Sixteen-year-old Hoshino Ai is a talented and beautiful idol adored by her fans. She moves the hearts of large masses. She is the epitome of an innocent young girl possessing a personality that attracts like a magnet. Amemiya Gorou is a doctor at a hospital in the province and a big fan of Ai. So when the pregnant idol shows up at his hospital, he gets quite shocked. Gorou promises her a safe delivery. What he doesn’t know yet is that an encounter with an enigmatic person like Ai will result in his early death.

Oshi no Ko (2023) – Audiovisual Design

Video

As soon as I saw that the adaptation would be handled by Doga Kobo, I stopped worrying about the visual layer. However, what I saw in the first episode far exceeded my expectations. Both in terms of animation and art quality. Since the first episode lasted almost an hour and a half (it was the length of three normal episodes), I was convinced it had something to do with that. That is, to make the best possible first impression. Fortunately, I was wrong. The whole season kept a consistently high level. There’s more to it than that, however, but I’ll come back to that a little later.

Beautifully rendered character design from the manga. On top of that, there is a brilliant play of light and shadows. Doga Kobo is certainly in its peak potential here.

Audio

The soundtrack (I mean strictly background music) played a very important role, while at the same time keeping out of the foreground. What the voice actors accomplished simply cannot be described in words. The role of voice actors in anime and their cooperation with the creators is extremely important for the overall look and reception of the medium – with this, it is unlikely that anyone in their right mind will argue. Voice has tremendous power in affecting our emotions. Every nuance in sound can affect the way we perceive a character. Voice acting in Japanese media generally always stands at the highest level. However, there are instances where something is so good that it makes you reflect on what you just watched. That’s exactly what happened in the case of Oshi no Ko.

Perfect collaboration between voice actors, animators, directors and sound engineers. Every scene, every shot, the emotions – all meshed together in a masterful way. The role of one of the main characters (Hoshino Ruby) was played by Igoma Yurie. A brand new face. In the role of Hoshino Ai, the character around which the entire plot was developed – Takahashi Rie, which is currently my favorite seiyuu. She did not have much screen time, but her contribution to showing Ai’s character will remain rather legendary forever.

OP/ED

There remains the question of the opening and endings. アイドル (Idol) performed by YOASOBI impressed people so much that it even appeared on the American charts. I, for one, don’t quite share the hype. I like the idea and most parts of the song, but the whole thing is ruined by the rap inserts, I hate rap. Of course, I understand the intention of the creators and the whole thing makes sense if you take the lyrics into account (among other things, showing two faces of people in show business), and I appreciate the overall composition and the perfect combination of everything into a whole. This does not change the fact that these rap parts are simply difficult for me to listen to.

The ending was done by the group 女王蜂 (the official transcription is Ziyoou-vachi). Their vocalist has a rather original voice. When I first heard it in the opening of the anime Koukyuu no Karasu, it took me a while to get used to it. In the case of メフィスト (Mephisto), the song from the credits of Oshi no Ko, I no longer had this problem, and it will certainly land high on my list of favorite EDs of this year.

Oshi no Ko (2023) – Plot and Characters

Introduction

I started watching the anime after reading the first volume of a really nice edition from Yen Press, with a great translation. Mainly due to the fact that only one volume was available at the time of its release.

I’ve heard quite a few good things about Oshi no Ko. Unfortunately, the fact that the script was written by Akasaka Aka, the creator best known for Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen made me procrastinate reading for quite a while. Simply put, the aforementioned title did not resonate with me when I tried to watch the anime adaptation.

It’s worth mentioning that the first episode of the anime covers basically the entire first volume of the manga. The trick of extending the starting episode to a length of three episodes was one of the best decisions Hiramaki Daisuke (director) could have made. Start of Oshi no Ko made such an impression on me that I still couldn’t get out of awe for long minutes after the closing credits of how good something I had just watched was. The anime adaptation was simply better at this point, evoking much stronger emotions and a sense of helplessness, even though I already knew this part of the story.

To begin with, it is necessary to inform you that I will try to write without major spoilers. Some simply cannot be avoided when wanting to say anything about the characters or the plot. In general, before reading, I recommend watching at least the first episode (or preferably the whole thing), as the ending really gives off incredibly strong emotions. This will also avoid spoiling the biggest plot twist in the initial phase of the story presented.

Oshi no Ko – A quick look at the plot

Sixteen-year-old Hoshino Ai is a talented and beautiful idol adored by her fans. She moves the hearts of large masses. She is the epitome of an innocent young girl possessing a personality that attracts like a magnet. Amemiya Gorou is a doctor at a hospital in the province and a big fan of Ai. So when the pregnant idol shows up at his hospital, he gets quite shocked. Gorou promises her a safe delivery. In addition to looking after Ai, he also takes care of a terminally ill 12-year-old girl named Serina, who has a few months to live. She also adores Ai and dreams of becoming an idol.

After some time, Serina dies. Gorou doesn’t yet know that an encounter with an enigmatic person like Ai will cause his untimely death even before the birth he promised to deliver. He dies at the hands of Ai’s stalker while trying to expose him. When he opens his eyes, he realizes that he has been born again, as one of the twins born to Ai. He soon discovers that his new sister is none other than Serina, but he decides to keep this discovery to himself.

After reading the first volume of the manga and finishing the first episode, I had some concerns about the plot. Especially given the fact that Oshi no Ko has become so popular. I was worried about the whole thing turning into another overhyped edgy story about the main character’s revenge and search for the killer of his beloved idol (and mother at the same time), which would overshadow everything else.

To my surprise, this was not the case. It was mainly this aspect that made this anime already hold a special place in my heart. Why? Because it allowed the author to develop various aspects of the story and take characterization to uncommon heights. Sure – the main plot of finding the cause of Ai’s death and double revenge is still present. It is developed very slowly, and the very weaving of it into the daily lives of the characters was realized masterfully. Piece by piece, line by line, from one connection to another. It is woven in such a way that it is essentially unnoticeable.

Artistic and production qualities

Oshi no Ko also takes the collaboration between creators and artists to great heights. The way emotions are expressed by the characters, both visually and vocally evoked goosebumps in literally every scene of the series. In addition, the appropriate play of light and color, playing on emotions with music and a brilliant genre mish-mash. A perfect, extremely rare synergy of all possible aspects of production. At this point I am able to name only four titles where I have observed/experienced something similar and so far have remained in my memory. They are: Clannad, ef: A Tale of Memories, Kanon (2006) and Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou.

Characters

Although Hoshino Auqamarine is created as the main protagonist, most of the screen time is devoted to other characters. Aqua acts more in the background, but he is the one who ties almost all the events together. Oshi no Ko is full of characters who unexpectedly undergo quite a development and significantly affect the course of the plot. This is evident from the very beginning, when Aqua and Ruby were still children. Together they were able to influence the money- and fame-hungry wife of Ai’s manager, Saitou Miyako – so much so that she became their person to rely on and look to for support by the end.

While growing up, Aqua meets a young, very talented but arrogant actress, about his age, on a film set. Her name is Arima Kana. He extinguishes her temper to some extent by showing off his acting skills.

The role of characters in mutual development

After some time, Kana and Aqua end up together on the set of a live-action series adaptation of the manga, which turns out to be a huge flop. Mainly due to the fact that the cast of main characters consists of total amateurs, who are just popular models. It doesn’t allow Kana to unfold her wings. It hurts her twofold, since she herself was a huge fan of the source material.

The situation is saved by Aqua in the role of antagonist. He shows that despite everything, it is worth giving it her best and at the same time helps her to believe in herself again. The role in this show was crucial for him. It is there that he catches the end of the string leading to the explanation of Ai’s life, which is full of secrets. He makes contact with the director, who promises to tell him everything he knows about the legendary idol in exchange for him appearing on a certain reality show. Not until this point does he enter the world of show business in earnest. He begins to gather people around him, thanks to whom he will be able to achieve his goals. Each of the characters has a real impact on the course of the plot and significantly affects his surroundings.

I won’t go into detail about the other characters (of which there are quite a few) – it’s worth seeing for yourself. I will only mention that my favorite heroine is Arima Kana. At least as of the end of season one. This does not mean that I did not like the other characters. The problem is that it is simply impossible not to like the other characters, playing significant roles. Characterization is, in my opinion, the strongest aspect of Oshi no Ko. How many things it managed to show in only twelve episodes and how the development of each character has gone is most admirable. This is one of the longest, if not the longest text about anime that I have written. Even so, I believe I have only touched the iceberg of what I wanted to convey.

Other remarks

I have read many online comments from experts claiming that Kurokawa Akane has many mental disorders and is downright insane. I also saw some strange memes related to her character. At this point, I began to wonder if I had really watched the same series. Yes, the girl got a mental breakdown. The last straw that breaks the camel’s back was the massive, incessant mob-hate on the Internet caused by a certain unfortunate sequence of events that occurred on the set of the reality show. Over what was essentially a minor accident, she received a death wish and degradation of her artistic achievements and innate theatrical talent. It didn’t help that the girl gave it her all and devoted all her time to training, which was not appreciated by anyone. She also struggled with her shyness.

When she finally comes to her senses with the help of Aqua and her colleagues from the set of the aforementioned reality show, she decides to change. She listens to the advice of others and decides not to show her true face to the general public. She uses her outstanding analysis skills and impersonates the characters she plays in the theater and becomes an indistinguishable copy of Ai. At this point I would like to ask the question – why has her talent been perceived by some as a mental disorder? The creators clearly showed what years of sacrifices and self-indulgence allowed her to achieve. Was I really watching a different series?

I noticed that quite a few commenters paid attention only to the most superficial things. There was also no shortage of snowflakes finding every possible reason to proclaim their woke theories. Unfortunately, tourists of this type are increasing in number every year. For the past few years it has already constituted a plague.

Oshi no Ko (2023) – Evaluation and Summary

Introduction

I realized from the beginning that the review of Oshi no Ko would be a longer text. However, I did not expect it to be that long. I realized even before watching that this title could be exceptional, but I didn’t expect to be exposed to something this good. I realized that it would be quite a challenge to collect all my thoughts and what I wanted to write. So here it turned out that I wasn’t wrong one bit.

Oshi no Ko is a perfect example of the fact that it’s not that I automatically reject popular titles (I’ve heard such accusations against me more than once). I simply watch what triggers my interest. The fact that such titles rarely break through to the mainstream is another matter. At the same time, I have the impression that Oshi no Ko gained popularity for completely different reasons than what caused me to become so fascinated with this anime myself. I hope I have managed to present my reasons explicitly in the text.

More than once I have come across a statement like this is a perfect deconstruction of the idol series. What kind of deconstruction? Deconstruction of what specifically? Every time I see the word deconstruction in use, I almost immediately become certain that I am dealing with a typical tourist. A tourist who has watched the first series of a particular type and is enthralled by what has already been shown many times elsewhere. But they show the truth about idols!!11. No, the author uses general knowledge about showbiz and the human psyche as a plot device. The best part is that at no point is there even a hint of criticism of the idol world, quite the opposite. People with a vivid imagination and tendencies to overinterpret apparently don’t mind building their theories.

A similar situation occurred with Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (of which I am not personally a fan, but it is worth mentioning). Countless mahou shoujo series have shown dark and difficult themes before. But deconstruction!!11.

A proper summary

That’s enough of this rant. I think it has become clear enough what I wanted to convey. Oshi no Ko thrilled me in literally every aspect. Plot. Characterization. Creation of the characters. Visuals. The phenomenal portrayal of emotions that literally permeate a person while watching. And finally, something I mentioned above – the perfect synergy of the entire team working on this adaptation. It is often given to me to watch good anime, rarely very good, but something this good happens outstandingly rarely. With a clear conscience I can put Oshi no Ko next to the best series I have watched.

I am looking forward to the sequel. I have a big problem because I almost can’t resist reading the manga, but they see what level the adaptation presents – I would rather experience the story in this form.

Dodatkowo warto wspomnieć, że sezon 2 został już zapowiedziany.

Finalny werdykt

Final evaluation

Which translation do I recommend to watch Oshi no Ko (2023)

• MTBB – necessarily a second subtitle track.

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