AKB0048 Ep 1

It's time to review something new. Someone mentioned that I should review AKB0048, so here it is. Surprisingly, you'll learn a lot about AKB48 and the idol world in Japan in the process, so please look forward to that. There will also be links to performances whenever possible. I will also be referring to members by their "old" teams, since this anime was created before the recent shuffle. 

The episode starts with the following:

These lines look like they were inspired from the Team B song "Shonichi" (First day [of performances]), which is actually the first song of their first setlist personalized just for them (their two prior stages were taken from Team A and Team K stages, respectively). In the first chorus of this song, it starts with "Yume wa ase no naka ni" ("The dream is amidst the sweat"). The second chorus starts with "Yume wa namida no saki" ("The dream is just ahead of the tears"). You can find the rest of the lyrics (with translations) here. 

The motto for AKB0048 is "idols that come to see you". For AKB48, it's "idols that you can come meet and watch at the theater everyday". It's switched around, but still keeps the essence of what AKB48 is about: interaction with the fans. After every performance at the theater, the AKB48 members that performed on stage will give a high five to all of the audience members. That's how important their fans are to them. On a side note, I think that's Aki-P's (Akimoto Yasushi) name in the credits.

This anime takes place in the future, where there is an entertainment ban across the galaxy. (I find this an interesting contrast to the idol boom that is happening in Japan right now.) 

From left to right: Young Orine, Yuka, Chieri and Nagisa trying to head to the AKB0048 performance through the sewers.

As the four get closer to the performance location, they hear "AKB0048!" All AKB48 performances start with the "Overture" in order to rev up the audience with AKB48 said in epic fashion. 

The four running towards the sound of the Overture.

I'm going to take this moment to mention something. You see how Chieri and Nagisa are closer to the front in this picture. Also, I don't think it's a coincidence that they were named "Chieri" and "Nagisa". I think it was a clever way to hint-hint, nudge-nudge that these two will become the center of attention in the rest of the series. As I mentioned in a previous AKB48 post, Acchan's first solo stage song was called... *drum roll* "Nagisa no Cherry". I think you get the hint.

The first song performed by AKB0048 is "Aitakatta". This is actually AKB48's first major debut single, and their most well-known song to date. The choreography in the anime is exactly the same as the original. Also, the members represented on stage are those that are most often seen in the PVs for AKB48's singles, also known as Senbatsu members.

During the battle with DES (an organization that enforces the entertainment ban), the song that plays in the background is called "Shoujotachi yo". I find it really interesting that these idols have to fight DES in order to not only protect themselves, but also the fans. It makes loving idols epic and dangerous at the same time. 

Look at the way Acchan is looking at Nagisa. Even Nagisa's hairstyle is similar to Acchan's. I have a feeling that Nagisa might succeed Acchan (if she tries out and makes it in AKB0048 of course). 

The first AKB0048 member mentioned is Takamina.

One point to mention about AKB48's Takamina is that she always wears a bow.

A picture from 2010 of AKB48's Takamina with her signature hairstyle and bow. 

So I find it kind of fitting that AKB0048's Takamina uses her bow as a weapon.

Don't mess with Takamina's bow!

After AKB0048's performance, Yuka, Orine, Chieri, and Nagisa are changed forever, and want to be part of AKB0048. (Note: To become an idol is the dream of many young girls in Japan. Literally almost 10s of thousands of girls try out for idol auditions, but depending on what you're trying to get into, 4 (Morning Musume) to 20 girls (AKB48 at the beginning) might make it to the end. It's cut-throat, and many girls have to audition several times before they finally make it in, if ever.)

In the first episode, we're primarily following the lives of Nagisa, Yuka, and Orine who live on the planet Rankastar (not sure if it's named after Ranka from Macross Frontier ^_^"), where the entertainment ban is so enforced that it's even part of the school curriculum. The colour palette of this planet is full of greys. 

Look at all the different tones of grey.

The first pop of colour we see is when Yuka shows Nagisa an ad for AKB0048 audition, and she freaks out in class, getting everyone's attention, especially the teacher's. 

Look at that pop of colour on the top left. 

These three girls are most likely in middle school when the two old ladies that Orine works with mention that Orine is 13 years old. Age is important because idols start out young. Morning Musume is well-known for accepting girls between the ages of 12 to 14 (although they've recently accepted a 16 year old). Many of the members in the AKB48 family also started out around that age.

The auditions are for the 77th generation of AKB0048. If they make it passed these auditions, then they'll become kenkyuusei, also known as research students. This is exactly the process in AKB48, where research students will basically be understudies of members. When a main member cannot perform, the kenkyuusei will replace them for that day's performance. However, it usually takes awhile before any of the kenkyuusei get promoted to a full-fledged member.

AKB48's Takamina is a first generation member. I think the "5" is from when Takamina ranked 5th in the 2009 Senbatsu Sousenkyou, also known as the elections where fans vote using voting cards found in AKB48's single released prior to the elections. 

Nagisa makes a comment when she sees Yuuko on the hologram with Takamina, saying how Yuuko's chest has grown. I think this might be some sort of inside joke because it also comes up in one of AKB48's detective commercials where Acchan notices how big Yuko's chest is. ^_^" After watching the application video for the auditions, Nagisa decides to apply; Yuka and Orine follow suit.

The videotaping of Yuka's and Nagisa's auditions is actually a good representation of the stark contrast you may see when girls are auditioning in real life.

Look at the confidence Yuka has.

Look at how nervous and shy Nagisa is.

Yuka mentions how Nagisa won't make it passed the auditions with that attitude, but Orine says that you can feel Nagisa's passion, despite her performance. If this an audition was in North America, Nagisa wouldn't stand a chance, since you need to be confident in auditions or else no one will have confidence in you. In Japan, the idol industry is different, where even shy girls that seem to have nothing special about them turn into stars after going through the idol process. Japan values the growth of an idol versus an idol who is already good at everything. So keep that in mind. Although, it does help if they have some talent. 

Nagisa asks what's going to happen if they pass the auditions. Yuka said that she wants to become Mariko-sama, and Orine says that she wants to become Sasshi. In AKB48, Mariko-sama (Shinoda Mariko) is the oldest member, and probably the most legendary because of how she got into AKB48. She failed the first auditions, and became staff for the cafe outside of the AKB48 theater. Fans heard her story about how she wanted to be part of AKB48, and voted for her. Aki-P said to Mariko that if she can memorize the lyrics and dance moves of 12 songs in 4 days, then she is in. She did it, and became the only 1.5 generation member, since she entered after the first auditions ended, and before the second auditions began. Sasshi (Sashihara Rino) was an up-and-coming AKB48 member, made extremely popular by, most likely, her appearances on variety shows. However, a scandal sent her over to HKT48 (brief talk about that in my previous blog post). Another tidbit is that both of these members were in Team A when this anime was released.

Yuka goes on ahead to chat with who seems like her boyfriend, but Orine says to Nagisa that they're not officially going out yet. In Japan, if you're an idol, then you cannot date. That's the rule, and many girls have been kicked out or punished when this rule has been broken. This rule doesn't apply in North America.

Due to Nagisa's father being part of the association to enforce the entertainment ban, he tells Nagisa to remove the poster, and to stop singing in her room. This situation can apply to anyone who has wanted to do something, but their parents were against it for one reason or another. As Nagisa is taking down the poster, she wonders whether she can be an idol, and she adores the scrunchies the members are wearing. There is actually an entire AKB song devoted to scrunchies and ponytails. Nagisa's mother comes in and brings her some food, and tells her to understand where her father is coming from. However, Nagisa feels like no one cares about her feelings because no one in her family is on her side. 

The next day, Yuka is so happy that she's in tears because all three of them passed the auditions. Orine is tearfully happy as well, but Nagisa isn't because her father won't let her go, and she feels that she won't make it anyway since she's bad at singing. Yuka says that Nagisa is being a coward, as she was the one to bring up the idea for them to audition. You then see Nagisa trying to convince her father about letting her go to the auditions, but her father won't let her because with the entertainment ban still in place, Nagisa will most likely be in danger of getting attacked, and there is no point in being attacked for something "pointless". Nagisa says that AKB0048 came to see them despite the ban, despite it being dangerous. She leaves the house, and Nagisa's mother is torn.

While Nagisa is outside, she notices Yuka slapping her "boyfriend". Yuka is upset that her "boyfriend" doesn't accept her dream of becoming an idol. Her "boyfriend" goes so far as to say that he used to love her, but most likely won't continue to do so when she becomes an idol. It's possible that he's disgusted about the idea because of the entertainment ban. When AKB48 first started, many of the members were actually seen in a negative light, and were isolated at school for trying to be idols in Akihabara. Many people told them it was disgusting, so what's shown in the anime is a throwback to those times.

We see Orine in the factory where she is saying goodbye, and reminiscing about the people who have taken care of her since her parents died. This shows the sacrifice girls have to make when they become an idol: they leave their home to move into the main city for their idol career. Orine then carves "Sakura" on one of the machines.

The engraved "Sakura" and the line in the picture is most likely an ode to all of the Sakura singles that AKB48 has perfomed such as "Sakura no Hanabiratachi", "10nen Zakura", "Sakura no Shiori", and "Sakura no Ki ni Narou". 

We then see Nagisa crying on the fields where she first saw AKB0048 perform with Yuka, Orine, and Chieri. She's depressed about how she doesn't have the courage, and is scared of being hurt when Yuka has been hurt so much, but is still moving forward in realizing her dream. While pretending to sleep, Orine and Yuka both admit that their dream is for all three of them to be part of AKB0048 together. When Nagisa actually falls asleep, she dreams how Yuka and Orine are on stage with the other AKB0048 members, and look so beautiful performing. Nagisa is in the stands, and not on stage with them because she didn't try. 

With this realization, Nagisa decides to go and audition, despite what her parents think, especially her father. Just when Nagisa is about to leave, she gets caught by her mother. As Nagisa is about to explain herself, Nagisa's mother slips a ribbon into Nagisa's hair, a sign that she supports Nagisa's dream in becoming an idol. Nagisa is so happy that her mother finally understands her, and bikes full speed ahead to get onto the train/spaceship that will take her one step closer to her dream of being part of AKB0048 with Yuka and Orine.

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I really like where this anime is going so far. What strikes me the most is the voice acting for Yuka, which is done by Team B's Sato Amina. I think her voice acting is amazing, since she's able to convey such strong feelings. I hope she gets to do more voice acting work in the future.