AKB0048 Ep 2

Onwards to episode 2! What will you learn about AKB48 next?

This episode starts out with Orine, Yuka, and Nagisa walking around a "spaceport" (you know, an airport but in space ^_^"), and Orine is bumped into by someone who looks like they are in a hurry. There is a close-up on the monitor, saying that the heiress of the Zodiac Corporation is either missing or kidnapped. The "in a rush" person notices the monitor, and is then joined by a kirara. Who could this person be? 

After the opening, we see Yokomizo Makoto, a girl who seems to only be thinking about the worst-case scenario, especially being in space with only a metal wall separating her from the nothingness.

If the worst-case scenario did happen, her only regret would be not making it to the second round of auditions. She also says to her parents from afar that she's sorry for running away.

The next girls we come across is Suzuko and Sonata. While Suzuko is drinking juice in front of the vending machines, she overhears two of the crew talking about a kid who has stowed away on the ship. 

When they leave, the stowaway, Sonata, shows up from behind one of the vending machines. She asks if Suzuko is part of the crew, and Suzuko denies it with a shake of her head. 

Sonata is relieved, and gives Suzuko her autograph so that she won't tell anyone that Sonata is onboard. Sonata says how she'll be part of AKB0048 in the future, so her signature will be worth a lot then. Suzuko then asks Sonata to write it to "Suzuko". Since the "suzu" in Suzuko can also be read as "rin", Sonata gives Suzuko the nickname "Linda". Soon after Sonata is done signing, the crew spots her and she runs off.

This English nickname part might seem random, but it's actually a wink-wink to the AKB48 members that have English nicknames (for various reasons of course). 

AKB48 Team K Nakatsuka Tomomi's nickname is Chris (reason unknown to me ^_^"). 

First generation member of AKB48 and SDN48, and now graduated, Urano Kazumi's nickname is CinDy because she loves Cinderella. She is currently a temporary member of "Watarirouka Hashiritai", one of AKB48's units. 

AKB48 12th generation member, Hirata Rina's nickname is Hillary/Hirarii. She was born in Japan, but raised in the United States, so she speaks English fluently. Her nickname is composed of the first 2 syllables of her family name (Hira), and the first syllable of her first name (Ri), and is pronounced "Hillary" in English.

Back to the show, we see Orine, Yuka, and Nagisa looking outside the window, watching as they move further and further from their home planet. Nagisa starts to cry, but Yuka says to cut it out because they made a promise that all three of them would join AKB0048. Orine reminds them that this promise was made with Chieri as well, since she was the one who told them about AKB0048 in the first place. They then reminisce about the time when they were young. Yuka is skeptical that Chieri still wants to join AKB0048, but Nagisa is sure that Chieri hasn't forgotten their dream.

All of a sudden, Sonata pops out from the ceiling after overhearing Orine, Yuka, and Nagisa's conversation. 

Yuka attempts to throw Sonata out in the hallway, while Sonata says to them not to tell anyone that she's on board, and that she's also planning on joining AKB0048. Makoto sees them, and freaks out that there are other people auditioning for AKB0048. 

Suzuko responds that she's also auditioning, and everyone turns around in surprise to look at her because they didn't notice her there. Only Sonata recognizes Suzuko, and calls her "Linda".

So all these girls auditioning for AKB0048 are together. Nagisa thinks it's amazing. Makoto feels that they are all rivals, and that she must be the least talented one out of the group. Suzuko decides to take a picture of Makoto, in case she actually does fail. Nagisa tries to cheer Makoto up by saying that she's cute and unique. They then find out the reason why Sonata is hiding is because she didn't get a ticket to the second round because she failed the first round, but she's determined that they'll understand her talent when they see her. Suzuko says that Sonata will most likely pass based on statistics that shorter girls have a higher chance of getting in, and her resemblance to Paruru the 3rd will help as well.

AKB48 Team 4 Shimazaki Haruka / Nickname: Paruru
(Also, this year's winner of the Janken Tournament)

Sonata's hair length definitely matches Paruru's, but the hair colour is definitely not the same. 

Yuka is impressed by Suzuko's dedication to AKB0048, and Suzuko says that it's only common sense, since she's a hardcore fan. Makoto says that she's also a fan, but she has no confidence in herself. (I think it's more than that, girl. ^_^")

Orine notices on the TV that the Zodiac president's daughter is missing, and Orine remembers that Chieri said that Zodiac was her father's company. Nagisa is worried that Chieri is missing. The girls are then questioned by the staff if they know Sono Chieri, since she might be on board the ship. Nagisa says that they know her, but none of them knew that she was on the ship. If she is on the ship, then she must be going to the AKB0048 auditions.

Everyone decides to start searching for Chieri. Orine thinks that Chieri hasn't forgotten about their dream, but Yuka is still skeptical, and thinks that Chieri just ran away from home because her father was against. Nagisa is just determined to find Chieri, so they can go to the auditions together. After Orine, Yuka, and Nagisa split up, Nagisa is met up by Kirara, who leads her to Chieri, although Nagisa doesn't know that the "busy person from the spaceport" is Chieri yet. The person comments about how Kirara used to glow, but now it doesn't. She also asks Nagisa why she's looking for Chieri. Nagisa is determined to make it to the auditions with Chieri, and not turn her in to the crew. The person says that if Nagisa wants to make it into AKB0048, she better turn Chieri in, so that she has one less rival to worry about, since everyone in AKB0048 will be your rival. People pass, but people also fail. One person's smile has caused another to cry. The person says that if Nagisa doesn't see everyone in AKB0048 as rivals, then she'll never make it into AKB0048. The person then leaves. Orine and Yuka find Nagisa and say that they haven't found Chieri.

We then see a woman talking about the ship that has the 6 candidates on it. Those would be Nagisa, Yuka, Orine, Makoto, Suzuko, and... "Chieri" (since they don't know about Sonata, since she failed and is obviously not considered a candidate). "Sensei" then says "enough tears", and she is surprised that he's saying something from the Holy Lyric, since it means that he's resonating with the girls. She decides to dispatch the "Flying Get" at once.

Trivia: "Flying Get" is AKB48's 22nd single, where the members performing this song were elected in the 3rd Senbatsu Sousenkyou. Maeda Atsuko took back first place from Team K's Oshima Yuko, and became center once again, showing that Acchan's position as center was not a fluke.

Also, the architecture in this particular place is reminiscent of those famous red gates in Japan. This is most likely an ode to when AKB48 performed in a temple, which they had to ask permission for, since it's a sacred place. It could also signify that AKB48 is originally based in Japan. 

Nagisa feels stupid that she never considered everyone as rivals. She just wanted everyone to be happy, and pass together. (Oh, the naive heroine!) Nagisa notices DES machinery in space, coming straight towards them. DES breaks in, and are looking for the girls who are planning to audition for AKB0048. (This is pretty intense, considering that they're actually stopping them from auditioning. The Entertainment Ban is harsh.) Makoto freaks out, and runs away. Suzuko runs after her. Yuka creates a diversion by pushing down a large container. The rest of the girls reach the deck, and Orine is pushed away by Nagisa, who gets captured by a DES soldier. All of a sudden, AKB0048 music is playing from the intercom. Nagisa is so happy that AKB0048 is coming to save them.

Takamina (middle) comes in, using her bow as a boomerang and paralyzing the nearby DES soldiers.

Sayaka (left) and Kojiharu (right) also join in the fight.

Takamina: "AKB0048 Sanjou"
(Well-placed and timed song choice. Their moves, while Takamina says the above, is straight from the performance of this song.)

When I mentioned what the number meant for Takamina, I had said that it was her position in the elections (and her highest position in the elections to date). For Kojiharu, she's been in the Top 7 for all 4 elections. The only thing where "8" would have some sort of significance for Kojiharu is that she has released 8 singles under the unit "No Sleeves/No3b" before this anime came out.  

What's interesting is that the Kojiharu depicted in the anime has curly hair, but Kojiharu usually has straight hair, except for a time in 2007, when she had curly hair as you can see below.

Here are some action shots, so you can feel the heat of the battle:

Sayaka awesomely taking down DES soldiers with her micsaber.

(At this moment, you hear her say "Uh hoho", which is actually from the AKB48 song dedicated to Sayaka and her gorilla-ness. In Japanese, "uho" is the sound a gorilla makes.)

Amazing back kick by Tomochin. Her shoes must be filled with electricity to cause that kind of damage.

Orine and Nagisa are in awe of how awesome AKB0048 are. Nagisa also sees how AKB0048 relies on teamwork. Takamina tell the two to head to the airlock.

Sae taking down enemies in space!

Just as they almost reach safety, Nagisa notices her ribbon from her mother is gone. She finds it, but is almost captured by DES, until the person saves her. The person reveals herself as Chieri, and Nagisa is hoping that she remembers their times as kids. Chieri thinks Nagisa is crazy, since she can't even protect herself, and will only get in the way of the main members. Chieri snaps Nagisa to reality that with Nagisa's attitude of not getting in anyone's way, she'll never succeed anyone.

The ship gets hit, and a chandelier falls on Chieri, as she's pushing Nagisa away from the danger. Chieri tells Nagisa to leave her, since Chieri won't be easy to beat. Nagisa shakes her head, and says that maybe AKB0048 is competitive, and that everyone is rivals, but they work so well together that it's impossible that they're always against each other. Their trust in each other is the AKB0048 that Nagisa wants to join. Nagisa is determined to get into AKB0048 with Chieri, and tries her best to lift the chandelier. Kirara starts to sparkle brightly, and Chieri doesn't understand why. Yuko says that it's the birth of an idol.

Chieri is surprised when she hears the explanation. Yuko then sings one of the chorus lines in "Heavy Rotation" (which is the song where Yuko was elected as center in the 2nd Senbatsu Sousenkyou), and glows so much that her clothes change. Chieri wonders if this is the radiance of a successor. Yuko then asks why Chieri has a Kirara, and Chieri explains that the Kirara followed her home after AKB0048's concert at Lancastar. Yuko then brings Chieri and Nagisa to the airlock, safely securing the AKB0048 hopefuls.

Just as everyone was about to be safe, a DES machine threatens their escape. Mayuyu handles it.

Why is Mayuyu a cyborg in this anime? It's actually an inside joke that her expressions are too CG Computer Graphic)-like, so she's called the "idol cyborg". 

I also have to mention that their floating platforms changing into a one-man space vehicle is too cool.

(Another point about the floating platforms is that the stage at AKB48's theatre is composed of 6 platforms that can go up and down. Here's a performance that uses this fully.)

In the ship, Nagisa thinks to herself that Chieri must have been chosen since a Kirara followed her home, even though they were at the concert together. Chieri doesn't understand why the Kirara glowed for Nagisa, yet followed Chieri from the start, but didn't glow at all for her.

Yukirin the 6th, and acting captain, announces that they'll be going into emergency Kirara Drive, so hold on tight! The episode ends with them travelling in Kirara Drive. 

(For Kashiwagi Yuki, the "6" stands for AKB48's 6th single "BINGO!", which is the first AKB48 single she was ever part of. She also auditioned for AKB48 in 2006. As I mentioned in a previous post, Yukirin was Team B's captain when this anime was released. The hairstyle depicted in the anime is Yukirin's signature hairstyle, where she splits her hair in two onto her shoulders.)

See you in the next episode~