Anime Boston 2023: ‘Oshi No Ko’ Debuts Shocking First Episode To A Packed Theater
by Tito W. James
“In the world of showbiz, lies are weapons.” Goro works as an OB-GYN in the countryside, a life far removed from the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, his favorite idol, Ai Hoshino, has begun her climb to stardom. The two meet in the “worst possible way,” setting the gears of fate in motion! The amazing Aka Akasaka (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) and Mengo Yokoyari (Scum’s Wish) team up to depict the world of showbiz from a completely new perspective in this shocking series!
I first discovered Oshi no Ko on the Shonen Jump Plus web-reading platform. I was hooked by the bizarre story and was elated to learn of its anime adaptation. Oshi no Ko’s first episode premiered early in North America at 2023’s Anime Boston convention. The special episode played as a 90-minute movie covering the material in the first manga volume published by Yen Press.
You could feel the anticipation at Anime Boston with many patrons arriving an hour and a half early just to get seats to the Oshi no Ko premier. Many audience members in the packed theater were not even aware of the core premise for the anime and were taken by surprise once the video started playing. I can’t emphasize enough that Oshi no Ko is best experienced knowing as little as possible going in.
As the film played, there were many moments when the entire audience burst out laughing; then other moments when the crowd was dead silent. Oshi no Ko is an emotional rollercoaster that’s thrilling, fun, and unpredictable. It’s the kind of show that epitomizes what makes anime seem so strange to first-time viewers. If the story continues to be as strong as the first episodes it has the makings of a cult classic.
Oshi no Ko will be streaming on HiDive starting April 12.
