Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, whose dominance had previously been challenged by Attack on Titan and Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, was abruptly displaced as the greatest anime of all time on MyAnimeList as soon as Oshi no Ko's debut episode was released. The Spring 2023 idol anime, which at the time of writing had a score of 9.16 and 345,000 members, overtook the competition overnight. According to HIDIVE, Oshi no Ko's premiere was the most popular in the history of the streaming service.
Oshi no Ko, which tells the astonishing tale of a doctor who is reborn as the son of his idol, has undoubtedly fascinated or shocked people around. Is Oshi no Ko really deserving of all the attention in a field where shows are continuously vying to become the next big thing and where every program is carefully crafted? Perhaps people's perceptions have been distorted by its gorgeous animation, catchy music, and sinister story twists. But it's questionable whether a program with such a generic cast and storyline can live up to the early anticipation.
Oshi no Ko's reception has been influenced by its stylish animation and shockingly dark premiere
The first episode of Oshi no Ko was released in cinemas as a special theatrical event in Japan. A 90-minute installment, the premiere covers the first arc of the story, from the idol Ai Hoshino’s pregnancy to her gruesome death the evening before her debut concert at Tokyo Dome. If one hasn’t read the manga, it’s hard to see this specific plot twist coming when Ai has more screen time than almost anyone else in the show, which is why it is so effective. Her bloody death also cuts her character arc short, which revolved around her attempt at becoming a human being capable of love.
The reincarnation trope is so at odds with the anime's genre that it seems almost an original narrative choice -- as disturbing as that might be. Despite this peculiarity, Oshi no Ko actually feels like a surprisingly realistic series that offers a dispassionate window onto the cruel world of Japanese idols, often full of empty promises and terrible endings.
Oshi no Ko knows how to make use of various animation techniques to punctuate its emotional peaks, even resorting to black-and-white comic-like scenes of true horror toward the end. The quality of these choices, together with pretty character designs, ensures a delightful watching experience that contributed to the anime’s instant popularity.
Characters and plot in Oshi no Ko really adhere to established tropes
Oshi no Ko from Spring 2023 is undeniably good, but it doesn't demonstrate enough promise to warrant designation as a modern classic. Although not terrible, the anime's central characters and story are quite generic. After the first arc, it appears that Aqua's quest to find his father, whom he feels accountable for Ai's murder, will dominate the rest of the story. A revenge plot is anything but unique, especially when one considers that Demon Slayer, the most well-known anime of recent years, is essentially built around one.
None of the characters, despite being grownups reincarnated as kids, seem particularly original. The siblings' opposing personalities are uninspiring; Ruby is the gregarious, happy-go-lucky one on the exterior while Aqua is the attractive, brooding young guy. Being so prevalent in anime, Aqua's sister complex is also extremely boring.
Oshi no Ko may yet wow everyone by inventing fresh turns and twists that will enhance its caliber. Fans of the manga who are aware of what will happen may be responsible for the high rating. Whatever the case, nothing -- neither the characters nor the tale -- seems to be able to explain Oshi no Ko's enormous popularity, which might be just as quick to wane as it was to grow, at least for the time being.
