Oshi no Ko
For some people, their destinies were decided long before they were even born. It may have to do with their lineage, environment, country, time, and so on, but such a fate hardly seems fair. Most people find it difficult to accept the fact that the real world is rarely fair; however, challenging the system to bring about positive changes is a truly noble aspiration. Sometimes, these ideals may even be misplaced, because what is considered justice in one person’s eyes may be perceived as injustice by others. Therefore, it is crucial to approach matters with an open mind.
“[Oshi no Ko],” also known as “My Star,” is an 11-episode TV Anime series that aired from the 12th of April until the 28th of June in Spring 2023. It was produced by Delfi Sound, Shueisha, CyberAgent, and Kadokawa, licensed by Sentai Filmworks, and brought to life by Studio Doga Kobo. The main staff behind it includes producers Yamashita Shinpei, Negishi Genki, Kobayashi Ryou, and Kamata Hajime. Featuring drama alongside themes of Reincarnation and Showbiz, this Award-Winning series is targeted at the Seinen demographic and received a PG-13 rating for teenagers 13 years or older. Each episode lasts 24 minutes, with the first episode lasting 90 minutes. The first season adapts the first four volumes of the manga series of the same name. It went on to win the award for “Anime of the Year” under the television series category back at the 2024 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
Based on the Manga series by author Akasaka Aka and artist Yokoyari Mengo, "Oshi no Ko" ran for a total of 16 volumes from the 23rd of April 2020 until the 14th of November 2024. It got serialized in Young Jump and ranked 11th and 7th at the 2021 and 2022 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! under the Male Readers division, respectively. It was even nominated for the 14th and 15th Manga Taisho Awards, placing fifth and eighth in the final rankings, respectively. Furthermore, it was nominated for the 46th and 48th Kodansha Manga Awards under the General category. The series was digitally published in English via MANGA Plus, and the volumes were published by Yen Press starting January 17, 2023. “[Oshi No Ko] Season 2” was released as a 13-episode series in Summer 2024, while “[Oshi No Ko] Season 3” is set to release sometime in 2026. Done by the same Studio, it also follows the events of the Manga. A Music Video for the song “Idol” by YOASOBI was also released on the 12th of April 2023, which serves as Season 1’s Opening theme. This original piece by the same Studio has a runtime of 3 minutes.
Set within the bustling world of entertainment, it is quite normal for celebrities far and wide to present exaggerated versions of themselves to the public while concealing their true selves behind the glitter and grandeur. While they keep their true thoughts and struggles hidden beneath elaborate and beautiful lies, the fans are more than delighted to accept these fabrications as reality, proceeding to shower their idols with undying yet superficial “love and support.” So, what would happen if something or someone were ever to break this flawless illusion?
This is where the story focuses on a sixteen-year-old rising star named Ai Hoshino, who belongs to the pop idol group B Komachi, which has the whole world captivated. However, things take a turn for the worse when she suddenly announces a hiatus due to “poor health” concerns, causing many of her fans to become concerned. Gynecologist Gorou Amemiya is also a big Ai fan. Still, he is someone who has chosen to silently cheer her on from his countryside medical practice, merely dreaming of meeting her in person someday. But his unrealistic wish unexpectedly comes true when Ai suddenly appears at his hospital, and she is not sick at all. Instead, she is pregnant with twins! Leaving his fandom aside, the doctor promises that he will safely deliver her children into the world, but goes on to wonder if this fateful encounter with his idol meant something greater. Will this incident forever alter the nature of their relationship, or is this the beginning of a great tragedy?
Oshi no Ko is a series that made massive waves in the Anime industry, and the hype was in no way exaggerated. This unique show gives us a gritty and realistic commentary on the idol and entertainment industries that appear brilliant on the outside but are hiding a hellish world beneath it. The main focus here is the mystery and dark elements, which overshadow the sparkly idol aspects, coupled with some comedy to prevent it from being all gloom and doom. The plot does have a bunch of cliches and isn’t exactly the most impressive aspect, but the Visual and Audio departments are so well done that it’s a good watch for almost anyone. For example, the theme of reincarnation seems somewhat unnecessary, but the author uses it to drive the characters and ensure a more intriguing story. It does feel like a very cheap way to explain character motivations, but I chalked it up to Anime being Anime, so it’s fine as long as you can just “meh” it off.
What kept me watching was the harsh commentary on the entertainment industry, be it for Streamers, V-Tubers, Content Creators, Performers, Models, Idols, and so on, who face a myriad of issues both online and in real life, which the Anime does not shy away from. At the center of all these problems is the stereotypical thought process that all female idols need to be pure and unsoiled virgins, and failing to abide by this leads to a lot of hate from “fans.” Why? Because certain audiences feel that their idols belong only to them, and the revelation of any relationship is perceived as a “betrayal,” leading to a lot of harassment at multiple levels of severity. You may have even heard news of performers getting canceled, receiving threatening emails, being sent death threats, and even experiencing real-world assaults, all of which severely damage any human’s well-being.
By the end, even you will be wary of the horrors that could affect you via the internet, while being reminded to be a kind and understanding person who accepts reality. Cyberbullying is a huge issue in this day and age, where we see many people doing all sorts of unspeakable things online for momentary internet clout, but is it worth the real-life consequences? I think not. If you don’t like something you see online, we can always choose to walk away, as nobody is forcing us to consume their content. I would have loved it if the plot had continuously explored these issues instead of switching gears to idol culture and mystery, but this is probably what allowed it to retain a larger audience.
The character department comprises a number of colorful personalities that are distinct from one another. So you’ll probably find yourself warming up to a particular character even if they aren’t a fan favorite, because they all offer different perspectives. Ai Hoshino remains center stage at first, but once the torch moves onto the real protagonists, the siblings Ruby and Aqua, I felt that they didn’t quite live up to the mantle. Aqua is the true protagonist, I suppose, with his main traits being manipulation and possessing the mind of an adult, but this man didn’t give me much to relate to.
It is made evident from the start that he is no saint in the slightest. I am sure that he will have a massive impact and development in future seasons, but he is not the guy to draw you into Season 1. Meanwhile, Ruby really doesn’t do much and is characterized by her dumb positivity and naivety about the idol industry. I have a feeling these traits will bite her back in the future, but for now, she’s just that “perfect” girl. My favorite this Season has to be Kana Arima, a famous child actress who faced many struggles growing up. She can be foul-mouthed at times and constantly makes snappy comments, but underneath it all is someone who genuinely cares about the people close to her.
This is what makes her interactions with other characters all the more meaningful, because she wants them to succeed and not suffer as she has. In a way, it felt that she was the character representing the author, because she does not hold back about the industry and how performers are “expected to act” for the sake of saving face. Moving on, Akane Kurokawa is also an actress who has faced numerous struggles and sparked a lot of dialogue amongst the viewership. I personally felt that her character arc was resolved too quickly, but that doesn’t mean it lacked impact. Lastly, Mem-cho paved the way for some pleasant comedic moments and even had some surprisingly relatable lines, so kudos to her.
The Art and Animation department is stellar, and this is not an exaggeration. There’s something to admire in almost every single frame, complete with clever directing, camera angles, vibrant colors, stunning details, memorable backdrops, intricate designs, and overall beautiful scenes throughout the show. The staff had poured their souls into the production, and you can just feel the passion oozing out, especially when it comes to how the eyes are portrayed. The eyes are works of art in themselves, and I think the sparkle-filled designs fit this Idol setting perfectly. The character designs are colorful and distinct, but handled cleverly so that they don’t instantly reveal the core aspects of the cast. The grim moments are handled excellently and they hit you like a truck, emphasizing just how eerie and uncomfortable every passing second is; the best example of this is Episode 6.
The Sounds and Music department is also fierce, especially when it comes to the Opening theme, “Idol” by YOASOBI. This opener is an absolutely killer piece that gets better the more you listen to it, and it definitely packs a punch, alluding to the dark nature of the show hidden beneath all the glistening lights. The ending theme is “Mephisto” by QUEEN BEE, which walks away from the glitter of the Idol industry and sinks deep into the drama. All the other Songs and OSTs were great as well, but got thoroughly overshadowed by the Opening and Ending. Voice acting is solid across the board; I could tell the cast threw themselves into their characters and even enjoyed the performance.
Overall, Oshi no Ko is a must-watch for Anime fans regardless of your preferences. At the very least, follow the 3-episode rule and discontinue if you’re not entertained in any way. Even if the plot is mediocre at best, the commentary on the Entertainment industry and the production values alone can carry this show. Needless to say, it has much potential for future seasons, and I hope they expand on the main characters there. Recommended!
