Oshi no Ko Review: The Ambition of Two Idol Children

Oshi no Ko is an anime based on the manga of the same name by Aka Akasaka, a popular mangaka known for Kaguya-sama Love Is War. In contrast to the Kaguya-sama series, Aka Akasaka explores the story of an idol group in this anime, mixing elements of drama and the supernatural.

The anime premiered in mid-April 2023 and has 11 episodes for its first season. What kind of story does Oshi no Ko bring to the table? Let's explore the review.

Synopsis

Ai Hoshino is an up-and-coming idol known for her amazing performances. Many people, including a gynecologist named Gorou Amemiya and his patient, Sarina Tendouji, have become fans of Ai.

These two fans often come together to cheer for Ai, even though they are far from the hospital. Sadly, Sarina's short life leaves Gorou feeling lonely as he loses a friend to share in supporting Ai.

As the due date neared, Gorou noticed a stalker trying to extract information about Ai from him. Gorou remained silent, questioning the stalker's connection to his patient.

The stalker fled, and Gorou gave chase but lost sight of him near a ravine on a mountain path. Unexpectedly, the stalker pushed Gorou from behind, causing him to fall into the ravine.

When he regained consciousness, Gorou discovered that he had been reincarnated as Ai's son, named Aquamarine Hoshino. Aqua also has a twin sister, Ruby Hoshino.

Interestingly, Ruby's soul is the reincarnation of Sarina, Gorou's former patient and fellow fan. However, neither Aqua nor Ruby are aware of their sibling's true identity.

As Ai's twins grew older, her career took off again after her break. She took on different jobs, from appearing in commercials to acting in support roles. Everything seemed perfect until one day when a strange fan came to her house and sadly killed Ai by stabbing her.

Ai's sudden death caused a lot of sadness among her fans and deeply affected her two kids. Shortly afterward, her group B-Komachi declared disbandment followed by the bankruptcy of Strawberry Production as an umbrella company.

Even though they are mentally tough, both Aqua and Ruby find new goals after their mother and idol passed away. Aqua wants to uncover who is behind Ai's murder, while Ruby is set on carrying on Ai's work as an idol.

Aqua and Ruby enrolled at Yoto High School as they grew older. This school, unique in its focus on entertainment specialization, is known throughout Japan for producing successful celebrities, making the competition fierce. It was at this school that the twins reconnected with Kana Arima, a former child actress they had known in their childhood.

After the reunion, Kana proposed that Aqua take on a minor role in a drama in which she was starring. Initially hesitant, Aqua accepted after learning the name of the program's producer, Masaya Kaburagi.

Masaya Kaburagi was among the contacts Aqua had discovered on Ai's phone. To collect the producer's DNA for further investigation into Ai's murder, Aqua accepted the role.

Meanwhile, Ruby persisted in her determination to become an idol. Despite Aqua's consistent attempts to stop her, driven by the fear of his sister meeting the same fate as their mother, Ruby never wavered in her resolve.

When Ruby received an offer to be recruited as an underground idol, Aqua immediately approached Strawberry Production's manager, Miyako Saitou. As their guardian during this time, Aqua asked Miyako to sign Ruby before another agency could 'snatch' her up.

Miyako agreed, stating her intention to debut the group under her agency, but she noted the need for additional members to form a complete idol group. Luckily, Aqua had the perfect candidate in mind - Kana.

Ruby selected B-Komachi as the name for her group, mirroring her mother's own group. She started rigorous practice sessions with Kana, even collaborating with a YouTuber to gain public attention ahead of the group's official debut.

Aqua's journey continues as well. After discovering that Masaya Kaburagi was just a coworker for Ai, Aqua received another offer from Masaya: starring in a reality dating show in exchange for vital information concerning Ai.

This show gathered six high school students in a school setting, fostering romantic relationships until a couple emerged. Aqua found himself alongside five other participants: Akane Kurokawa, Mem-cho, Yuki Sumi, Nobuyuki Kumano, and Kengo Morimoto. Despite all being in the entertainment industry, each member came from a unique background.

In addition to accepting the offer, Aqua had to adopt a contrasting persona for the camera. Aqua who is typically cool and calm transformed into a lively and fun personality for the duration of the show.

Until the program was about to end, Aqua's story hadn't progressed. This was actually a good sign for Aqua who preferred to avoid excessive public attention. However, Akane Kurokawa succeeded in changing his mind.

After the newcomer actress was devastated by the public's negative opinions and nearly took her own life, Akane regained her strength. She then used Ai's persona to make a comeback on the show.

Her transformed persona attracts both Aqua and the audience. Although it was initially for the sake of the show, Aqua and Akane unexpectedly became a couple by the end of the program. This also led to a shift in Kana's behavior towards Aqua.

Once Aqua's reality dating show ended, B-Komachi began preparing for their approaching debut. Aqua then proceeded to recruit a girl from his previous program to join B-Komachi. But who is this new girl? And will Aqua succeed in getting clues about the mastermind behind Ai Hoshino's death?

Unveiling the 'Lies' of the Entertainment Industry

Oshi no Ko, unlike many anime with idol themes, focuses its narrative on the entertainment industry, particularly idols.

Behind their charming smiles and energetic dance performances on stage, these idols lead lives as regular individuals, full of flaws. Some even have dark secrets shielded from public view. They must be able to 'lie' to the world to prevent their careers from crumbling.

Other participants in the entertainment industry are doing the same thing, with the shared objective of enduring in the industry, regardless of the measures required. This anime reveals the inner workings of various sectors in the entertainment industry, including acting, television production, and talent management.

A Blending of Intriguing and Puzzling Themes

At first glance, you might think the anime Oshi no Ko simply blends themes of idols and reincarnation (isekai). However, as the story unfolds, it guides viewers toward an increasingly dark and thrilling mystery.

This sense of darkness escalates as Aqua seeks to avenge his mother's death. Despite being a slow process, his determination never wavers. The battles Arima Kana and Akane Kurokawa face in their journey to become successful actresses further enhance the dramatic and dark elements of this anime by Daisuke Hiramaki.

Meanwhile, Ruby, who aspires to be an idol, ensures that Oshi no Ko maintains its idol-themed essence. You'll continue to see Ruby and other characters performing vibrant songs and energetic dances on stage.

However, in this first season, only the mystery and showbiz elements are dominant in Oshi no Ko. The anime has yet to explore in depth the enigma of Aqua and Ruby's past lives, leaving them unaware of their relationship in their former lives until the final episode.

Glittering Visuals and Stunning Scoring

As an adaptation of a manga that revolves around the showbiz world, it's crucial to visually capture the glitz and glamour of the industry. The production studio, Doga Kobo, does this brilliantly in the anime. The eye graphics of the main characters are particularly striking.

All the significant characters, whether protagonists or supporting cast, have beautifully rendered eyes. The illustrations by Mengo Yokoyari were skillfully brought to life by Doga Kobo, leaving a lasting impression on viewers of Oshi no Ko.

It's widely agreed that the star-like eyes of Ai, Aqua, and Ruby are iconic features of this anime. Additionally, the good scoring also successfully makes almost all scenes feel alive. The songs performed by members of B-Komachi have also gained popularity among fans.

Also let's not forget the opening song from Yoasobi, which went viral during the anime's run. All these elements come together seamlessly, making Oshi no Ko a strong contender for the best anime of 2023.

Slow Pace with A Hanging End

While Oshi no Ko's plot is intriguing and it excels in many areas, the pacing feels rather slow, especially in Aqua's pursuit of her mother's killer. Even by the final episode, it seems like Aqua has only just begun to unravel the mystery.

However, despite some episodes appearing aimless, Ruby's dream of becoming an idol seems reachable with the official debut of B-Komachi's new generation. This strongly hinted that Ruby could eventually become a popular idol like her mother someday.

Additionally, Kana's wish to make a comeback in the entertainment industry is also showing promising progress. The series finale hints at Kana potentially becoming Kurokawa Akane's rival.

Unfortunately, this quick character development isn't mirrored in Aqua as one of the main protagonists. His ambition to break into the entertainment industry is supposed to be a central theme of Oshi no Ko. But this season emphasizes more on the rivalry between Kana and Akane over Aqua.

Despite this, the anime consistently builds tension in each episode. The cliffhanger ending is also considered good news for fans as it suggests the continuation of Aqua, Ruby, and their friends' journey in the upcoming season.

That was a review of the first season of Oshi no Ko. No one expected that the contradictory plot between the entertainment world, murder mystery, and reincarnation would blend quite well in this anime. It also managed to prove its popularity and even became one of the strongest candidates for the best anime in 2023. Are you prepared to start watching?