Season 1 · 26 episodes
In a dystopian future where music is deemed illegal, AKB0048, successors to the idol group AKB48, rebel against the government to bring music to people's hearts. In the year 0048, three thirteen year old girls, Nagisa Motomiya, Orine Aida …
As Nagisa, Orine and Yūka travel on the ship headed for the auditions, they meet fellow auditioners Suzuko Kanzaki and Makoto Yokomizo, along with a stowaway named Sonata Shinonome. They soon learn that Chieri Sono, the daughter of a corpo…
As all the applicants are gathered, they begin intense idol training which, to their surprise, involves combat skills and self defense. The manager, Tsubasa Katagiri, reveals that, in order to be selected, the applicants must protect AKB d…
As the 77th gen trainees arrive on Akibastar, they are brought to see an AKB concert, which is opened by the two remaining 75th gen trainees, Mimori Kishida and Sonata's older sister Kanata. However, Kanata is not too pleased that Sonata h…
As the trainees are given a day off from their lessons, the girls split off into various groups doing various activities with their seniors. Nagisa decides to follow Chieri as she goes shopping, where they meet up with Yūko, who tells them…
The trainees are to make their public debut at a handshake event in order to make a strong impression on their fans. As the girls have trouble deciding what to wear for the event, Orine, who wants to succeed Sashiko receives a hateful vide…
With some of the AKB successors attending a peace ceremony, Kanata, Mimori, Chieri and 76th gen understudy Megumi are chosen to be stand-ins for the next concert. As Chieri's standing in for Yūko invokes jealousy from the 76th gen understu…
Following the stand-ins concert, Kanata, Mimori and the 77th gen understudies are asked to stand in for a guerilla concert on a planet where the entertainment ban is in full effect, prompting some jealousy from the 76th gen understudies. M…
Due to Minami's injuries, Kanata is asked to fill in for her in an upcoming concert on the snowy planet Thundristar, much to Minami's dismay. As the understudies explore the planet and see how people under the entertainment ban are like, t…
Following a meeting with Sensei-Sensei, Tsubasa announces a gravure shoot for all the members, including the understudies. As they arrive on the ocean planet Atamistar, Makoto grows concerned about her appearance, so Suzuko uses a techniqu…
Following one of AKB's concerts, it's suddenly announced that the understudies will make their debut performance on Lancastar, Nagisa, Orine,and Yūka's home planet. As the setlist is announced, it is revealed Nagisa will performing a solo …
Nagisa, Chieri and Orine manage to evade capture until they are rescued by the WOTA, who offer to help Nagisa rescue her father. Arriving at the detention center, Kanata and Yūka join the WOTA forces in diversionary tactics whilst the rest…
As Tsubasa recalls some things Atsuko taught her, the understudies, along with the successors, request that they resume the concert. Just then, everyone hears the voice of Atsuko, whose light brings the concert to the detention center. As …