AKB0048

AKB0048, The latest thing from Macross's father, Shoji Kawamori, is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where all form of emotions have been suppressed by a group of laws forbidding entertainment due to it 'troubling the heart', when the laws are actually a form of totalitarian oppression which, if they had their way, would mean any form of expression would be forbidden.
In this world, AKB48 has morphed into AKB0048, a much smaller, at present, idol group who want to bring happiness and joy to the oppressed worlds under the entertainment ban.
What this means for the viewer is that you get to see epic musical numbers that include up to a dozen girls singing at once, epic battles and everything else that has been, legally, denied western fans of Kawamori's work for so long.
AKB0048 the group is said to be about bringing their music to everyone.
AKB0048 and Crunchyroll... Just did.

If you already have an oshimen and/or voted in a senbatsu, then you probably took whatever steps necessary to find and watch season one of this show, so I'll spare the details. For those new to the AKB48 phenomenon, AKB0048 brings the talents of the MACROSS creator and SATELIGHT production family to the world of pop idols to create a future for AKB48 in a post-war universe where government considers passion detrimental to society. The majority of epsiodes, if season one is a guide for season two, will be chock-full of mecha goodness as the AKB0048 girls fight to defeat the "entertainment ban" with music, "mic-sabres", EMP bombs and mobile suits.

The concept of the AKB48 "general election" seems set to be a main plot-line for this season, and the AKB0048 characters, both "members" and "trainees," will have to learn to work together while being fiercely competitive for their fans' attention in order to advance to leader jobs in the group. I am pretty sure the Japanese fan base will be voting on some part of the season two outcome, perhaps, via ballots enclosed in season one DVD/BD sets.

AKB48 novices may find this show a little too esoteric at first, but the characters are straightforward and the plot is compact, so it's easy to pick it up. The color structure is brightly "kirakira" and the trad + 3DCG animation are well-blended, but the "big screen" experience of this show is pretty flashy. The mecha scenes of space and planetary combat are what you should expect from SATELIGHT. The VA's for the "members" are all veterans of the industry; the "trainee" VA's were all elected from AKB48 and its sister groups, and the dialogue builds on the public image of AKB48 that is well known in Japan and the rest of Asia and growing in popularity elsewhere. The music is...well...almost all from AKB48, so it's top drawer, and the AKB sub-unit "NO NAME" has produced with OP and ED for this season, too.

I recommend you give it a go and try it out. When I talked with SATELIGHT at Otakon in 2012, they seemed deeply surprised that any U.S. fans had followed season one, so kudos to CR for bagging season two early in its release!

The show is about singers fighting off robots, simple enough. But, the show provides more to it than just fighting. The show centers itself around the social business side more often than not. But, it does have moments of comedy, love, and extc. The show tends to switch from 'cg' to '2d' alot, mostly during songs though. The show main characters are unique, one being a cyborg, and another being a princess. But, the show does tend to fall under a
'average' anime, even with the unique settings, character and what not. The show is a 'alright' show, just not 'good' or even 'awesome' in my own opinion. You might feel different about it. I can't read your minds after all. So, if you like shows that are about 'singing' and not alot of other stuff happens. Then this anime is for you.

This is a really good show but sadly crunchyroll doesnt have the First Season so the show may seem confusing and dull. I really suggest you watch the first season called AKB0048. The plot of this show is good its based off of the real idol group called AKB48. It involves fun catchy songs, Friendship and wanting to spread music to planets that have an anti-music ban. This show is good i reccomd you highly watch the first season before you watch this

AKB48 (grupo "idol" que esta serie promociona) es un grupo de chicas prefabricado con algunas integrantes interesantes (Yuuko Oshima una gran comediante y un par de buenas bailarinas y seria), su música es absolutamente desabrida y desechable, sus productores explotan la marca de todas las formas que se puedan imaginar, desde CD´s y conciertos, programas de TV, Radio, hasta películas y ahora también anime.
Eso no es del todo malo, es su negocio y esta bien, pero AKB48 tiene cosas que por lo menos a mi me resultan bastante chocantes: realizan programas con formato de variedades cuyo único objetivo real es mostrar a las chicas siendo humilladas, exigen celibato a sus miembros (volvimos a la edad media!!!) y han llegado al punto de rapar a una integrante que fue sorprendida con un novio y hacerla pedir disculpas en un vídeo sin su pelo (creo que eso ya pasa a ser un tema casi de derechos humanos). En resumen promueven un concepto del roll de la mujer y de trato hacia esta absolutamente negativo y extemporáneo, le añade gravedad a lo anterior, el echo que buena parte de las integrantes del grupo son menores de edad.

Sobre el anime en si: La humanidad a dominado el viaje espacial, coloniza numerosos planetas y es gobernada por un estado federal galáctico, este gobierno aparentemente militarista y dictatorial, prohíbe el entretenimiento como forma de mantener controladas a las masas, hay rebeldes que se oponen a esto y combaten este autoritarismo por la vía política o por la vía armada dependiendo de la situación de su respectivo planeta, en este escenario el grupo AKB0048 realiza conciertos clandestinos por toda la galaxia apoyando a quienes luchan por legalizar el entretenimiento, de tal manera que estas idols deben enfrentar a policías y militares mientras se presentan para poder terminar sus conciertos.... (¿?). El concepto no es del todo malo, tiene elementos de ciencia ficción clásica que son interesantes, pero todo lo aceptable termina en el momento que vez a niñas de 13 años y 1.45 de estatura derribando a soldados con son sus cintas para el pelo. Es también bastante poco creíble que en un mundo así la voz de la libertad cante canciones pop desabridas y sin contenido, imposibles de considerar subversivas y que ademas sus interpretes sean lolis.
El anime es dirigido por Shoji Kawamori (MACROSS, Macross Pluss, Macross 7, Macross Frontier, Macross Zero, Escaflowne), uno de los dioses de la ciencia ficción en el anime y responsable en gran medida de la supervivencia del fenómeno idol (Minmay), la serie justamente pareciera ubicarse en alguna parte del universo Macross, en la era de la colonización espacial.
Debido a lo negativo del mensaje de AKB48 (las mujeres a la cocina y bien sumisas), la historia absurda y lo lolicon del diseño de personajes merece un -5 estrellas, pero lamentablemente no puedo ponerle menos de una estrella.
Eviten esta serie a toda costa.