Succession and Nova: The Finale of 0048

Also, Happy April Fools! I observed barely anything today as I was away from my computer for the most part. Instead I was helping out with house stuff (again), and reading through my pile of borrowed manga.

Also, as the title of this post suggests, I watched the last episode of AKB0048, episode 26 (or 13 of next stage if you prefer).

For the first time in ages, I actually readily rewatched this episode a day after seeing it. I just couldn't get this one scene out of my head, plus the whole episode was just too exciting and amazing. I'll get to that scene in a bit.

Spoilers to follow. And a lot of screenshots too.

77th Understudies, ready to go!

Rainbow train start!

First off, we're greeted with Niji no Ressha I believe. My memories of the song order aren't very good, so sorry for the discrepancies. It's the one with the rainbow train and I think it's the one they started off the season with. A great rally after the senior members of 0048 were completely demotivated by the hostile crowd of Akibastar. The understudies stood (or flown) strong, by shining radiantly. And the crowd's "Kaere!" actually worked together like a cheer.

Yuuko and Acchan beyond the gate.

Then a scene from beyond the gate of Center Novas revealing the truth behind Sensei-sensei and the Center Novas. Acchan makes a sudden appearance to Yuuko with a pep talk that could only be from her. I guess the Center Novas really do live on in another dimension, singing for all!

Then back to Akibastar, more rioters and this time they hit Nagisa! Oh no... yet by doing this Nagisa says a very familiar sounding quote. Something like "You may hate us... but don't hate entertainment!", and she releases the aura of Acchan! While receiving the familiar fever of succesion that Mimomariko had. An amazing moment and a great quote referencing the real Acchan!

Kaze wa Fuiteiru

The return of Yuuko!

Then starts the great "Kare wa Furiteiru" with a surprise visit from Yuuko back from the Center Nova realm! A great combination of solo voices and chorus really made this song shine even more than before.

Flame sticks to glowsticks.

At this point the rioters flaming sticks turn into glowsticks. The magic of music indeed.

Nagisa's Acchan radiance.

Nagisa then basically becomes Acchan the 14th by also saying the great "DAISUKI DA!" and doing a great bow. Another reference I presume, and then DES starts to seriously attack.

The power of song...

... converts the DES.

Fighting with micsabers occurs, and Suzuko almost gets hurt, but then... Chieri unleashes the power of her song. Seguing to "Yume wa Nando mo Umarekawaru" the 2nd ending them of course.

The almost forbidden moment.

Yuuka's teary eyed singing and farewell.

Then it's fighting by song time, where Yuuka falls to a strike, only to be caught by the one and only Mamoru.  The "no dating" is still in full swing in the 0048 world, as Yuuka and Mamoru almost fall to kiss, they just barely stop themselves. This is the moment that really struck me, as it is both one of the sweetest moment of love as well as the saddest moment in this whole episode. So lovely and sad, especially amplified when Yuuka sadly gets up and sings through tears.

Some Orine.

And some Makoto.

The Shinonome sisters.

Nagisa + Yuuka families! (all that's missing is father)

Even he's a huge fan of Orine now!

And Mimomariko

Of course there are some individual moments of the various NO NAME.

The hand shake...

... to release the power!

Then Chieri glows even brighter as she grasps the hand of a DES Soldier releasing the Center Nova powers within!

Gate open!

The captain of DES battleship himself.

The gate is open and DES goes in to strike with their battleship.

Of course they brought this song back.

Still as amazing as always.

Nanoha Mayuyu Full Barrage!

Anti-tank cannon vs Music

Then, "Kibou ni Tsuite" the first season's opening starts up with a crazy moments of successors doing their awesome fighting, such as Mayuyu's Full Barrage. Then it gets really amazing when the crowd's voices are joined together and the Nagisa Chieri pair plus NO NAME block the full force of an anti-tank cannon!

Riding the sparkling kirara power.

The power of Center Nova.

And the power of song.

After the block, Chieri does her Center Nova magic to teleport and clone herself into the DES battleship for some direct singing!

Back-to-back adorable badasses.

Forced warping time.

Oh yes the crew of the Flying Get.

This is followed by a massive forced warp of all the DES ships.

Acknowledging the Acchan.

Aww how sweet.

Such close friends they are! Reflected in their Kirara too.

Still aiming for Center!

Nagisa then declares that she will still aim for Center Nova against Chieri.

Atsuko Maeda the 14th

Center Nova Chieri Sono

Sonati, Chieri, Linda (Suzuko), and Makoto

Mimori-Mariko, Yuuka, Nagisa-Acchan, Orine and Kanata

Followed by the shortest epilogue ever, with Nagisa and Chieri in wedding-like dresses at the Akibastar stage, where they are officially sworn in Acchan the 14th and Center Nova respectively. Then an ending montage with random new and old footage plus a bit of talking by the various understudies.

The end (credits)

Finally, it ends with the same yet strong quote "We'll outstrip the stars to come meet you!"


Thus, this AKB48 anime series ends, though there are still many questions to be asked and slight disappointment in how rushed that was, it was still a great and amazing ride throughout it all. Again, I felt very strongly for the Yuuka and Mamoru moment, as it not only resonated emotionally in the series, but also reflected a bit of the reality for AKB48. Bittersweet and true indeed.

I, like many others, were probably thrown off by all the crazy stuff that happened like how Chieri went Super Center Nova without succession while Nagisa becomes Acchan the 14th all of a sudden. Somehow these were to be expected, yet the way it was done was not quite so.

Then comes all the unanswered questions and outcomes, like who killed Chieri's father, will Kanata ever succeed Takamina, what happens to Yuuko now, etc.

Here's hoping for a longer and more expansive epilogue of some sorts. Like Karen Iwata on her Google+, be it another season, a movie, or even a musical, I will be eagerly awaiting for it.

The legacy of NO NAME will be forever.

And now for some screenshots from the end credits epilogue.

DGTO Makoto Fan!

It's the Orine Hater Boy!

Is that Yuuko at the back?

Nagisa's and Chieri's hands flying apart. What does it mean? 

Mamoru, still a huge Suzuko fan.

And that's it! AKB0048 end.