*[Oshi no Ko]* is a series caught within a bizarre Catch-22 as an actual piece of entertainment. It wants to follow the comedic and dramatic conventions for storytelling that Akasaka has in mind, and also wants to unravel the disquieting undercurrent of the entertainment industry within its gaze. But to do so would involve having its cast be outsmarted or exploited by the teeth of the very beast that they seek to enterprise in, and by the nature of the show’s framing, it cannot have that. As a result, the show does not actually delve into the darkest contortions and disquieting undercurrents of the entertainment
...
industry that Akasaka supposedly wants to discuss. It hints at the phantoms on the wall rather than confronts them. The whole reads more as someone who only just discovered what the entertainment industry is like, is repulsed by what they saw, and has a lot they want to say, but must make a contractual deal with the devil in order to get the story told, a provision of which is to not wholly besmirch his name in the process.
Entertainment is, just as a general note, a strange entity. Stranger still though is the relationship we have with it. Even in the supposed “reality” of reality television, we all know and acknowledge on some level that everything in entertainment is manufactured or a conglomeration of lies to get a desired affect or impression. It’s engineered by hundreds of people we never know beyond the abstract to make something we think is worth the time and financial or emotional investment. We also know that the industry is not run by angels. Yet no matter how many times we get shocked by the reality that we see when the curtain gets pulled back, there’s always the next cultural object or talking point to swallow our attention even as the people within its own industry cry out to let their pleas for mercy be heard. The para-social relationship we have with the media we consume is sometimes not as simple as “I like this thing” with posters or casual merchandise; it can move beyond human ugliness or frailty and into the abyss of pure horror
I emphasize this para-social quality between entertainment and consumer because it is the very lifeblood that *[Oshi no Ko]* uses to get its start, and stubbornly refuses to emphasize or embrace further as it goes along. As two idol-obsessed people watching Hoshino Ai, doctor Amamiya Gorou and hospital patient Tendouji Sarina have formed an obsessive bond with her and her almost-divine performance presence, capitulated further when she discreetly arrives at Gorou’s hospital pregnant with twins. The day of delivery is struck down by Gorou being murdered, and both he and Tendouji are reincarnated as Ai’s children with all their mental faculties in place, now named Aquamarine and Ruby respectively. Two people in the thick of idol fandom, one of whom is killed by someone in the thick of idol fandom, now finding themselves the objects of their idolized idol’s attention. The perverse relationship between entertainment and consumer comes back around again as Ai is killed in her own home by a crazed fan, angry at her for having children, and Aqua suspects they were sent by their real father. It is, after all, against the law for idols to do anything sexual, unless the agency or someone within is facilitating it. With the light of their life extinguished, they’re left to pick up the pieces of what remains.
Ruby channels them into becoming like her mother and an idol herself, a depressing irony in that she naively has no clue what she’s getting into. Aqua channels them into joining the industry behind the scenes and finding their father-murderer that way, a journey of personal doom. The para-social sense of naïve optimism and slip into despair via the industry and their products never leaves the characterization (they’re always being fueled by Ai, even in death), but it does get reprioritized—if not shoved to the side outright—as the show’s scenarios begin manifesting. It chooses to focus its attention instead on how the industry functions and the people within it, functioning as a quasi-exposé.
The result is *[Oshi no Ko]* effectively abandoning its original framing device for something vastly less interesting. The series wants to have its cake and eat it too, to be profoundly crushing on the emotional level while delivering its timeless message that the entertainment industry is a monolithic hydra of lies and politics that the cast nevertheless tries to succeed in. The irony is that, in Akasaka and series composer Tanaka Jin’s bid to do this, they cannot resist flexing their knowledge by having characters just spell out “the truth” of how the industry works, robbing the show of its opportunities to impose such things on the characters, barring some flashbacks. It is so on-the-nose that there is little to be discovered organically through the narrative.
And Aqua’s positioning within *[Oshi no Ko]’s* structure drives this point home, especially. He became after Ai’s death a cold, calculating genius when it comes to the industry as a whole, in-part helped by having worked in it. Whether in front of the camera or from the production side, there is seemingly nothing he cannot adapt to. Such a characterization undercuts the looming danger of the industry itself because if anything bad happens, Aqua will always be able to salvage the situation or come up with some solution that makes sure everything and / or everyone is okay. It is difficult to be apprehensive of the shadows on the wall when a character keeps flicking on the lights, never truly getting caught off-guard.
It is a given that not everyone who works in the entertainment industry is a terrible person, that many involved indeed are trying to create the best product possible, and they know that being nice to their actors is one of the ways to do so. But *[Oshi no Ko]* has its depiction of the industry be more abstractly monolithic in its malice as opposed to actually having people in it who are malicious. Because Aqua and Ruby are born into the business through being Ai’s children, they are constantly sheltered from its grimmer possibilities by being in a “good company” and “knowing the right people” who will oblige Aqua’s thirst for vengeance in exchange for a favor, either wittingly or unwittingly. The monologuing by the characters keeps talking about how the industry is rough, unfair, and “that’s how it is,” but any sense of unfairness is barely allowed, if at all, to directly interrupt finding Ai’s killer or pose a sincere obstacle to Ruby’s progress. Thus, there is a shorter draw distance with which *[Oshi no Ko]* can cast its muckraking net, leaving many of the emotional moments to fall strangely limply rather than fuel a brutal collision.
But even so, there are rare times where the para-social relationship I hinted at before does return, and it occurs in the moments where the series shines at its brightest (or is it darkest? You decide). Aqua is hardly out of focus, but when he’s gone, the darker specters are finally allowed the chance to come out of the corner and consume the room. Left to their own devices, characters are forced to fight their way through new torments and problems—which does unfortunately paint just how reliant on Aqua they all are. Especially aided by the show’s aesthetic care and attention, apparent effort is poured into key animations and storyboarding that, when aligned with the material, elevate the punches into a sharp viscerality. Director Hiramaki Daisuke and the sizable number of animation directors understood that, particularly for a story pertaining to the entertainment industry, presentation matters. It’s a sign of just what the series is perfectly capable of doing, but ultimately decides to opt for something markedly less knotted.
*[Oshi no Ko]* insists on the dangers of the entertainment industry and pulling back the curtain, but holds itself back too often by not letting it gets its claws into everyone enough. The actual horrors of the industry it proports to share are kept at a safe and comfortable distance, aiding the narrative that being an idol, and their industry, is glorious, glamorous, and worth it. It is all at once a reincarnation story, a revenge quest story, a story about idols, a story about the relationship between the industry and its fans, and an exposé on how the industry functions. I genuinely admire its ambitiousness, but it’s a case of trying to do too much, and not having the finesse to handle it all effectively.
Maybe Aqua can salvage it.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: My Star
Japanese: 【推しの子】
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
11
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Apr 12, 2023 to Jun 28, 2023
Premiered:
Spring 2023
Broadcast:
Wednesdays at 23:00 (JST)
Licensors:
Sentai Filmworks
Studios:
Doga Kobo
Source:
Manga
Demographic:
Seinen
Duration:
30 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#952
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#204
Members:
889,079
Favorites:
29,676
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 256 / 380
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Your Feelings Categories Jun 28, 2023
*[Oshi no Ko]* is a series caught within a bizarre Catch-22 as an actual piece of entertainment. It wants to follow the comedic and dramatic conventions for storytelling that Akasaka has in mind, and also wants to unravel the disquieting undercurrent of the entertainment industry within its gaze. But to do so would involve having its cast be outsmarted or exploited by the teeth of the very beast that they seek to enterprise in, and by the nature of the show’s framing, it cannot have that. As a result, the show does not actually delve into the darkest contortions and disquieting undercurrents of the entertainment
...
Jun 28, 2023
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 ... May 2, 2023
(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 ... Dec 12, 2023
This review contains minor spoilers.
To this day I fail to understand how Oshi no Ko not only managed to be crowned as the highest rated anime of all time but also with a peak score of 9.32 and, currently at the time of writing this review, a score of 8.73, ranking 48th of all time; I fail to understand it, as Oshi no Ko fails tremendously in dealing with its central themes. It is impressive how an anime from this very year is already outdated in comparison to an anime that deals with similar themes, such as Perfect Blue, which came out 25 YEARS AGO; ... Apr 26, 2023
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 ... Jun 7, 2023
Graphics: 8.
First episode: 10 Ep 2-8 : constantly dropping from 10 down to 3 today. After watching the first episode, you would be expecting a mystery anime that's similar to Erased and expecting the next 10 episodes to be Aqua trying to find out who the killer is. At least that was happening in the first few episodes after the first one. But all of a sudden it just spends the next 5 episodes on SoL and real-life condition of being an idol/actors. Now we have 3 eps left and I doubt we will have any development in the mystery portion of the ... Jun 1, 2023
This anime presents some challenges that need to be addressed, and I find the extensive promotion it has received to be rather overwhelming, amplifying its annoyances.
Initially, the first episode captivates viewers with its strong storytelling. However, as the series progresses, it gradually loses its appeal. One of the major issues lies in the fact that each episode seems to draw inspiration from real events, which adds to its problematic nature. The portrayal of the main character, Aqua, is particularly disappointing. While attempting to create a character reminiscent of Light Yagami from Death Note, Aqua's reasoning and understanding of situations often feel flawed and unreasonable. His ... Apr 26, 2023
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 ... May 5, 2023
Oshi no Ko is a story that undermines itself.
[This review contains spoilers for episode 1 and minor spoilers for the rest of the story.] Let’s start the story, with the only thing that truly mattered, the poster girl, Ai. For those who are already caught up with the first episode, stick around because this section lays out some important foundations regarding Ai's character, and its also a really short segment. Ai was 16 year old idol, who like many 16 year old girls, made a dumb mistake and who got knocked up with twins. ... Jun 28, 2023
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 ... May 6, 2023
Oshi no Ko
Aka Akasaka is the author who fascinated me with "Love is War". It is rare to find such a diverse and creative comedy show, I was captivated by the talent of the author. After experiencing the hype of "Oshi no Ko" for quite some time and discovering that it was the same author as Love is War, my curiosity was immense. After the first 3 episodes, I can't say much about it, but I get the feeling that Akasaka isn't exactly made for dramas. Since I only know the anime, I can only write about it exclusively. This show undoubtedly possesses a concept ... Jun 28, 2023
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 ... Apr 26, 2023
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 ... Jun 16, 2023
I am clearly not one of the targeted audience, take anything I say as a subjective opinion.
It presents each ambiguous contemporary values without showing much more critical spirit than a high-schooler (fame, superficiality, success, etc..), justify cowardice with any sort of tearful backstories, disguise narcissistic and venal behaviors into philanthropic desirs, and try to re-build trust between the industry and consumers on multiple occasion to soften, just in case, the sudden awareness in the viewers mind... Story: common teen/emo/idol slice of life with a couple of unnecessary plot twists Music: bland pop, doesn't even try to be original. This is ridiculous, or maybe just an attempt to make you ... Jun 27, 2023
The story potential of this anime was undeniably high, capturing the imagination with its intriguing concept and world. However, as the series unfolds, it becomes clear that the execution falls short, blocking the narrative from reaching its full potential. The main issue lies in the mismanagement of subplots, side characters, and minor motifs, which are given undue screen time, overshadowing the core essence of the story. These narrative elements trample upon the very foundation of what the anime was supposed to be about, leaving the viewer feeling disconnected and frustrated.
Tone deafness is another significant problem plaguing the anime. The story often skillfully builds up a ... Jun 23, 2023
The anime is just as honest about what it's really about as the truthfulness of the lies surrounding the media. Which is to say, not at all. The anime completely deceives us since it's not a drama but a cringe slice of life in media setting.
The so-called "drama" is supposed to be built in two parts. For starters what the anime tries to sell us is to show what it's like to see things from the perspective of performers in the entertainment industry and the problems they have to deal with, which affect their lives, physical and mental health—a consequence of the media industry. However, ... Apr 26, 2023
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 ... Apr 26, 2023
"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 ... Jun 10, 2023
If anything, this anime's existence is good in one regard. It proves that the same author can sometimes write stuff of great quality, and other times, not so much. Aka Akasaka was undeniably inspired when writing Kaguya-Sama: Love is War. He never stuck to a formula and instead went with the flow. When he came up with funny scenes, he wrote them, but when he didn't have any, he wrote something else. When he didn't have much to say about romance, he changed the focus of the story. And he stopped the manga when the inspiration faded, as evidenced by the declining quality of the
...
Jun 23, 2023
The whole show is basically carried by animation only. Aqua is a weird simp for Ai (Like he is 50 mentally and she is his mom), and Ai Hoshino is the by far most OVERRATED character. He is like a weird rip-off of Ayanokoji. Plus it has no fanservice. The manga has horrible art. .This show is barely watchable. The characters are heavily trope-induced. the main character Aqua has a large harem including his mom and sis and several other girls at least 30 years younger than him. The characters has no depth!! The main attention is Ai. It dosen't have enough potential to be
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