Oshi No Ko
a review by superp2222
a review by superp2222
Let me start out this review by prefacing a few things:
With that out of the way, allow me to explain why the anime adaptation of my favorite manga series is a goated anime.
Oshi no Ko stands as an new trailblazer in many aspects. Its first episode alone has thrown the entire anime community for a loop by rocking its viewers, both from the manga and starting from the anime, to their very cores. Oshi no Ko is a phenomenally told story of how faces can be deceiving, the intricacies of covering every lie with three truths, and the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into an industry that is smiles, laughs, and charms. Not only has it bucked conventional storytelling devices, but it has also made use of them to create a rich and complex anime that can reach both shallow into your awaiting laughs and deep into your soul.
Oshi no Ko is an Idol Anime. It is also an Isekai, a RomCom, a Revenge Thriller, a Slice of Life Show, and a Cute Girls Doing Cute Things anime. You are brought in under the guise of a starry-eyed idol who wins the hearts and minds of many who also keeps secrets of her depraved past and taboo present. In the wake of her untimely end is the seeds of a new tale of revenge, brought on by despair and anger that burns with the will of both a fan and a son. Yet during all of this brooding, we see them undergo normal, everyday events such as school, work, and idol choreography rehearsals. The haphazard plot of Oshi no Ko alone serves to demonstrate how hectic the life of an entertainer is. Just as some of their characters crammed multiple faces, personalities, and careers into a brief 17 years, this anime has crammed multiple shows and genres into the span of 11 episodes. Yet despite all this, every arc feels complete. Every single end is given a means, and the transitions from one arc to another is seamless. It doesn't feel juxtaposed because of the way the characters naturally introduce one another just as water seamlessly flows from one basin to another. Every few weeks, we are given another insightful look behind another one of Japan's entertainment industries. Why is it that some movie adaptations come out with such poor quality? How does a bunch of teenagers tolerate getting recorded in their day-to-day lives? How scripted is the world behind reality television? And just how much effort goes into raising an idol group from the ground up? As an anime fan, these questions are often left unanswered. However, instead of providing the answer to these questions, Oshi no Ko peels back the curtain and allows us to see for ourselves what the answer is: a beautifully crafted, carefully woven, keenly detailed lie.
As I said earlier, the reason why this show's arcs transition seamlessly is largely due to the complicated characters that inhabit its world.
Aqua and Ruby are perhaps the most complex of the both. Being reincarnations of an otaku-doctor and an otaku-terminal-patient respectively, their dynamics reflect one another in their methodology. Gorou's previously mature adult mind burns with an innate sense of guilt while stalked by a complex internal conflict of who he truly is to Ai. This causes Aquamarine Hoshino to be cold and distant, yet still retaining his signature kindness and care. His intricate layer cake stands as a direct contrast to Ruby's. The terminally ill, lonely, and crippled Sarina had her whole life taken away from her, so in her new life, she wants to wear cool dresses, sing cute songs, get an encore, stand on the big stage and make everyone happy like Ai. Yet below that bubbly smile, Ruby Hoshino is still self-conscious, afraid, and hesitant to push herself. Their contrasting dynamics made their previous relationships rich and deep, but it makes their current relationship all the more complex.
Similarly, the love interests are also given such treatment. While we've gotten to know Arima Kana for a while and only recently got to know Kurokawa Akane, their dynamics mimick that of Aqua and Ruby as their rivalry creates a makeshift replacement for Aqua and Ruby's sibling relationship. Both have gone through the hardship of being a child actor, and both have faced the inherent pressure of constantly striving to do better, whether its staying on top of the chain like Akane or staying relevant like Kana. Both have similarly coped with drama, yet both reacted differently to it. Kana bubbled her true self off from the world while Akane let it seep in and envelop her entirely. Their dynamics act as representations of what faded stars look like in the entertainment industry, and the terrifying toll it takes on a person's mind, especially one so young. We see them for who they truly are, why they are currently in their situations, and what motivates them to constantly improve. We also see the dangers that loom with stepping foot in such a dangerous industry. The risk of social backlash is something many aren't accustomed to, and even more have succumbed to. Many have attributed Akane's events to being inspired from the real life of Hana Kimura, a pro wrestler who took her own life in the wake of an internet backlash during the filming of a reality TV show. Their characters join the main plot in showing what the true side of entertainment really looks like, and the terrifying toll it can take on the psyche of its participants.
Of course, a fantastic story and a splendid cast of characters cannot be done without a talented art and sound department. Studio Daga Kobo did a fantastic job at bringing the manga panels to life. Every single detail in every single scene is intricately outlined and highlighted in a manner almost reminiscent of Makoto Shinkai's handiwork, a Shinkai Lite style if you may say so. It is a bright and vibrant mix of colors that when blended together create near-life imagery and beautiful scenery. If Makoto Shinkai films are the golden standard of animation quality, then Oshi no Ko has met that standard
The soundtrack is also phenomenally done. The OST produced by Takuro Iga is wonderfully crafted. My personal favorite being "Mother and Children", which was permanently burned into my mind when it was paired with the most powerful scene of the entire series. The original songs "Sign wa B" and "Star T Rain" performed by the two iterations of B-Komachi were also well-made, as they felt genuine and definitely captured the idol vibe. Oh and of course, the OP and ED. Yoasobi's phenomenal work on Idol allowed it to top the charts as the most popular song outside America for a long while, and Queen Bee's Mephisto was used in a manner reminiscent of how Lycoris Recoil's Hana no Tou or Jojo's Roundabout was used as a dramatic cliffhanger tool. Both of these songs have became permanent mainstays on my playlist and I look forwards to the insert songs joining that list.
Oshi no Ko is and forever will by my favorite manga series, and I couldn't have been more glad that its anime adaptation went so perfectly. It truly shines as the star of 2023, and with season 2 announced, I don't think we will have to wait long for our star to return.
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