In between fast-paced action series and endearing comedies, it’s always nice for there to be a show that toes the line between the dark and the light. When it comes to achieving that balance, few do it better than the anime adaptation of Aka Akasaka’s (author) and Mengo Yokoyari’s (illustrator) Oshi No Ko. Released in May 2023 and produced by animation studio Doga Koba, Oshi No Ko is a showstopping display of literary and artistic prowess, so apparent in its excellence that it was nominated for Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year award. This review will detail the reasons behind the show’s success as well as a major issue that harms its quality as a story.

The Good

Character Writing

Much like a musical performance in real life, the appeal of Oshi No Ko lies mainly in the people on stage and behind the scenes. The cast of the anime is ripe with great characters, all of whom have entertaining personalities and interesting character arcs. The cold Aquamarine slowly learning how to better connect with others, the deceptively self-conciscous Kana’s struggles with low self-worth, the jubilant Ruby working to become an idol; these defined traits and personal journeys permeate throughout the show. Furthermore, those unique challenges also give Oshi No Ko reason to tackle themes such as mental health and the value of hardwork, adding depth to the characters by expanding on those topics through them. This all results in some powerful writing, every face in the show fun, functional, and meaningful in some way.

Plot

Oshi No Ko’s two-pronged plot is something to behold—a naturally flowing series of deeply engaging events. Following both Aquamarine’s search for his biological father and Ruby’s efforts to be a famous idol, the narrative of the anime is both serious and lighthearted. It blends the joys and sorrows of showbiz splendidly, telling an informative and emotional story regarding how the entertainment industry impacts fans and stars alike. Using characters to drive the tale forward, it crafts engaging mystery, drama, and comedy segments, never failing to entertain the audience. The plot of Oshi No Ko lacks nothing in terms of clarity either, constantly connecting prior events to future ones, resulting in a concise string of happenings.

Animation

Doga Koba’s animation adds an amount of life and energy to Oshi No Ko that few anime can rival. In both the lowest and highest points of the story, emotions and actions are displayed with striking quality. This is because of the show’s expressive art style, which is lifelike enough to feel grounded and real but also fantastical enough to stun viewers with stylized shots. Mix in the constant motion of the animated characters, and it becomes clear that Doga Koba put all hands on deck to make Oshi No Ko a visual marvel.

The Bad

Tonal Consistency

While having a mix of light and dark elements makes Oshi No Ko interesting, it does at times fail to balance the usage of those contrasting tones. This leads to an absence of tonal consistency in the show, with comedic moments jarringly transitioning to serious ones and vice versa. While the narrative of the anime is very clearly shown, the specifics of how certain events are viewed by or impact the characters can be hard to decipher due to this issue. The audience has to infer those small but vital elements of Oshi No Ko, seriously harming its narrative quality.

All this is to say, Oshi No Ko is simply incredible. Its characters are superbly written, its plot is fluid and engaging, and its animation is stellar. However, the anime does suffer from tonal inconsistency, sowing an unhealthy ambiguity into the full context of key events. Still, this certainly doesn’t take away the show’s luster; it is a blast to see unfold despite the flaw. Oshi No Ko is near perfect, a 4.8/5 stars (or a 9.8 out of 10), and anyone would be doing themselves a favor to give its 11 episodes a watch.