Anime 52034 Oshi No Ko Reviews Filter Check 1

Lies. Who among us hasn't told a lie or two? Whether it's telling a white lie or presenting a false version of ourselves. Celebrities, actors, musicians, and artists must constantly maintain a public image, which may require telling a lie or two. As a famous idol, Ai Hoshino's life revolves around lying. "The lie becomes the truth" are words she lives by. She lies to her friends and fans, but no one can see through the facade beneath her starry eyes.

Oshi no Ko's most provocative scene tragically occurs in its feature-length premiere. The tearjerker ending propelled the series into popularity, leading to disappointment when the ... rest proved to be an entirely different beast. Some viewers may build false expectations, but those who approach it open-mindedly will enjoy where it takes them. The premiere was a well-written story best left in the past. It initially evokes the untouchable masterpiece Perfect Blue, but aside from the final scene, the juvenile execution pales in comparison.

The episodes after the premiere are more refreshing. Oshi no Ko's content is comparable to my all-time favorite anime, Kaleido Star, for its realistic approach to performing arts while maintaining an uplifting message. It never shies away from showing singers, dancers, and actors' struggles to preserve their image and criticize demanding audiences. Writer Aka Akasaka does not condemn consumers but provides a mirror to reflect on their behavior. Oshi no Ko honestly portrays the Japanese acting and idol industry. Seeing how child actors phase out, stunt casting, agency competitions, and differences between writers and studios add to the realism. There are many things they should have taken into account, such as numerous reshoots, scheduling, and post-production. They seemingly picked and chose the most exciting parts of show business to portray and ignored the less appealing but equally crucial aspects.

Through Ai Hoshino's twin son and daughter, the series explores the ups and downs of acting and idol careers, respectively. Both children secretly lived past lives, in which they adored Ai. Her son, Aquamarine, was Ai's gynecologist, murdered by her stalker. Her daughter Ruby was only a young girl when she died of cancer. They take their reincarnations surprisingly well, but who wouldn't when you get around-the-clock attention from your favorite celebrity? Well, probably some people. The kids pursue futures that live up to their mother's legacy and do right by her. For Ruby, this means carrying on Ai's legacy as an idol and rebuilding her group B-Komachi from the ground up. For Aqua, it's rather intense; he dedicates his life to searching for their absent father, putting aside any personal goals. Aqua and Ruby attend Yoto High School, which offers a performing arts program only for students attached to a talent agency. Luckily for the kids, Ai's previous manager Miyako Saito adopted them and made them part of her company.

A common critique of Oshi no Ko is that the reincarnation plot device is unnecessary. I disagree with that judgment because it's necessary to advance the plot. Aquamarine uses his skills of talking to seniors as a doctor in his past life to smooth talk a director, which gets his mother a film role. He uses his people skills to dig up clues to track down his lost father. Unlike many other high school geniuses in anime, Aqua behaves like an adult due to his reincarnation; it is better that the plot provides a reason other than the simple notion that he's a prodigy. Some viewers may find Aqua's infatuation with Ai overwhelming, and it is nearly an oedipal nightmare. Still, it rides the line carefully—quickly reminding us that his love for Ai is admiration, not romance. Ruby's past life provides an obstacle to overcome rather than skill. She struggles with dancing, a crucial skill as an idol, partly because having cancer made it difficult for her to dance, causing her to have difficulty with her mindset. Aqua and Ruby are deeply flawed, socially awkward, and very traumatized, like the other characters.

The side characters stand out with vibrant personalities that leave a lasting impression without gimmicks. Each character possesses their own set of goals, struggles, flaws, and endearing qualities. Among them is Kana Arima, a former child prodigy in acting who now finds herself a mediocre teenage actor. With a theater kid persona, Kana exudes excessive confidence that can seem condescending. However, her knack for maneuvering within the industry helps her secure roles. Like others, her character development involves confronting inner demons caused by past trauma and present triggers. As a freelancer, she often gets trapped in undesirable parts. However, when she joins Ruby to form their idol group B-Komachi, Kana discovers self-respect. Together, they build their team from scratch, with relentless effort and determination.

Another key supporting character is Akane, an up-and-coming actress who works alongside Aqua on a reality TV dating show. Through Akane's arc, the writer explores a theme touched on during the premiere. Social media: How it helps and harms performance artists. There's a focus on positive and negative responses to Aquamarine's TV shows, but it peaks with online hate and canceling Akane faces. Harassment's disastrous effects on her mental health are realistic and portrayed with uncommon sensitivity. Regardless of how the arc plays out, it is cathartic to see the people responsible for her turmoil condemned by the author. This includes the grossly misogynistic haters online and the scumbag producer of their reality TV show.

Aside from the tearjerker premiere, Oshi no Ko manages a few other genuinely moving moments—a mental health crisis and a near breakdown before a major performance—but surrounding those is a bit of contrived drama. Aqua's slow quest to find his father loses steam quickly. However, future seasons can revive that subplot. Ruby must navigate rising as an idol, a path well-worn by music anime. Though they mostly avoid pedestrian school drama, there's romance stalled by misunderstandings. It's as if the anime keeps seeking narrative conflict when there is plenty to dig into with the characters' turmoils—especially Ruby and Aqua's rich history. Tell us more about how their past lives inform their present! And it would've been fascinating to learn more about their adoptive mother; surely, a chapter or two can be spared for her. Despite the story's slight drawbacks, it's consistently elevated by one of Doga Kobo's most impressive presentations alongside Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun.

Although it is less well-directed than Akasaka's prior adaptation, Love is War, Daisuke Hiramaki handles the drama in Oshi no Ko excellently. The combination of orchestral background music and close-up shots creates a sense of immersion during the dramatic scenes. With soaring melodies and dynamic arrangements, orchestral compositions heighten the emotional intensity. As the music swells, it accentuates everything felt by the characters; anguish, joy, and depression, evoking an impactful response from the audience. Furthermore, the well-timed close-up shots sweeten the effect of these moments by capturing the characters' raw expressions.

Oshi no Ko delves into the intricate world of lies and facades that permeate celebrities' and performers' lives. It explores the challenges and consequences of maintaining a public image while delving into its characters' personal trauma. While the tearjerker premiere may have set high expectations that the subsequent episodes couldn't fully meet, the series delivers refreshing and immersive portrayals of the performing arts. The reincarnation plot device, although debated, advances the storyline. The side characters shine with their distinctive personalities and genuine character development, with Kana and Akane standing out as memorable figures. Despite some contrived drama and missed opportunities for deeper exploration, Oshi no Ko is consistently elevated by Doga Kobo's strong presentation. Ultimately, the anime provides a cathartic experience, while taking the coming-of-age genre from a fresh angle.

(Spoiler Free)

Oshi No Ko is a Masterpiece of pure emotion. If you watch the first episode you would be able to see how much the author cares about the story he is crafting. The story isn’t afraid to be dark when it needs to be, however it never feels like it’s to much as there are plenty of other themes to be explored. We see from the main characters Aqua and Ruby’s perspective on how the entertainment industry works and the harsh reality of well reality. Which leads me to the strongest thing Oshi No Ko has going for it in my opinion, the characters ... are written in a way that reflects people in real life and it’s not a stretch to say that they are some of the best written characters in recent anime. Oshi No Ko feels like a project that everyone working on it has poured their soul into. The animation is gorgeous, the art style is identical to the manga and the OST is is heart wrenching. Overall I highly recommend this anime.

It's not often that we get a show that tries to be more of a critique of society and less so a piece that you watch for raw entertainment.

Oshi no ko, as it's known in both Japanese and English, at first struck me off as rather creepy when it was announced - I mean, I wasn't familiar with the manga and at first glance, it's a show about a guy who's a big fan of a girl barely above the Japanese age of consent that then becomes her newborn son, of course it'd be weird. I was sceptical at first that it'd be like Inukai-san's ... Dog but far weirder and I'm really glad I was proven wrong.

The show isn't an average idol anime that's about friendship and love or whatever. Instead, it tries to be more informative and sheds light on various aspects of the entertainment industry that are either barely known or well-known but never discussed because ultimately people forget that celebrities are real humans as well alongside the fanaticism that comes with many fans that can manifest in many forms - Ruby being one example and Ryousuke another, far more polar one. In fact, a lot of dialogue in the first episode is about world building and it's delivered rather naturally. Nevertheless, the story is likely to make people consider twice about the entertainment industry and everything not so public that lies below it. The episode 1 itself was very emotional as well and it did great work to lure people in. The plot isn't afraid to be deplorable to itself for the sake of quality which is rare for most anime.

There're smaller issues with various plot holes, though. Namely I'd say that the author has a pretty bad grasp of what people at certain ages can do. Note that Ai became an idol 4 years before the start - at the age of 12. Aqua also holds rather complicated conversation with the Director at the age of 2 or 3 or so and he finds it quite normal.

Characters are fleshed out and recognisable. As per standard Aka Akasaka fashion, main characters generally need a random unique and unnatural feature to make them distinguishable - in this case, the eyes and blonde hair. Although I do admit it looks rather odd at first, I grew used to it rather quickly and by now I'm fine with it. Ai's entire internal struggle is the machine that fuels episode 1 and both its exposition and end are great. Both Ruby and Aqua's former identities are also utilised well as both a tool for character and plot development. And let the praise of the main cast not deter you from noticing the incredibly good array of side characters as well, from the Director, his wife, the Movie Director guy, Kana, etc. etc. (more come but will avoid mention due to spoilers and it's barely even the 3rd episode!). So, tl:dr - it's incredible

Just wish they had more normal names...I mean, imagine being named Aquamarine, that's quite a mouthful, innit? Or Ruby as well, that's just an odd one. But I digress.
Production is impeccable. The voice design is great and VAs include both a big name like Takahashi Rie and then big surprises such as Ruby's VA, who is an amateur (MAL lists this as her first work, even) but nevertheless not lacking in any ways. The opening song Idol by YOASOBI (by the way, if you haven't yet, I warmly advise that you check out the music video, it's great) is also a great fit for the show, albeit not something I'd listen to myself. The opening animation is fluid and pure eye candy. The art style is pretty unique (especially character design) but it's not bad in any way. Naturally, it falls short of masterpieces, but it's still beautiful - you'll likely never ever think to yourself "damn the art is not good"

Never expected that I'd unironically enjoy an idol show as much as I am right now. The genre in general has been experiencing a drought of more serious shows and this one is more than a good way to fill up that hole. Should anything change, I'll edit the review accordingly, although at this point, it can't go higher. Cheers, stay safe and have a nice day!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Many people depicted that Anime are the shows fondly about unique drawing and many amounts of fan-service that has hypes all around to their favorite series. And I do get to see many amounts of boorish shows that it suppresses you of not liking the anime because of how common to the other titles are; in that many people says, “This has better than that anime, or that is better than this anime”. We do have ourselves struck esteem on opinions of the shows.
But one of which in this seasonal airing show have brought shining stars and glimmer of ... hope to the new age of anime.

To begin with, we have to start the good part of [Oshi no Ko].
Where the entertainment industry centers around Show-biz & Idols that lies around the people who you love watching on your big screen.
Ai Hoshino, the stardom’s biggest Idol that beloved by many fans that caught their attention with her cheerful act, vibrant personality, and a maiden voice. And one last of them all that many fans do not know that she’s an endearing mother.
With all the actors/actress that we’ve known and love, its good that us fan have to keep supporting their back since that’s what pushes them to be better at their job and many more fans will accompany them for their success. Ai pushes to be one of the greats in her generation since she has the vigor in her charm and with an outstanding innovation as she ranks up to the leaderboard of followers.

With so many possibilities to become the very best in the film/idol industry, but there is also the bad part to not to be into.
In speaking of followers, it is suspected to see that there's these so called "Social Media" and it has many fatal flaws. Which it comes the people in the internet. Internet is an amazing tool to use of however you like it, and knowing that there are also people who loves to abolish things that would end up shaming everyone. [Oshi no Ko] also centered around the Internet's fanbase of how they love Ai so much and they would continuously supporting her. And another hand is to discriminate, calling her that she has a bad personality and a selfish girl who wants to stand out for herself. You can never withdrawn the fact that there are people like that loves destroying the images of the people just to seek enough attention for themselves and not even showing who they are.

That's the only bad part. And the worse part is the Ugly truth.
There are numerous news about young Celebrities have left their lives in the face of the Earth. On April 19, 2023. In Korea, a Korean pop Idol, Moon Bin have died.
Cause of Death? Suicide.
What made him Suicide? "His decision are still not known at the moment".
Here hoping that is not another cyberbullying.
But you can see the pattern here that we live in a modern day that countless of Celebrities have died due to Media. And the most common site that many people does not take it slightly is Twitter. And to keep it extra, there are more people have died because of Internet in the past. Setting outside than Japan. Here are 3 great examples:

Hana Kimura was a pro wrestler. On her debut on a "Staged" show called Terrace House, there was a part of her that the producers wanted Hana to act violently towards her co-star(Kobayashi), and told her to slap him. She refused and settled on knocking off the hat instead. Producers wanted her to be obnoxious and play uphill character to help the ratings and later confirmed by Kobayashi that the moment was staged. And when the episode aired, people were ranting and started calling things to her that she should kill herself.
5 days later, after receiving many comments. Hana Kimura has passed.

Haruma Miura was a singer/actor. He was a great singer and actor, knowing his live-action works like as Eren Yeager in Shigeki no Kyojin(AoT) and Shouta Kazehaya in Kimi ni Todoke. Knowing that he has passed away because of censurer people. His agency even has the audacity to spread misinformation that he was targeted by CIA.
So not only there are piece of sh*t people that caused himself to death, but his agency had the balls to tell a false rumors to his loving fans.

Last but not least. (Warning: i dont want to say this much, but you may find this disturbing to read. you've been warned)
Back in May 2016, a 20 y/o singer and actress Mayu Tomita was stabbed in the neck and chest multiple times by an online stalker after rejecting his gifts to her for months. Before anything that happened, Mayu already feared for her safety then she contacted the authorities that an online stalker could potentially approach her, but the police dismissed the case since his motives are not big of a deal. Sooner than later, 12 days after contacting the police. The stalker found Mayu and stabbed her 61 times with a pocket knife.
Luckily, there were no signs of hitting the vital organs, but received 34 stab wounds, partially blind on her left eye and having PTSD. She is still in fact alive today, but she will never forget that day.

Being in the Entertainment Industry is a 50/50 in my opinion. But the half of it is just straight down to the rabbit hole.

As an enthusiast of myself watching films from time to time. There are many movies and tv shows that centered around the show business and they are quite intriguing to watch. But it never surpasses the beyond beliefs knowing [Oshi no Ko]’s story.

As striking as Ai's starry eyes.

Just the gall to make an 82-min pilot episode for a proper complete prologue speaks for itself. We are gifted a near full-length anime film with great storyboarding, production, visual effects, voice acting, music, etc. right from the beginning.

Most of the people eagerly waiting for this show are here from Aka Akasaka's "Kaguya-sama Love is War", arguably the best light-hearted manga turned anime in recent memory. Unlike Kaguya-sama, this anime takes a much darker and more serious tone-- and yet, still captures the glow and life of the aforementioned series.

Mengo Yokoyari's illustration of their eyes just breathes so much ... more life into this Anime; as if it's peeking and piercing right through your soul. How beautiful the overall art/animation cannot be put into words. How it changes art styles at times to perfectly fit the nature of the scene is awe-inspiring.

What we have here is a must-watch for all anime fans. Being in the Seinen genre, it might feel a bit too real and too heavy at times, especially for younger audiences; but the soul put into this work by everyone who made it possible makes it worth all the ups-and-downs we go through with the ensemble.

Characters - 10/10

Story - 10/10

Art/Animation/Visual - 10/10

Sound - 10/10

Personal enjoyment of the work - 10/10

Overall Rating: 10/10

For you and me, and everyone, Oshi no Ko has transcended beyond logic this season. You know, before I even added this show to the watchlist, this anime hit a lot of genres and ideas that stunned me in their promotional material. The preview video and theme songs in particular caused an Internet sensation. Plus, this franchise wasn't created by some nobody. It's made by the same author as Kaguya Love is War, the same series that had psychological elements tied with love and war. Watching Oshi no Ko is one of the most stunning experiences I had in recent years.

I kid you not. The ... first episode extended to 70+ minutes may be one of the most mind-boggling, peculiar, or perhaps disturbing introduction for an anime you've seen in years. Do not let the colorful key visual deceive you. This is so much more than about cute idols doing cute things. The entertainment world is a complex realm of possibilities that tipify the very fabric of our emotions. Let me just say that Oshi no Ko has one of the most complex mixture of themes this season. Adapted into a 11 episodes season, it follows the manga story by the one and only Aka Akasaka.

It's clear Oshi no Ko wanted to catch our attention with not just its strange premise, but also the full creativity of its first episode. Being a double length, this is essentially a mini-movie aimed at introducing the main story and some of the most important characters. We meet Goro Amamiya as he is murdered on the night of delivering idol singer Ai Hoshino's children. The twist comes as Goro is reincarnated as one of Ai's children and now goes by the name 'Aqua'. The rabbit hole goes deeper with the introduction of Ruby, his fraternal twin and this sets the foundation of the story. It sounds mind-boggling and you truly need to watch the first episode to experence it. Words alone cannot describe the amount of mind shattering direction of this show. But again, maybe you are used to seeing anime with reincarnation elements. It has been a dominating force in today's anime industry after all. Oshi no Ko does not contain the fantasy isekai elements but instead take place in an entertainment world. And as I mentioned before, the entertainment world is a complex realm of possibilities.

Perhaps one of the most pivotal moments in the show is the death of Ai Hoshino. The anime is bold enough to kill off an important character because it's needed to develop the overall plot. For you see, love and revenge becomes a part of this anime's themes. Ai's experience with love hits its peak when she truly tells her children that she loves them. Similar to Akasaka's Kaguya Love is War, this anime has themes related to lies. But in those final moments, Ai was able to express herself truthfully in the most natural way possible. Meanwhile, the anime wants Aqua to avenge Ai's death. For him to discover the truth, the most important way is to enter the entertainment industry.

Oshi no Ko touches on several themes and although love, lies, and revenge are among these, it doesn't stop there. For there's love, there's also hate and Aqua is one of the best representation of such feelings. Aqua is the easily the coldest character in the show with a single dedicated mind focused on finding out the truth. Willing to take any risks and go as far as a man can go, Aqua will stop at nothing in his goal and this season showcases some of his talents. You may question if Aqua is entitled to this because truth be told, everything he sets out to do is for revenge and we all know that revenge isn't going to bring back Ai. However, I want to say Aqua represents the very instincts of human nature. It's natural human instinct for us to feel angry when we lose a loved one. For Aqua, he makes it a personal journey to avenge his mother and find out the truth. Although this season doesn't have enough time to solve the eerie mystery, it does uncover Aqua's talents and enough for us to know his personality.

Beyond the boundary of hate and revenge, we should also take a closer look at Ruby Hoshino and her presence this season. To put it simply, she represents a foil of Aqua, being outgoing with a bubbly personality and being easily able to make friends with others. Instead of seeking revenge, Aqua hopes to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Growing up in her previous life as a happy person, it would appear her personality didn't change much at all since Ai's death. While this seems to put odds against her brother Aqua, the show does make it clear that he cares about her greatly. Their relationship is described as peculiar because they contrast each other so much. But at its core, the two are a close family since the tragedy of their mother.

The entertainment industry introduces us a rather colorful cast and among them is Akane Kurokawa. One particular episode showed not just her sensitive side but just how tough the entertainment industry can be and its high expectations. However, this anime wanted Akane to be a mirror image of Ai Hoshino. She may not be as talented but with a resourceful mind and rejuvenated determination, Akane draws us in as an inspirational role model. Watching Oshi no Ko showcases an element of surprise where we should always expect the unexpected. Akane's character turnaround is just one such example and if you don't believe me, just see for yourself.

Ultimately, your decision to watch Oshi no Ko could be for its themes, character cast, story, or the overall tone of the series. It's not the usual showbiz type anime where characters compete for a spotlight and make a career. This is about controlling a path and following it through any obstacle. This isn't just a romance either so don't go into this show expecting a love story between the cast. As with Akasaka's style of writing, you should expect one with emotional drama combined with psychological attributes. It has some sensitive themes including death, suicide, and among other topics that can be deemd as controversial. Yet, Oshi no Ko is outlandishly entertaining for not being afraid to take risks. And to me, it's also why this anime is a must-watch.

Adapted by studio Doga Kobo, the most noticable element for the character designs are the starry eyes that may go beyond just asethetics. Sure, the author wanted to give our characters unique looks with their radiant emotions. However, there's yet no definitive answer why we see those sparkling eyes. Perhaps they represent emotions and how humans behave. Or perhaps they really are designed to give the anime a colorful look. Nonetheless, Doga Kobo captured the esseence of the character designs at its finest straight from the manga. The theme songs also combine a balanced style of J-pop and dark tone when watched carefully. And thankfully, the animation quality throughout this anime remains concrete throughout.

Whether you agree or disagree about Oshi no Ko's rating is a topic on its own. But I speak for everyone when I say that this anime and manga will be talked about for years. We now live in a social media age where anime like this can instantly spark debates. Controversy makes cash and there's no doubt Oshi no Ko is sitting on a gold mine.

There is no doubt that Oshi no Ko was one of the most popular anime this season, and it’s easy to see why. There is some realistic commentary of the idol and entertainment industries, especially the dark side, which made for an interesting watch. Through all the mystery and dark subject matter, there was also a bit of comedy mixed in, which I will admit was hit or miss at times, but it all boded well for me in the end, perhaps due to the high production standards of this anime.

Now, I know the reincarnation subplot has some people up in arms, and I do ... understand that can be the weak link of the show, but anime in the end is a medium that has a lot of goofy ideas in it, and this was one of them. I would also agree to some extent it wasn’t a particularly strong way to start the show, but that didn’t really hamper my enjoyment too much.

Like I mentioned earlier, the real hook of the series is the commentary on the entertainment industry. Streamers, vtubers, actors, models, idols, and many other people in the online sphere face a lot of the issues that this anime talks about. The idea that the entertainer has to be “pure”, especially if they are a female, can bring about a lot of online hate once said entertainer is found to have a relationship. Viewers feel betrayed and hurt, so they try to cancel them, threaten them, and that can cause major ramifications to the entertainer’s mental state. If there’s one thing to take away from this anime, even if you don’t like it, is to be wary on the Internet, and to simply be a kind person, to not be so desperate for the one moment of Internet clout. Unfortunately, cyberbullying due to these events is very common, and to be honest, unlikely to ever go away, but does that mean we should stop trying to stop the behaviour? Definitely not, but in this day and age, one also has to have thick skin to handle such toxic words. People, just remove likes/retweets on replies to tweets or Youtube videos, not the dislike button entirely.

I did appreciate the comments on the industry a lot, and it’s clearly issues that the author, Aka Akasaka is trying to point out to people, but I do think there wasn’t really enough of that throughout the series, as the series shifted its priorities quite often, with other themes like the mystery and idol performances taking over. Not to say that wasn’t a good thing, as the other parts of the anime have their own respective charms, but I did enjoy the industry talk the most.

The characters offer a variety of personalities, and I think it’s fair to say that many viewers may find themselves relating or resonating with a certain character, and for everyone, that might be a different one. The cast is solid overall, and it was clear to me how much the production staff love Kana Arima, the famous child actress that struggled as she grew up. I found myself resonating with her character the most, and having fun watching her interactions with the rest of the cast. She has a foul mouth with snappy comments, but in the end, she cares about the people around her a lot, and wants them to succeed, to not face failures like she did after her child actress days were behind her. A lot of the time, I felt she was the voice of the main message of what the author, Aka Akasaka wanted to convey, with the information around the industry and how people have to act. For many, I’m sure that Akane Kurokawa, the actress who had her fair share of struggles in this series to say the least, will be their favourite character. While her character moments led to much discourse among viewers, I feel her arc was resolved a bit quickly, though it was still very impactful. Mem-cho, the Vtuber/Youtuber had some humorous moments as well, and had some relatable things to say. The supposed two main characters in Ruby and Aqua felt like the weakest in the show, especially Ruby, who didn’t have much to do after the first episode, though her positivity and naiveness about being an idol had me a little scared, and Aqua just didn’t feel like a very strong protagonist, as his traits are being manipulative, and having the mind of an adult, not much else. I get that you’re not really supposed to think he’s a good guy or anything, but he didn’t really give me anything to cling on to or relate to. I hope that improves with future seasons.

The production behind this show is definitely something to be admired, with splendid directing, compositing, and beautiful scenes throughout. Props to all the staff behind this, as I could tell this was quite the passion project, with some bias toward Kana, which I have absolutely zero complaints about since she’s my favourite character in the show. The darker moments were handled well to really emphasize how eerie and uncomfortable it felt, especially in Episode 6, while the lighter moments had their charm to it as well. The soundtrack was fine, though mostly highlighted by the popularity of the OP and ED, and especially YOASOBI’s music video on the opening, Idol, which topped the Billboard charts outside the United States. There were various records that this anime broke, and it is just so overwhelmingly popular, and when I went to Japan for a vacation a couple months ago, I saw and heard a lot of things related to Oshi No Ko everywhere, including merch, and the music.

Overall, this show provides a solid, and perhaps relatable look at the entertainment industry, while mixing in themes of mystery, and more light hearted moments as well. If you’re curious and want to watch this show, you’ll know if you like it after the 90 minute premiere, which sets the stage very well. Not everything was perfect, as I did want a deeper look at the industry, but what we got was still an excellent product that will resonate with a lot of anime fans, and also myself, for some time to come.

Remember to be kind to others, especially online. It’s not that difficult to do.

I started watching it like any new Isekai anime with strange premise, gynecologist reincarnated as baby of popstar? Haha thats funny...

This anime hit me so hard that i bought all manga at once and read it in two days... For me it's one of the best animes i watched lately and for sure can compete with old classics. Aqua is like Aizen-sama just darker... and Ruby? Trust me if she is half as good as in manga we will have new superstar. The story begins like any other isekai. Somebody dies somebody get reincarnated. Haha funny things baby dancing, carrying mother etc. oh boy ... are we here for crazy ride.

Tbh if i knew what im into i may even skip this anime, but im so glad i didnt do it.

Main character or mains <bcs in manga and i hope in anime Ruby and Aqua are equals> are so good characters, you can feel theire feelings happines and pain. It's just great and i cant wait how it will go futher.

Plot is gripping like quicksands and from episode to episode its getting better and better.

"Lying is a different form of love" - Hoshino Ai
Currently ranked first with the highest score in MAL. Is "Oshi No Ko" worth its hype?
The studio behind this is Doga Kobo and I can say they brought out everything that they can for this show. They nailed the art and animation which is a solid 10/10
The OP and ED are totally unskippable. The lyrics of both songs are well-written to relate on the main characters. Well, as expected from Yoasobi and Queen Bee.
I won't give out much spoilers so that those who are planning to watch it will feel the rollercoaster of emotions ... that most of us felt.
Everyone has their own opinions and we all have different likes so it's understandable that some might not watch it because it slowly becomes overrated and some people might disagree that it is a great show.
The rating might change in the future, but still, this clearly shows that there are a lot of people who enjoys it. And as someone who's currently reading the manga, it did not disappoint.
So, is it worth watching? It definitely is and you shouldn't miss it. This spring season, it is one of the must-watch!
Also, it gave out different emotions to viewers, and that's the beauty of anime, isn't it? Enjoy the show.

Hello guys,

Imma just says that my rating for the show will probably be a ten when the season is over, considering the manga material that is going to be animated now or in the foreseeable future, which I won't describe in any way, shape, or form besides it being pretty f***** good.

The anime is hyped up more than Chainsaw Man, also partly due to its ridiculously good opening.
The art style is clean as hell and the eyes have an original style as well, which I always focus on and like to see happening.
The voice acting is imo superb and the music+sound design in general is ... also very good.

Ep1 was just awesome! A movie-ish duration first episode is always good in my book. Take Rise of the Shield Hero, a very good show as well.
Fr tho, it explained what the show will be about nicely and showed off everything they have to offer in terms of quality.

So far they have definitely kept up the quality and I will most likely update this review after the last episode to give a way more detailed review.
For me, it's a 10 right now in terms of hype, art, music, VAs, the cast and just the complete vibe of the show.

I was reluctant to watch it and started believing it wouldn't be worth anything, but I ended the season knowing it was one of the best works ever created by mankind. I guarantee strong emotions and lessons on how to make a good anime.

This is one of the hardest reviews I've ever written. Since it is easy and good to talk about the mistakes, the difficult thing is to communicate the successes and to criticize an almost perfect anime is a challenge. Therefore, I will focus on what I consider the strongest points of this anime, which make it so loved and recognized, which is ... precisely being able to convey a lot of emotion and content.

Most critics try not to talk about emotions, because it is something subjective and stigmatized by society, but the truth is that this is the soul of this industry. What makes someone offer the most valuable thing that human beings have, which is time? Above all, this is what entertainment is based on. It doesn't matter a high complexity, something outlandish, something innovative, something extremely realistic. Absolutely having all these things means nothing if they can't convey emotion, because that's what the directors want and what the public wants. Like critical, artistic and cultural values, they are secondary, often temporal and, despite not being labeled as such, have greater degrees of subjectivity than things that transmit emotions.

One of the trademarks of this work is that in all episodes, or almost all, they close with a climax, leaving a suspense that captivates the interest for the continuation. Some will say that this hook technique is old and that's true, but it works and few works managed to perform as well in as many episodes as this one. It is also something that, because it is no longer so usual, and not done correctly in anime, seems innovative. It was obviously a great job by the director of series composition who knew how to divide the material of the episodes well. Merit not only from this director of composition, but from the whole team, because I read the manga and these scenes would not have the same weight without the right choice of music, framing, rhythm, colors, shadows and incrementing more frames .

Animated art enables greater sensory sensations, therefore it has more possibilities to provoke emotions. However, I got to know the plot before watching most of the episodes and the story is addictive in itself. As much as the anime team has many merits and great achievements, I must recognize that the author of the source material and the manga artist had the greatest contribution.

The characters in this story make us empathize with them, to the point that we have their desires, their anxieties, their anger and their sadness. One of the biggest marks for us to know if the characters are good is when the work manages to put us in them and feel with them. These characters also have full arcs, but they're good essentially because they move us.

The most impactful scenes in order are:

All the scenes in the final part of the 1st episode are spectacular and that's what sells the work the most. I just need to comment that there was something missing from the manga during the death of a character and that if it had been shown in the anime it would have avoided some silly criticism.

The scene at the end of the 7th episode, without any exaggeration, I watched it again at least a hundred times because it was so good and so emotional. Interesting that it's not that different in the manga, but the little they've changed improves it tremendously. They made a simple scene look grandiose with just a camera movement, shadows and a very accurate soundtrack. It may not be the most impactful, but it's my favorite. After that scene, I couldn't help but recognize that this anime was a masterpiece.

The scenes at the end of the 10th episode, improved absurdly compared to the manga. Well, it was extended, the dialogues were deeper, the scenery was changed, they made new framings, put shading that didn't exist, gave spectacular colors and put a fantastic soundtrack. If the scene in episode seven made me recognize that this anime is a masterpiece, the one in episode ten made me place this anime in the top ten of all time. This scene was so deep and moved me so much that I cried from beginning to end, it gave me satisfaction and a constant smile. Furthermore, if I could retouch the Mona Lisa I would just put more layers with more detail in this beautiful photograph.

The scene at the end of the 8th episode was also improved in the anime due to framing and the use of camera movement. Naturally, the plot would make this scene empathetic, with a somewhat sad tone followed by one of satisfaction, but the work made it more dramatic with the character's great facial expressions.

At the end of the 9th episode there was an addition of a clip with an entire song, which in the manga this was only represented by a comic. It certainly enriches the work, but as much as I see value in it, what really impacts me is Kana's part. So maybe it turned out better in the manga, because without that clip in the middle of the scene they contrasted better.

The scene at the end of the 6th episode has something very heavy, it couldn't not be impactful, but I preferred it much more in the manga because they left the character hysterical and also the soundtrack was not the best choice. A curiosity is that I saw a youtuber who hates the work comment that this episode was unreal, artificial. Only for him to break down soon after, when the manifestations of a mother criticizing the work for accomplishing something very similar to the real case of her daughter came to light.

The scenes at the end of the 5th episode, I think it goes without saying that Pieyon's music video went viral, many people sharing, many people doing a live-action version, even Ruby's Japanese interpreter participated in one of these versions. Overall I enjoyed this scene, but the anime didn't use the same framing as the manga and the clip was a little weird. Thoughts in the form of speech also messed up the scene in the anime.

The one with the manga writer getting emotional in the 4th episode, it's the kind of scene with content, with a critical value, but what's more important is how it's conveyed. The character conveys the emotion of watching an adaptation of her manga and we cry watching her cry. It was great!

The scene at the end of the 3rd episode was great, because it gave the protagonist stage presence, made him imposing and generated suspense for the continuation of it that would come at the beginning of the next episode. For me this was the part that turned the key on that it would not be just a prologue and that I needed to raise the grade of the work. I also saw a youtuber complaining that the ending scene of episode three should have been a little further on. The problem is that it wouldn't generate a cliffhanger for a continuation and this scene later on is the one at the beginning of episode four that wasn't as good as it could have been. The fact is that they wanted to increase things that took away from the great grandeur that the scene of the fourth episode has in the manga. In this scene in the manga, the protagonist conveys much more the idea that he is doing a very talented performance, being in fact a star. Nor is it just a matter of passing on the idea, it is about doing it with the assurance that you will do something brilliant. This is extraordinary!

The concert scene of the 11th episode, again the anime expanded, put on a song, gave choreographies, conveyed emotion, in short, it had an excellent complement. That whole arc from the beginning to the lead-up to the show had me moved the entire time with tears and laughter. However, I have to be annoying, because the visual part of this scene of the show fell short of what I expected, what could be and what should have been, especially in a few moments that focused on the public and in terms of detailing the scenarios . Making it clear that with this I am not saying that it was bad, this scene is sensational and worthy of closing a season, it just deserved more affection. If I were the director, I would close the season on that part, or on the car scene, because it would give a greater sense of closure. The car scene is an excellent part that if more explored would be much better.

Other scenes worth mentioning are in the 1st episode and are: the death of a character at the beginning; the baby dance that went viral on the networks; that of Amaterasu; Ruby scolding Aqua for not being woken up.

The anime deals with some themes of the entertainment industry, such as: talent is not the most important thing; bureaucratic obstacles; financial difficulties; celebrity behavior; trouble maintaining an ideal image; relationship between stars and fans and between fans and stars. On top of these themes, the anime brings knowledge of this artistic world and makes scathing criticism. This is something very satisfying, as it does not leave the feeling that other works bring that we are wasting our time without receiving something aggregating in return. In addition, they are approaches with new perspectives that do not need to be complex and profound to reach a wider audience.

The theme of the entertainment industry is recurrent because the plot is set in that industry, but this is not the main theme of the anime nor the only one of the secondary themes. The work even deals with other secondary themes in much more depth than this one. Topics such as: love, family, resilience, hypocrisy, maturity and responsibility. They are very intertwined with the main theme of the work, which is about revenge and lies, in such a way that they are confused and sometimes they are the same thing. I understand that common things are more easily perceived, but only shallow analyzes that do not understand the philosophy of this work only see the surface of the iceberg.

Another point that few people pay attention to is the richness of the symbolism that this work uses and the primary source of philosophical, mythological, mystical and legendary inspiration. The creator god of Shintoism Izanagi had a daughter named Amaterasu, the sun goddess who was born from his left eye and from which the Japanese imperial family descends. From Izanagi's right eye, his son Tsukiyomi, the moon god, was born. It is not only in the colors and stars in the eyes that this symbolism is clear, but also in the personalities of the characters.

Oshi no Ko is one of the best introspective critiques of the Japanese entertainment industry ever. It handles topics like the toxicity of the industry in a way that we haven’t seen before and is a must watch.

Often, foreigners have conflated perceptions of Japan, due in large part to the success of anime as a cultural export. They see Japan as this ideal haven full of advanced technology and waifus. The reality of the matter is that like all countries, Japan has its issues. One of the biggest, being the virulent nature of the entertainment industry. Whether it be obsessed fans or abusive talent agencies, ... there’s a lot of issues here.

Despite the bright character designs and cheery visuals, Oshi no Ko gives us an unprecedented view of the struggles of actors, idols, content creators and the dark underbelly of the industry. It takes us through situations inspired by real life events and deals with topics like cyber bullying, stalking, depression, suicide, anxiety, insecurity and others in a very realistic and tasteful manner. While some things are played up for the sake of entertainment, these are very real issues that affect many people on a day to day basis and I’m happy with the job Doga Kobo did bringing it to life and even surpassing the manga in many instances.

While it may have gained its initial popularity from Aka Akasaka’s reputation, Oshi no Ko has charted its own course and carved out its own legacy thanks in large part to its phenomenal story, great characters and relevant subject matter. This isn’t just riding on Kaguya’s coattails. It’s genuinely a master class in its own right. From voice acting to art direction, this is truly Doga Kobo’s finest work.

It has to be stated, this is not an idol show. Despite how much you may see people going around talking about it being a subversion or reinvention of the idol genre, they’re wrong. This is a drama focused on the Japanese entertainment industry and it’s truly one of a kind.

I’d argue this is a must watch, not just for the artistic merits of the show, but for the message. The advent of the internet brought with it many great things. But, it also created opportunities for harassment and bullying, and seeing how that affects people is really important to ensuring you don’t fall into that category of person.

As I touched on earlier, the art direction is stellar in this adaptation. As a manga reader, I already knew all the big twists and plot points coming into the season. So my biggest point of evaluation was the quality of the adaptation and how the studio would handle the big emotional set pieces. As expected of DG, they did an awesome job. Admittedly even better than I could’ve hoped.

In many situations, the cinematography amplifies scenes allowing viewers to truly feel the weight of the moment more than a manga ever could do. The voice acting from both industry stalwarts like Han Megumi(Kana) and newcomers like Igoma Yurie(Ruby) is incredible. Love the more muted and subtle voice acting style for the main characters. Adds a level of immersion to keep you focused on the subject at hand. Art style of course is great too. Great work all around.

You don’t get a number 1 song on billboard 100 without having a fervent fanbase behind you. The Oshi no Ko fanbase is extremely passionate about this series and for good reason. It’s got some of the most loveable characters/waifus in animanga, a gripping story, pertinent topics and emotional moments that hit you like a truck. Not only is it one of the best anime of the season, it’s one of the best anime in recent memory and it deserves all the hype.

Oshi no Ko gets 10 stars, out of 10.

The first episode.

The first episode belongs in some sort of anime hall of fame. While some longer first episodes do something I like to call "Exposition-Vomit", this one does not. The first episode gives us a lot to digest, especially in regard to the doctor and Ai's story, but yeah it is amazing so far. The first 3 episodes were home runs. Although the 2nd and 3rd episodes were not as good as the first, they were amazing nevertheless.

The idol anime community is something I am not familiar with, I mean Kongming does not count as an idol now haha. But I enjoyed it.

The Story: ... About Ai Hoshino, a 16-year-old idol. A doctor and a cancer patient get reincarnated as Ai's babies when she has them. I am avoiding spoilers so I cannot say much else without spoiling but I enjoyed it so far.

The Comedy is also something good. The sub's VAs do an excellent job portraying emotions.

The Animation is nothing to scoff at either.
The eyes.
THE EYES.
Holy crap the eyes and all the fluid animation is good. The character designs and backgrounds are on point as well.

I cannot talk about music without mentioning the Yoasabi Music, which is one of the best intros to date! Yoasabi is always a banger.

All in all amazing show so far 3/12 episodes in! I will probably write another review once I am done with the show!
Score: 10/10 so far

Thanks!
-CyanCheetah

Couldn’t get enough of the anime so I’m reading the manga now. The animation and music is wonderful. If you like showbiz stuff then this is for you. Plot twist literally killed me inside but it develops the story well. I will say though, the “reincarnation” never even taps into the plot much. And I’m glad they dropped it because it felt kinda… weird? Anyways, the plot is nice. It’s like a dramatic revenge story. They keep the edginess and “I actually have a life” balanced with aqua (the main character) which is nice.

Animation 10/10
Music 10/10
Plot 9/10

Overall good shit

A while back, I dropped the manga after the first few chapters. I know this is said a lot, but do give it a chance and watch the entire first episode. I find idols to be cringe, and originally thought the premise was silly, so I assumed it was just overhyped. So for people like myself who felt the opening is contrived or stupid, just give it time; Beneath the surface, this is a genuinely good anime. I'm not sure if I would have even tried this anime if not for a friend telling me that it gets way better. Be careful reading reviews, as ... spoiling the events of the first episode would be doing yourself a disservice, just know that it is brilliant. While I don't wish to spoil the plot, I can talk about the excellent production. This music, the animation, the art, this is some of the most brilliant animation I have seen. Very rarely do I feel an anime greatly surpasses it's source material. Bocchi the Rock was one of those, which used the medium of animation to actually enhance the experience, not just emulate a manga. This is similar, it shows that the team genuinely cares about the project and bringing it to life.

As someone who doesn't watch idol shows that and has no interest in them what so ever.
This show comes out with the feels episode one. The fact that the main character is someone that you can feel their pain episode to episode.
So far really makes me hang on the edge of my seat.
The contrast between bright and cheerful animation and dark and dreary plot is actually the best part of this anime so far.
Even if you aren't into Idol anime give the first episode a shot. It is "movie" length but that is what makes this the prefect start up to an idol anime ... in my opinion.

One of the many few anime and manga that I actually like and follow enthusiastically, the plot is amazing, it feels a mix of 2-3 genres and the art is complementing it all.

This story is very unique in itself, although i dont like most of the reincarnation mangas, this one caught my eye because of the tragic story that continues after the reincarnation, a MC with the only goal of finding and killing his father, some key moments of the anime is really what makes it hype worth it.

Overall the plot, art and as well as the characters are all amazing, totally recommended.

Good god we're finally here. Oshi no Ko anime version, as one who started the manga many months ago, and seriously enjoyed it, I've been so hyped about wanting to see this, and I am so pleased with the result. You should be too!

If you're familiar with Akasaka, Aka, then you'll know his work through Kaguya-sama, and you already know how widely regarded that piece of work is. Which is already enough to give you good hopes that this will be good as a result. Which it's not just good. IT'S GREAT. Honestly one of the BEST opening episodes of any anime that you will ... ever see, and one of the most enjoyable, and interesting pieces of media that you will bare witness. Once you watch this, you will know Oshi no Ko, you will know how great it is, and you'll more likely want to view more and more.

I do wish to state before you do anything, if you are new to Oshi no Ko. WATCH IT NOW. WATCH IT,GO IN BLIND AND WITNESS IT ALL FOR YOURSELF. There is a reason as to why the first episode is as long as it is. There is a lot to take in, and set it's scene, and what it does, is set it's scene perfectly, and showcases as to why it's up there as far as it is. So. Go on. Watch it now.

Story and characters: 9
Normally in here, I would go into details on a number of things, such as the contents of te story, along with talking about the characters and such. But because of the nature of the show, I do feel like that it's something to truly experience for yourself. To experience it's story, characters, and contents within itself, so you understand why it's so highly rated, why it's so highly liked. I could personally go into so much details about it, but this is the kind of show that you'll go in for first time, and see why if anything. You watch first, then ask questions later. You already know who it is from, so you can already expect a great, and well put out story, that's full of excitement around every corner. Watch it, you'll love it.


Art and sound: 10
This deserves the highest of marks. The polish, the touch, everything just looks MMMMMM. Chefs kiss. Like I normally don't give the highest of grades to many things, but Oshi no Ko takes the cake and then some. Look at the animation, the way it moves, the way it flows, EVERYTHING. I am so pleased that everything looks so good, so crisp, so special and amazing. You won't be disappointed at all, it is truly beautiful. From how it looks in a much more brighter colours, to when it needs to relax a little, to when it's a more darker looking atmosphere. Top that off with some amazing voice acting, as you can feel the passion and drive just oozing out of every little thing. It's really that damn good.

Oshi no Ko has risen to the top of the charts for a damn good reason, and deservedly so. Even if it doesn't stay there, I know, when it comes to a year from now, or further, when people ask you recommend to you, great anime to watch, you will say.

OSHI
NO
KO.

Well its defently something different, Oshi No Ko started with an banger and its an Mix of isekai and slice of life and in These terms its defently on top TIER. Because to make an slice of life Anime even good not incredible etc. Its already quite amazing since in an slice of life anime there mostly is no exciting scene, They are most likely always boring but this anime has the certain something that lets you feel with the characters or something that doesnt let it get boring. And to achive such a thing its quite insane for an slice of life anime.

And ... i even would go this far that everyone who does not recommend is a newbee or doesnt know how it completly works.
Since the most people compare slice of life VS an different category like isekai.
But that doest work, since in isekai are always, most likely some exciting scenes that an slice of life anime doesnt have!

The slice of life category is there to recreate reality in some terms somewhere, where its Main Spot is build on emotions and not Fights or something else!
But many people forget this fact and fail to judge an anime so correctly = they judge z.b. trash to an masterpiece and masterpiece as mid.
= you can only compare like this:
Slice of life vs slice of life
And not
Slice of life vs Isekai
Because as i sayed its an natural disadvantage in almost every term

Surely it always has todo something with the Personal interest but if you are not interested in slice of life and like isekai more you shouldnt watch it or even make an Review (as long as you didnt can compare this slice of life anime with other slice of life animes)

Ps: iam someone who readed manga and also watches the anime (current amount of readed Mangas and animes: 300+)

The characters played off each other well. I thought the story moved forward without rushing. And the art style, animation, and overall production quality all impressed me. I really enjoyed this first season and would highly recommend watching it.

I had only two major complaints. First, the twins' interactions felt somewhat unrealistic--I thought they were too sparse and inconsequential to be believable. Ruby and Aqua somehow avoided learning anything about each other for an entire decade and a half. Brothers and sisters growing up together should have a tremendous impact on each other's lives, reincarnation notwithstanding. And second, I disliked the transitions between the serious, mystery-driven ... scenes and the slice-of-life showbiz scenes. While the scenes themselves were individually engaging, Oshi no Ko neglected its larger plot. The show thrives on being a revenge story and simultaneously a deep dive into the entertainment world, so I wouldn't want a story that is only one of those halves, but I was still left wondering if there was a better way to split the difference.