Anime Review - Oshi No Ko Season 1 (2023)

Full Disclosure, for me to do a proper review of this show, I am going to have to talk about the plot, which in turn means I will be spoiling the initial set-up of the first episode. If this show interests you in any way, please go and watch it. You won’t regret watching Oshi No Ko, and I feel that’s all I can say about this show while being as vague as possible.

You have been warned, so spoilers ahead for episode one.

The show follows the two main characters, Aquamarine, who mainly goes by Aqua, and Ruby. They are the children of Ai Hoshino, who is a famous idol of the idol group B-Komachi. Two things to mention regarding their mother: firstly, as an idol, having any sort of relationship is frowned upon; and secondly, when she got pregnant, she was 16 years old. Due to these factors, her pregnancy is kept under wraps. Only her manager and the doctor, Gorou Amamiya, are in the know. However, one day when the doctor is getting some fresh air, he is murdered by a stalker who somehow knows Ai Hoshino is pregnant and at the hospital. As Gorou Amamiya is fading away, he then wakes up as baby Aquamarine. Gorou Amamiya is somehow reborn as the idol’s son and has all the memories of his past life, and in an even stranger turn of events, Ruby also retains her memories of her past life.

The story unfolds in a way you will never see coming. The show’s greatest aspects are its plot and characters. The series tackles heavy subject matters such as stalkers, teen pregnancy, and the dark sides of the entertainment industry. All the ideas feel fleshed out and have something to say about the industry, but it does not take a cynical and overly negative approach.

Everything about this show links to its themes, even down to the opening. ‘Idol’ by Yoasobi is an incredible J-Pop song, but if you look at the lyrics more closely, they contrast the fun pop tone with dark and foreboding themes. The fact that this opening did not win the Opening of the Year at the Anime Awards will continue to baffle me.

The opening also showcases another huge positive of the show, and that is the animation. This show is utterly spellbinding. From the stars in our lead’s eyes being used to showcase positive and negative emotions, to the use of different styles to emphasize key moments, Oshi No Ko is one of the best-looking shows I have seen in a very long time.

The first episode is a work of art. Lasting 1 hour and 22 minutes, the fact that it never dipped in quality once is amazing. It also helped that the show is just expertly paced; the first episode flew by and was so easy to watch. It was also aided by the fact that what I was watching was just so entertaining and impactful. I went from laughing to nearly shedding tears.

Oshi No Ko left me wanting more, which is why I’m reviewing the show now as Season 2 is fast approaching. It will start airing in July 2024. I want more people to watch this show as it showcases why I love anime so much. It utilizes the art form of animation to tell a story unlike any other.