Oshi no Ko
“Season Two”
Have you ever been in a Stage Play before? Most of us may have been part of performances like this during kindergarten and so on, but taking on such a challenging role as a teenager or adult is something else entirely. Your performance is live in front of countless people, and if you err, there’s no retake or correction; only your quick wits and improvisation can salvage the situation. You live in that moment, and your performance may just determine the outcome of the whole play; so, needless to say, the stakes are high, as it rides on the hard work of many people. What’s more, your peers might each have their own motivation for being there, so this truly is a grand show of human expression.
“[Oshi No Ko] Season 2”, also known as “My Star Season 2”, is a 13-episode TV Anime series that aired from the 3rd of July till the 6th of October in Summer 2024. 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 are Yamashita Shinpei, Kobayashi Ryou, Kamata Hajime, and Aomura Yousuke as Producers. It features the primary genre of Drama, alongside themes of Reincarnation and Showbiz, and is targeted at the Seinen demographic. Each episode runs for 25 minutes and has earned a PG-13 rating for teenagers 13 years or older. It was released in both Blu-ray and DVD formats as six volumes from October 25, 2024, to March 26, 2025.
The sequel Anime series is based on the Manga series of the same title, which is the work of author Akasaka Aka and artist Yokoyari Mengo. It ran for 16 Volumes from April 23, 2020, to November 14, 2024, and was serialized in Young Jump, ranking 11th and 7th at the 2021 and 2022 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! under the Male Readers division, respectively. It was further nominated for the 14th and 15th Manga Taisho Awards, placing fifth and eighth in the final rankings, respectively. Lastly, it was nominated for the 46th and 48th Kodansha Manga Awards under the General category. The prequel Anime series “[Oshi No Ko] Season 1” ran for 11 episodes in Spring 2023, and “[Oshi No Ko] Season 3” is set to release sometime in 2026.
The story returns to protagonist Aquamarine "Aqua" Hoshino and Kana Arima, who, with the aid of producer Masaya Kaburagi, have successfully won the roles of characters Touki and Tsurugi in an upcoming play. Under the Lala Lai Theatrical Company, the stage adaptation of the infamous manga series “Tokyo Blade” is sure to turn many heads to the production. What’s more, Aqua's girlfriend, Akane Kurokawa, is also co-starring alongside them as Princess Saya, who is Touki's fiancée in the series. But fanbases can be pretty hectic, and those of this particular Manga prefer Tsurugi as Touki's love interest instead, leading to Saya having less and less of screentime in the Manga over the years.
This makes it quite tricky for Akane to immerse herself in the character entirely, and her problems worsen due to the differences between the play's script and the source material; these changes are dire enough to frustrate the Mangaka, Abiko Samejima, himself. Yet in the middle of all this, Aqua has completely different personal motivations that have nothing to do with the play itself. His goal is clear-cut and simple: to grow close enough to director Toshirou Kindaichi to find out whatever he knows about his mother, Hoshino Ai.
In the story department, the sequel season starts slowly but gradually picks up speed, culminating in all the hype from Season 1 and more. On paper, this arc may not be the most interesting one. Still, I must commend the production team for their intense attention to detail, even going so far as to add anime-original scenes that significantly improved the show altogether. This helps elevate a somewhat mediocre plotline to another level, revealing exactly what the overarching story is: a tale of frigid revenge born from the toxicity of the entertainment industry and the fate that awaits all those who fall into its grasp. The haywire pieces of Aqua’s quest for revenge finally start to fall into place, and it is unique in the sense that the Stage Play is the primary focus. We also get further elaboration of each of the main casts’ internal struggles, and the slow buildup pays off well, so long as you stick around until the very end.
The first few episodes can be tedious and even annoying thanks to all the Director drama, but you need to persevere through it to arrive at the character drama. Most of the “conflict” this season is internal: be it Akane trying to overcome her insecurities while striving towards her acting goals, Kana coming to terms with her feelings for Aqua while reconciling with her past, and so on, with the Play itself acting as the medium for it all to take root. Coincidentally, the stage play characters they portray have eerily similar characteristics and circumstances, allowing them to express their true selves, which usually remain dormant. The stars this season are undoubtedly Aqua and Akane, who receive their much-deserved development. On the surface, Aqua is just another edgy teen with only one goal in mind, but this time, we get a more in-depth peek, and it's here that the slow buildup hits hard later on, as the tension is built up and the characters develop meaningful arcs.
Moving on, Akane finally gets her time in the spotlight, and she delivered in ways many didn’t see coming. Needless to say, most of the memorable moments this season came along thanks to her, and her undying support towards Aqua is otherworldly. Lastly, Kana is on a path of self-discovery and growth this season, where she sees past her strong will and independence to reveal the fragility below. Similar to Akane, her relationship with Aqua is a driving force in her development, enabling her to confront her fears and ultimately embrace who she truly is. There isn’t much to say about the remainder of the cast; they were there and did their job for now, and I’m looking forward to their development in future seasons, especially Ruby's.
Moving on to the Art and Animation department, this season is just as stellar as the prequel, or even better. The entire Tokyo Blade play looks mystical, and I felt like I was watching it live amidst magic-like effects. The character designs are beautiful, crisp, and memorable, while everyone’s facial expressions are just so lucid and striking. The movement is as fluid as well, and I could not see even one flaw in the animation. Often, I found myself mesmerized by the sheer level of detail woven into every single frame, especially in the play, which leaves a permanent impression in your heart. These visuals are just perfect, enough said!
The Sounds and Music department has stepped up a notch as well, with subtle but noticeable improvements that I noticed a handful of times. For example, how episodes seamlessly merge into the Ending theme and sequence is impressive, as it gives a sense of continuity instead of abruptly cutting you off from the world you’ve been so absorbed in. The Opening theme is "Fatal" by GEMN, which is not as big a bomb as Idol, but is still a solid track nonetheless. The real star is the Ending theme, "Burning" by Hitsujibungaku, which is an especially well-suited piece that hits hard; I'm also a big fan of the guitar sequence at the end. The OSTs are well-done as well, because they serve to drive home the tension and drama where it matters. Voice acting is solid across the board, similar to Season 1, so kudos to this excellent cast for delivering yet another spectacular performance rife with emotion.
Overall, Oshi no Ko Season Two is a solid sequel to a highly anticipated series. It is slow at first, heavy with exposition, but you’ll be glad that they took the time for the gradual yet impactful buildup later on. The characters who needed development, especially Aqua, receive such an in-depth exploration this season while remaining true to their original, manipulative selves. Seeing his vulnerability and empathy is crucial to the emotional depth of this story, and he is supported by two women who are very worthy of all the love they receive—recommended, especially if you liked Season 1!
