Today is April 12th, which means that today marks one year since the premiere in Japan of the anime adaptation of the manga “Oshi no Ko“, the animated series about idols, which undoubtedly gained widespread popularity from its very first episode. Its animation was widely praised by fans, who thoroughly enjoyed its catchy soundtrack and its story with unique characteristics. In fact, it is widely known that its plot and characters are the main reasons why “Oshi no Ko” is currently in such a successful position.
In this series, we can have an original, and in some ways dark (sometimes even unsettling), perspective of the Japanese entertainment industry, through which we can see aspects never broadcasted, although known, such as exploitation and abuses that can take place behind the scenes. Its characters are full of complexity and flaws, and the series does not hesitate to show us their darkest sides.
But, its plot is not the only reason why “Oshi no Ko” is so popular. It happens that its animation and music are equally exceptional, not to mention its amazing visual effects and a soundtrack that possesses a unique beauty. Obviously, to achieve complete immersion, its voice performances are literally impeccable, and the seiyus bring the characters to life in an authentic and nuanced manner. As you can see, explaining why “Oshi no Ko” is so popular is not simple, but we also cannot ignore this great “combo” of factors that, combined, form this franchise that has already settled in the hearts of the otaku community. Undoubtedly, the key to its success is a combination of all the aforementioned aspects, and other aspects that can be discovered and enjoyed as we allow ourselves to dive into its story.
To celebrate this first anniversary in a big way, the debut episode of the first season, titled “Oshi no Ko: Mother and Children” will be re-released in theaters in Japan on June 7th. And as if that were not enough, before the premiere of the second season in July, the sequel will have an early release on June 30th in select theaters in Japan, with a special event that will include the participation of the voice cast! By the way, more information about the second season will be revealed this May 26th, so stay tuned!
The first season of “Oshi no Ko” consisted of eleven episodes in total, and premiered on April 12th, 2023, with HIDIVE handling its distribution in the West. The original manga “Oshi no Ko” began publishing in Shueisha‘s Weekly Young Jump magazine in April 2020, created by authors Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari.
Voice Cast
- Takeo Ootsuka as Aqua Hoshino.
- Yurie Igoma as Ruby Hoshino.
- Megumi Han as Kana Arima.
- Manaka Iwami as Akane Kurokawa.
- Rie Takahashi as Ai Hoshino.
- Rumi Ookubo as MEM-cho.
Production Team
- Daisuke Hiramaki (Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita!, Koisuru Asteroid, Selection Project) is in charge of directing the project at Doga Kobo studios, with assistance from Saori Tachibana (Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san, Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi).
- Jin Tanaka (Tokyo Ghoul, Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha, Yesterday wo Utatte) is in charge of writing and supervising the scripts.
- Kanna Hirayama (Kanojo, Okarishimasu, Selection Project) is responsible for character design and animation direction.
Synopsis
Ai Hoshino is a talented and beautiful 16-year-old Idol girl, dearly loved by her fans, who assure that she is the personification of purity. But not all that glitters is gold: Horou Honda is a gynecologist from a rural area and a big fan of Ai; therefore, he is more than surprised when the pregnant Idol girl shows up at his clinic. Gorou promises her a safe delivery, unaware that he would soon encounter a mysterious figure, which would lead to his premature death. Upon opening his eyes, Gorou finds himself in the arms of his beloved Idol, and discovers that he has been reborn as Aquamarine Hoshino, Ai’s newborn son!… With his world turned upside down, Gorou soon begins to learn that the entertainment world is full of thorns, and that talent does not always lead to success. Will he be able to protect his beloved Idol and his new family?
“Oshi no Ko” is, without a doubt, one of those stories I have mentioned on other occasions, one that generates empathy for its characters from minute one. Now tell me, do you know its story? Have you enjoyed its first season like we have, or have you been lucky enough to read the manga? Come on, we invite you to leave us your opinion or your experiences in the comments, because, you know, we’ll be reading! 😉
Images Source: Anime Oshi no Ko Official YouTube Channel, ANIME TIME MEDIA, X (Twitter)
