While going through the agonizingly long wait for the release of Genei Ibun Roku #FE for Wii U, I decided to watch the AKB0048 anime to help kill the time. I definitely was not expecting what I saw in the first episode. There was Gundam like scenes that didn't at all seem like something you'd associate with AKB48. The fight scene seemed like something that would be more at home in a Michael Bay film.
The girls are supposedly renegade idols in a future where there is a ban on idols and entertainment. Its not revealed just yet why there is a ban on entertainment, but I'm assuming it will be explained in other episodes. The main plot device revolves around AKB0048 recruiting girls to be their successors and join the famous renegade idols and even possibly take on the name of their favorite idol. Its too early in the anime to say just where this will go, but so far its actually a lot more entertaining then i'd have first guessed.
The episode ended with a comically over the top "Hey! I showed up at the last possible moment!" anime cliche, which bodes well for the charm of the series. This is still AKB48, and it needn't take its self too seriously with the dark gritty gundam fighting. What I am seeing so far is a pretty entertaining anime that possibly the creators thought wouldn't be noticed without a gimmick, so they added in AKB48. I'd have watched this even if it was not AKB48, and I look forward to see where they go with this series.
