The Hidden Meanings Behind the Oshi no Ko Opening

The anime adaptation of the original manga Oshi no Ko, created by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, has emerged as a dark horse this Spring anime season. It's not surprising that a project as well-crafted and multi-layered as Oshi no Ko would have an opening theme song that perfectly captures its core themes through sound and lyrics. YOASOBI's genius is well-known among anime fans and they have once again proven their talent with the Oshi no Ko opening theme, "IDOL". The opening sequence of the series is a testament to YOASOBI's deep understanding of Oshi no Ko as a series.

Plot and Background

Gorо̄ Amemiya, a gynaecologist and an avid follower of the emerging teenage idol Hoshino Ai, faces a test of his professionalism when Ai seeks his help to give birth to her child in secret. Unfortunately, before Ai's due date, Gorо̄ is murdered by one of her stalker fans. Surprisingly, he is reincarnated as Aquamarine Hoshino, one of Ai's twin babies born on the same day. Aqua, along with his sister Ruby, retains memories from his past life. Years later, when the same fan who killed Gorо̄ murders Ai, Aqua realizes that their father is responsible for leaking their home address. Fuelled by a desire for revenge, Aqua makes it his life's mission to track down the culprit responsible for Ai's death.

Oshi no Ko delves into the dark side of the entertainment industry, exposing the truth behind the societal expectations placed on celebrities, particularly "superstars," and the lies performers uphold to become icons. Ai's violent death at the hands of a fan is a harrowing reality that is not uncommon. The toxic, obsessive parasocial relationships that fans develop with their favorite personalities, driven by today's social media-driven, content-based lifestyle, have only exacerbated such dangerous behavior. In an interview with Anime News Network, Aka Akasaka, the series author, explained that the story was inspired by a desire to shed light on the exploitation and suffering faced by young talent in the entertainment industry.

"LUV"

Ai Hoshino's name is significant in the wordplay it employs, and its connection to YOASOBI's song is multi-layered. The kanji characters for "Hoshino" - 星野 - combine to create a meaning of a plane filled with stars, with the first character representing "star" and the second character "field". Her first name, "Ai", is written in katakana, which is often used to transliterate foreign words for emphasis and other reasons. While "Ai" written 愛 generally refers to "love", it conveys an intensity and purity of love that can be described as love's most abstract verbal expression.

The katakana used to write Ai's name can be understood in various ways, one of which is to emphasize the love that she embodies and intensify it. However, it is also likely that her name originates from the first two kana of the loanword "idol" written in katakana as アイドル. This suggests that Ai's lack of understanding and experience in love is built into her name, as it is not "real 'love'". In the anime version of the song, the lyrics blur the line between love and Ai further, stating that even if her eyes and words are false, they create a perfect love ('Ai') that captivates everyone with her smile and declaration of "I love you".

Love and Lies

Muteki no egao de arasu media

Shiritai sono himitsu misuteriasu

Nuketeru toko sae kanojo no eria

Kanpeki de usotsuki na kimi wa

Tensai-teki na aidoru sama

- YOASOBI's "IDOL"

The opening theme of Oshi no Ko, YOASOBI's "Idol," provides a layered context for the meaning of being an idol and comments on the harshness of the industry. This aligns perfectly with the thematic content of the series and the world it portrays. The catchy opening rap by YOASOBI's Ikura is direct and to the point, highlighting the invincible smile an idol must maintain, the mysteriousness that surrounds them, and their ability to be a perfect liar. However, the sinister-sounding chorus that follows, chanting "You're my saviour, you're my saving grace," adds a darker element to the song. The back and forth format of the verse, with rapid-fire questions from an unknown narrator(s), emphasizes the insistent and unending nature of the industry's demands. Yet, Ai's ability to dodge these questions and maintain her air of mystery is what makes her a genius-level idol. The song briefly replaces its high-tempo instrumental with the chanting of fans as if at a concert, as Ai (singing as Ikura) explains her inability to understand love and her struggle to differentiate between lies and truth. This introspective moment is the most significant takeaway from the piece of media that inspired the lyrics, the Oshi no Ko short story 45510, which delves into the archives of a defunct social media platform to uncover a lost livestream of Ai Hoshino. The narrator of the story grapples with complex feelings towards Ai as they witness her mask begin to crack during the livestream.

SOS

The narrator of Oshi no Ko highlights the enigmatic and distant persona of the idol Ai Hoshino, which was the main attraction for fans. Despite working closely with her, the narrator never truly got to know Ai as a person, only as the unattainable and talented idol. The entertainment industry is a central theme in the series, which perpetuates a series of fabricated lies to sell the celebrity image. The break in the song, where the upbeat tempo is replaced with fans chanting at a live show, highlights the significance of love in Ai's character development and the idol culture. The lyrics in this section are a direct quote from Ai's responses to fan comments during a livestream event, contrasting the eerie choral chants heard earlier in the song. These chants express fans' genuine love for Ai, in contrast to the pressure and expectations placed on idols. The extended run of sinister chants in the anime version of IDOL emphasizes the dark undertones of the industry and fan culture. Ai struggles with distinguishing truth from the constructed persona of Ai Hoshino, and seeks to express genuine love through her craft. Her children give her a sense of clarity and assurance in her own love, despite the challenges she faces.