AKB48 Idol Group Gets 1st Anime on Air Next Spring (Updated)posted on 2011-10-17 13:42 EDT Macross creator Kawamori is chief director; 9 out of 200 to be chosen for theme songThe Nikkan Sports newspaper is reporting on Tuesday that the idol group AKB48 is getting its first anime, which will air next spring. The broadcasting station and title of the project, which will have an all-original story, are still secret. Shoji Kawamori, the co-creator of the Macross franchise and the co-director of Macross: Do You Remember Love?, is the project planner and the chief director, and Toshimichi Ootsuki (Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone) is the executive producer. As the newspaper puts it, AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto is "of course" planning and supervising the project. The anime will center around nine idol candidates who aspire to be "legendary idols," in the motif of AKB48's real-life sōsenkyō (general election) Top 8. Mari Okada (AnoHana, Hanairo, Toradora!) is supervising and writing the scripts, and Mikan Ehime (Macross Frontier, Gravion Zwei) is designing the characters. Yoshimasa Hiraike (Working!!/Wagnaria!!, Amagami SS, Sketchbook ~full color'S~) is the actual hands-on director of the anime at Satelight (Macross Frontier, Aquarion, Shugo Chara!). The idol group members will "battle" each other in auditions to be voice actresses in this project, and the newspaper reports that the members' standings in "sōsenkyō" (general elections) popularity contests will not be a factor. Out of 200 candidates from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and its other spinoffs, 30 will be selected and announced on a dedicated website in November. In the final round of auditions held in Tokyo, nine will be chosen to perform the theme song. Source: Oricon via Moe Ota-News Sokuhō
AKB48 to get first anime series in spring 2012Posted on October 17, 2011 by tokyographImage from: OriconIdol group AKB48 will have their first television anime next spring, it has been revealed. The story will revolve around 9 young girls aiming to become “legendary idols,” modeled after the Top 8 selection in AKB48′s general elections. The voice actresses for the 9 protagonists will be chosen through audition from the approximately 200 girls in AKB48 and their related groups.Kawamori Shoji of “Macross” fame wrote the original draft and is serving as general director. AKB48 producer Akimoto Yasushi is in charge of planning and supervising. Okada Mari (“Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai,” “Gosick,” “Fractale”) is handling the series composition and the script.Other staff members include character designer Ebata Risa (“Macross Frontier”), director Hiraike Yoshimasa (“WORKING!!,” “Amagami SS”), and executive producer Otsuki Toshimichi (the “Evangelion” movies). Animation will be done by the studio Satelight.The first round of audition for the voice actresses will narrow down the field of 200 to 30 candidates, to be announced through a special website in mid-November. The final selection will be done through a publicly held audition in Tokyo.The 9 winning members will not only voice the characters in the anime series, but they will also sing the show’s theme song.The series is planned to start airing next spring, though the show’s title and the broadcasting station have not yet been announced. A comic version based on the original draft is also being considered, to be published by Kodansha.Source:Oricon
30 members pass first round of judging for AKB48’s upcoming anime On December 8th, AKB48 announced the names of the 30 members who passed the first round of judging for their upcoming anime, “AKB0048“.The storyline focuses on 9 idol cadets who aim to become legendary superstars. Out of 200 girls from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48, 30 passed the first round for a chance to be one of 9 voice actors. These members include 17 from AKB48, 8 from SKE, 4 from NMB, and 1 from HKT. The 30 members will advance into the final public audition, which will be held on December 13th.In the final round, the members will introduce themselves and read lines in front of 100 lucky fans. The 9 girls who deliver the best performances and possess an eagerness to voice act in the future will be announced as the winners that day.Take a look at the members who passed the first round of judging below!—AKB48: Ishida Haruka, Ichikawa Miori, Iwata Karen (research student), Oota Aika, Katayama Haruka, Kobayashi Marina (research student), Sato Amina, Sato Sumire, Suzuki Shihori, Suzuki Rika (research student), Takeuchi Miyu, Chikano Rina, Nakagawa Haruka, Nakaya Sayaka, Nito Moeno, Fujie Reina, Watanabe MayuSKE48: Sakai Mei, Sato Mieko, Nakanishi Yuka, Hata Sawako, Hara Minami, Furukawa Airi, Yakata Miki, Yagami KumiNMB48: Ogasawara Mayu, Kinoshita Momoka (research student), Nakagawa Hiromi (research student), Mita Mao (research student)HKT48: Murashige AnnaSource: Oricon
■合格者 【AKB48】佐藤亜美菜(21)、岩田華怜(研・13)、仲谷明香(19)、佐藤すみれ(18)、石田晴香(18)、渡辺麻友(17) 【SKE48】矢神久美(17)、秦佐和子(23) 【NMB48】三田麻央(研・16) ■審査員特別枠:竹内美宥(AKB・15)、村重杏奈(HKT・13)、木下百花(NMB研・14)、古川愛李(SKE・22)
“AKB0048″ anime series voice cast, story revealedPosted on December 13, 2011 by tokyographOn Tuesday, the official website for the AKB48 anime series announced the show’s 9 main cast members and revealed its basic story. The cast features 5 AKB48 team members, including Watanabe Mayu.The anime, titled “AKB0048,” was first announced in October. Voice auditions were held for the 9 main characters, with approximately 200 members of AKB48 and its related groups eligible for the parts. The field was narrowed down to 30 finalists after the first round, and the final judging took place on December 13.The winners were:Watanabe Mayu (AKB48 Team B)Mita Mao (NMB48 research student)Ishida Haruka (AKB48 Team B)Sato Sumire (AKB48 Team B)Hata Sawako (SKE48 Team KII)Nakaya Sayaka (AKB48 Team A)Yagami Kumi (SKE48 Team S)Iwata Karen (AKB48 research student)Sato Amina (AKB48 Team B)Four members were also given special awards during the final round of the audition:Takeuchi Miyu (AKB48 Team 4)Murashige Anna (HKT48)Kinoshita Momoka (NMB48 research student)Furukawa Airi (SKE48 Team KII)“AKB0048″ is set in a world where entertainment is prohibited, but a group of idols named AKB0048 continue to hold guerrilla performances in spite of the law.The group inherited their name from AKB48, the legendary idol group that existed on Earth before a devastating world war made Earth uninhabitable, forcing its people to migrate to outer space. A galactic alliance was soon formed, which aimed to bring order by outlawing entertainment. Idols and other forms of entertainment have gradually faded away, but AKB0048 was born in an attempt to bring light to the darkness to that has overtaken the galaxy.“AKB0048″ is scheduled to start airing next spring. It was previously announced that the staff includes director Kawamori Shoji of “Macross” fame, screenwriter Okada Mari (“Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai”), and producer Otsuki Toshimichi (the “Evangelion” movies).Sources:Anime News NetworkNatalieOfficial Website
AKB0048 Anime Will Include Famous SeiyuusAnnounced on February 25th, the upcoming [AKB0048] anime will not only have OOO48 members as seiyuus, but will also include famous seiyuus to voice the future versions of original AKB48 members in the show.http://akb0048.jp/character/index2.htmlCurrently, only 3 positions have been filled, the other seiyuus have not been announced yet. Those 3 are:Kanda Akemi: 9th Generation Oshima YukoHorie Yui: 6th Generation Kashiwagi YukiTamura Yukari: Watanabe Mayu Type 3Ummmm. Why can't the original members act out their own characters? Their voices will be more accurate that way. The only reason I can think for this move is to get the normal anime fans to watch the show because their favorite seiyuu is in it. I know that's the reason why I sat through countless boring anime in the past.It's kinda strange that Tamura Yukari will voice Mayuyu, while Mayuyu voices another member. I'm also curious to what "mayuyu type 3" means? Cyborg Mayuyu in the anime? Yes please.I wonder which seiyuu will get the holy grail of voicing Acchan?