, neither does AKB0048 itself have any qualm doing the same thing when rescuing Nagisa and company!
* {{Brainwashed}}: The group is certain that DES brainwashing tactics are at least partly responsible [[spoiler:for the people of Akibastar hating them after they were driven off the planet]]. For their part, the DES believe that the songs of AKB0048 brainwash those who hear them and use unmanned drone robots to prevent it.

* CallBack: When they first meet on their way to their auditions, Sonata autographs Suzuko's soda can with the explanation that it would be worth a lot of money when she became a AKB0048 member. Later Nagisa asks Suzuko who she's a fan of and Suzuko holds up the old can and says she's a supporter of Sonati as an "early investment".

* [[CrapsackWorld Crapsack Worlds]]: Those worlds under the Entertainment Ban. When the CulturePolice fires live ammo at both the idols and their audience, you know the planet has gone to the gutter. Comparisons can be drawn between the government in this anime and totalitarian governments both real and fictional. Nagisa's father won't be out of place working for the Party in ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour''. In fact, Nagisa's class has an off-color Union Jack on the front wall. Makes you wonder whether the people involved actually read the book.
* [[{{Descriptiveville}} Descripitivestar]]: The word preceding "-star" in a planet's name will probably give you an indication of what that world is like. Some are obvious, like Tundrastar being an ice world. Others are more subtle, like Akibastar being named after the city of Akihabara, where the Real Life AKB48 is headquartered.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The series received a mobile game called ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'', produced by Namco Bandai... who also makes another very popular idol-training mobile game called ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster: Cinderella Girls''.

* HostileShowTakeOver: What was supposed to a high profile show trial to sentence captured 0048 members Yuki, Cheiri, and Sonata turns into a concert/rescue as the rest of the group pulls a BigDamnHero moment. Yuka and Orine even take the time to act as newscasters for the camera and promote AKB0048.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: The highly trained elite DES soldiers who have mecha suits and a huge numerical advantage can't seem to hit a handful of idols who are busy singing and dancing.[[spoiler: Possibly justified as it's revealed that Papa Sono and the D.G.T.O. are using AKB0048 for their own sinister purposes, and the fact that they believe the idols use mind control, so instead of soldiers they tend to send unmanned mechs after the girls.]]
* InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha: When riot police or other ground forces can't handle the job DES brings out the LAS, the Live Assault Suits. Fortunately AKB0048 helped themselves to a few of the enemy's LAS some time ago and thus fight and fly in mechas just as often.

** In Next Stage the new ending is performed [[spoiler:To get the DES ground forces to stop fighting and triggers Chieri's ascension to the Center Nova position]]. The original opening theme makes a second comeback as the final song that [[spoiler:unites the power of No Name and forces the DES forces out of the system]].

* MacrossMissileMassacre: {{Narm}}tacularly, the missile has the "No Idol" sign on their head. This is from a studio that animated ''MacrossFrontier''.[[note]]as well as the de facto creator of the original {{Macross}}[[/note]]

* MeaningfulRename: Trainees inherit the names of the original AKB48 members they were chosen to succeed. [[spoiler:And they're chosen by the Kirara based on how close their souls resonate with one of the original members.]]

* MoodWhiplash: While previous encounters with AKB0048 had already proven the job was dangerous, the combat training in episode 3 was portrayed more as humorous than dangerous up until the [[ChildSoldiers trainees]] were thrown into an [[WarIsHell actual battle]] again DES, complete with explosions, cannon fire, and bodies being thrown into the air like dolls. [[spoiler: Whiplashes again after it's revealed to all be fake and a SecretTestOfCharacter. All the girls are fine, save for a few broken bones.]]

-->'''Sayaka''': We're not dealing with humans here, of course our words won't get through to them. But we have our song!

* NoPronunciationGuide: The English dub changed the pronunciation of a few characters' names. Mimori was originally "Mi-mo-ri" but was made to sound more like "Meh-mori". The cast also couldn't decide whether Sae's name was pronounced like "Say" or "Sigh", with some saying it one way and the rest the other. The DES actually has all the letters pronounced, D-E-S, instead of just "des" like in the original.

** During the 2013 Request Hour, Shinoda Mariko said that if she graduated, she would immediately audition again for AKB. After Mariko the 7th graduated the first to succeed again was Mimori as Mariko the 8th.

* RunningGag: Everytime Tsubasa shows up in front of fans, she's greeted with shouts of "Mariko-sama!", much to her consternation. Tsubasa was the former Mariko Shinoda, and graduated after Acchan's disappearance to become AKB0048's manager.

* ShoutOut: The katakana for the name of Nagisa's home planet can be rendered "[[MacrossFrontier Ranka]] Star", though it's officially spelled "Lancastar".
** The DES Ace in Episode 8, [[spoiler: who splashes Takamina]], has a Skull emblem, another shout out to Macross. [[note]] Skull Squadron has the reputation of being the best Valkyrie squadron in any Macross incarnation.[[/note]]

--> '''Sonata''': ''[[{{VideoGame/Starcraft}} "We're in your base, knockin' out your dudes!"]]''

* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: All over the place. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], since the group can pick their music before going into battle. A few standout examples:
** The trainees fight their first battle to the tune of "Beginner."

** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when they perform "Oogoe Diamond": It's a song about confessing your love for someone, and it looks like Yuka and Mamoru will do just that, but right when they get close, the concert is aborted and it becomes SoundtrackDissonance.

* ThemeMusicPowerUp: Frequently [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by 00 members. Minami even starts playing music during [[spoiler:the invasion of Akibastar,]] because AKB shines the brightest at concerts.

** ElaborateUndergroundBase: And even deeper than that is the temple under the AKB0048 stage where Tsubasa commincates with Sensei Sensei.

* WhamEpisode: Episode 20, where [[spoiler:Mimori becomes Mariko the 8th and Mikako is revealed as a mole working for Mr. Sono. Also, after finally figuring out the conditions to initiate a Center Nova effect, Mr. Sono orders the DES fleet to mobilize and attack Akibastar.]]

** Episode 24, where [[spoiler:Chieiri is on the verge of reconciling with her father, until he is assassinated by a sniper.]]
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never do find out who assassinated [[spoiler:Chieri's father]]. However, this is {{Lampshade}}d by Tsubasa pointing out that if the D.G.T.O. were responsible for it, then the full truth will probably never be known.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The series received a mobile game called ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'', produced by Namco Bandai... who also makes another very popular idol-training mobile game called ''TheIdolmaster Cinderella Girls''.

-->''"In a future where humankind has moved into space... the tears we shed become stars.''
-->''AKB0048. We will fly through space to see you."''

* SpiritualAntithesis: To ''{{Warhammer 40000}}''. Major spoiler! [[spoiler:The Center Nova phenomenon is basically a daemonic ascension: the person become an immortal entity inside the galactic collective consciousness, and able to magically influence people in the real space. Furthermore, said ascended person become able to manipulate warp transport and goes through solid. But instead of creating vicious cycle of violence and hate like Chaos cults, AKB0048 instead focus on making the world a pleasant place.]] Mari Okada wrote most of the script, and the 'entities of collective consciousness' is also used in another anime in which she wrote the script: ''Anime/BlackRockShooter''.

[=AKB0048=] is a 2012 Japanese anime television series based on the popular Music/AKB48 idol group. The anime is produced by Creator/{{Satelight}}, with ShojiKawamori as chief director and writer. The first season began airing on April 29, 2012 and ended on July 22, 2012. The second season started airing January 5, 2013 and ended on March 30, 2013. The series draws upon real-life AKB48's repertoire for its soundtrack, with composer Slavek Kowalewski arranging some of it and contributing some original works for the series's incidental music.

At the start of the 21st century, an interplanetary war broke out. Earth's ecosystem was damaged, and humanity was forced to flee the planet. In this new society, things that "disturb the heart" like music and art are forbidden. 48 years later, a legendary idol group is resurrected as [=AKB0048=]. Labeled as terrorists, they must take up arms to defend their careers and their fans.

* AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: This is believed to be what happens to Center Nova when they disappear. [[spoiler:It's true. This also appears to Mr. Sono's true goal, as he wants to "transcend time and space"]].

* AscendedExtra: The mobile game ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'' features some other successors that are only shown a few seconds on screen in the main series, like Haruka Shimazaki the 8th, Yui Yokoyama the 7.5th or Ayaka Umeda the 7th.

* AscendedExtra: The mobile game ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'' features some other successors than are only shown a few seconds in the screen in the main series, like Haruka Shimazaki the 8th, Yui Yokoyama the 7.5th or Ayaka Umeda the 7th.

* AscendedExtra: The mobile game ''AKB0048 Galaxy Cinderella'' features some other succesors than are only shown a few seconds in the screen in the main series, like Haruka Shimazaki the 8th, Yui Yokoyama the 7.5th or Ayaka Umeda the 7th.

* HakunaMatata: The song, ''"Uhho Uhhoho"'', is just that, a song about forgetting worries and not letting life get the better of you. While sung to the pack of angry funghi to calm them down, it applies just as much to the singers who were still smarting over [[spoiler:losing Yuko and being forced to flee Akibastar.]]

* [[TouchedByVorlons Touched by Kirara]]: The real meaning of being a Center Nova. [[spoiler:They retain existence as dimensional apparition, which may or may not be an awful thing.]]
* UndergroundCity: The part of Akibastar we see is actually underground, the sky is actually a prjection from the domed ceiling whose giant frameworks are clearly visible from below. The surface of the planet was ravaged by war, making it dark and desolate.

--> '''Sonata''': [[{{VideoGame/Starcraft}} "We're in your base, knockin' out your dudes!"]]

** Kanata's line of following Takamina to the ends of the universe ("Takamina ni tsuite ikimasu!") was also the title of a tribute concert to Takamina... that was supposed to take place in March 2011. The Sendai quake put an end to that,

* LivingProp: You could be forgiven for not realizing there are 18 successors and not just eight since the other ten have no role in the story, no voices, and literally only show up when they need to fill in chairs.

* CallBack: When they first meet on their way to their auditions, Sonata autographs Suzuko's soda can with the explanation that it would be worth a lot of money when she became a AKB0048 member. A year later when Nagisa asks Suzuko who she's voting for in the General Election Suzuko holds up the old can and says she's voting for Sonati as an "early investment".

* XMeetsY: ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' by George Orwell by way of ''StarWars''. Or alternatively ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''{{Equilibrium}}''.

* HighTurnoverRate: Some of the Successors don't last very long compared to others, judging by the generations of the current set. While the average indicates most of the Successors are around the 8th generation of their names, the last Acchan was the 13th! [[spoiler:And by the end, they're on Acchan the 14.]]

* XanatosGambit: [[spoiler:Chieri's father is using footage of AKB's exploits to try and study the Kirara Effect.]]

* XMeetsY: ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' by George Orwell by way of StarWars. Or alternatively ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''{{Equilibrium}}''.

* XMeetsY: ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' by George Orwell. Or alternatively ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER]]'' meets ''{{Equilibrium}}''.

* HumongousMecha: Both [=AKB0048=] and the DES have mechs. Those mechs can fight in outer space.
** And then episode 6 reveals the WOTA, an otaku group that has their own colorfully decorated mechs, who assist Sae.
* IdolSinger: What the girls are or aspire to be.

* [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fangirl]]: Pretty much all of the understudies started out as fans of AKB before being recruited.