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Crunchyroll to Stream AKB0048 next stage TV Anime
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it will stream AKB0048 next stage, the sequel anime series inspired by and starring the all-female idol group AKB48. The site will stream the series on Sundays starting on January 13 at 10:30 a.m. EST for members in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, South America, and Central America.
Shōji Kawamori, the co-creator of the Macross franchise and the co-director of Macross: Do You Remember Love?, is credited with the original concept for the series and serves as the chief director. Other staff members such as director Yoshimasa Hiraike (Wagnaria!!, Kaleido Star), scriptwriter Mari Okada (anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Black Butler, Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine), and character designer Risa Ebata (Macross Frontier, Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector) are returning for AKB0048 next stage. Satelight (Macross Frontier, Aquarion, Shugo Chara!) is again animating the series.
The 13-episode first season premiered in April 2012. Crunchyroll's announcement did not mention if the website would also be streaming the first season. The sequel series premiered in Japan on January 5.
Update: Background information added.
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