Review of [Oshi No Ko]
[This review is about the two first seasons available at the time of writing and does NOT contain any spoilers] There are few shows that have the first episode able to set the stage in a way that the My Star does. The first episode, or rather the 1 hour prelude to the story manages to tell more that many other anime can't manage to tell in an entire season. And that's just the beginning, the first step into the many stories this series has to offer, ones of guilt and ones of accomplishment, ones of hate and ones of love, ones of fullfilling the dreamsof the dead and ones of finding yourself among the expectations of the others. That's what makes it amazing.
Art: 10/10. Few times in my life has a scene been imprinted in my mind, yet one came from this show (you will know which one). The way the characters are given emotions and personality with the way they are drawn or shown, most notably the eyes of Ai, Aqua and Ruby and the way that they both express emotions with the stars inside them, and the way they show the attachement siblings have for their mother. What is even more impressive is the way they've shown the play in the second season. It could've been just a part of the series, a simple end to an arc, but it's so much more than that, with amazing action sequences that many best action anime wouldn't be ashamed, and was used as a storytelling device on top of that. Also, the still shots that look like taken straight from the manga are a sight to behold.
Characters: 10/10. The main cast, that is the Hoshino family and their aquaintaces all have something you can say about them, their motives, desires, flaws, dreams. Everybody has their story and a chance to shine, and not just being a background. It really is rare to see something like that, but characters feel almost like real people. I won't go into further detail so as not to spoil.
Story: 10/10. The premise of the show shown in the first episode is simply amazing, and again, the first episode shows so much with so many twists, that it's hard to talk about the show without spoiling anything. It's a case of a story so good you don't feel well with spoiling it. But of course, you don't get a 10/10 for just the first episode. Each episode we see the mystery unravel, the characters grow not only emotionally, overcoming their fears and past trauma, but we also see their careers grow, getting them closer and closer to their goals, and it all feels natural and not pushed, with precise motives for each action. But besides that, the show manages to show the underbelly of the showbiz in a way that I honestly thought to be impossible. We see characters with suicidal thoughts, stalked, hated, used, forced to hide the truth about them, and yet paid little to no money.
Music: 8/10. I liked it, but there isn't much to talk about here, but don't take it as a sign that it's meh, but rather a sign of me not caring about the music in anime most of the time.
Enjoyability factor: 10/10. This show hits like a truck-kun does an isekai MC. From the beginning I was hooked, and I can't wait for the season 3 to come out. The first episode sets the bar high, but the show doesn't dissappoint. It was just a pleasure to watch, from the start to the end (for now). The emotions and problems shown really got to me. It definetely is one of my favourite anime of all time. Get through the first 10-15 minutes then the crap really hits the fan.