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AKB48 Girl Group's AKB0048 Anime Story Revealed

The official website for AKB0048, the Spring 2012 television anime inspired by the all-female idol group AKB48, revealed the basic story for the project on Tuesday:

In an era when entertainment is outlawed, there is an idol group that offers underground guerilla concerts despite the danger. The name of that female group is AKB0048.

Until just before the annihilation of Earth, AKB48 shined as legendary idols.

This is the story of the super galactic idol team that inherited that name.

In the beginning of the 21st century, a world war erupts over interplanetary travel technology. Humanity inflicts large-scale devastation upon the ecosystem and forces itself to make a mass exodus from Earth. In the year Star Calendar 00, a new era begins as humanity migrates to a self-imposed exile in space.

Before long, the (provisional) "Super Galactic Alliance" institutes a "Entertainment Prohibition Law" to control "entertainment and music which corrupts people's minds." Except for certain areas (zones of absolute entertainment defense*), any form of entertainment is strictly punished. One by one, idols disappear, and people's minds are enveloped in darkness.

* A reference to Japan's World War II strategy of "zone of absolute national defense"

Does the wind blow there?

Akihabara of the future
A district in a zone of absolute entertainment defense

Resurrection of a Legendary Idol Group

And so, people who were once called "idols" are now thought to be entirely extinct. However, there was an idol group who have arisen: AKB0048. They rise up as "illegal idols" who inherit the light and spirit of those legendary members of AKB48.

Legacy members

AKB00 Theater
The place where you can meet the goddesses of theater

Spaceport lobby
The intersection of the galaxy

However, malevolent forces attack these girls who have overwhelming influence. The (provisional) Alliance government judges them as "terrorists" and cracks down on them. To protect their stage, their fans, and the citizens, the girls will take up arms and fight.

"As long as there are fans who are waiting for us, we fight even if we suffer and fall. And then, we will keep singing!"

Let's cross the stars and come together!

And so, it is now Star Calendar 0048…

In this fateful year, the story begins for the 77th class of trainees who are to be chosen as new stars.

AKB0048 trainees

Among these girls, who can stand on the stage of adoration as the new "stars of hope"?

Friends, rivals, professionals…

Now, the idols shine a new light!!!!

Speedy action!!

Cute concert scenes!

Space live entertainment that envelopes the entire universe!

[Via Yaraon!]

Update: Additional story section added.