Does Oshi no Ko's Premiere Surpass its Manga?

Does Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari's manga get the treatment it deserves in the anime adaptation? Mostly! It's no Kaguya adaptation so far, but honestly, just happy it didn't get Biscuit Hammer'd. So let's talk about some scenes and moments in Oshi no Ko's First Episode that have stellar direction thanks to the adaptation - and some slight thematic analysis cause I can't help myself.
Oh, and hi - it's been a minute.
#oshinoko #animeanalysis #replayvalue
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Music:
Sophia's Shop - Persona 5 Strikers OST
Every Day is Night - Va11 HALL-A OST
Loneliness - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST
Nameless Town - Octopath Traveler CotC OST
Logo: Drawplex

[@TazerLad]

I'm glad you didn't have to suffer the ill effects of both a botched Biscuit Hammer and OnK adaptation. Truly this is something special if it brought you back for even just this video. Oshi no Kino indeed

[@petersilveira1629]

The Biscuit Hammer anime is a crime against humanity!

[@Amuro1X]

7:16 Ai said it herself multiple times. She's a liar. So when she says she doesn't remember people's names, I took that later to be a lie and a self defense mechanism. She purposely "misremembers" people's names to keep them at an emotional distance.

[@The_D0C70R]

I took it that she was actually telling the truth, because we later find out that she sets her phones password to goroawase of the B-Komachi founding members' names. I figured she had done that to help herself remember their names, since she really did want to be friends with them (as we read in the short story)

[@kakahass8845]

@@The_D0C70R Wait what? I've never seen this which chapter says this?

[@The_D0C70R]

@@kakahass8845 It's not in the manga, it's in a canon short story called "45510"

[@josephianijosephiani1737]

Since she remembered the name of her killer pretty easily I considered that to be canonically a lie

[@The_D0C70R]

@@josephianijosephiani1737 We don't actually know for sure that she got his name right. She apologises for possibly getting it wrong in that exact sentence. As for the killer's reaction, even if she didn't get his name right it was still clear she remembered him because she talked about him attending her events and giving her the star sand.

[@andrewli6606]

The added flashbacks for Ai's death really added so much. We can see that in those short years how close Ai was to her children. As a side bonus, we even see added moments of Saitou and Miyako being a part of this family. It really adds to the choice that they would adopt the children and not just out of pity.

[@suicidalloafofbread2009]

He's back, boys

[@ShadyShelf]

The manga is definitely elevated by the anime. The production alone is astounding. I'll admit to not being a fan of the story, but Ai is definitely a star!

[@JullOxW]

This video once again proves me that you're possibly the best anime content creator when it comes to analysis and poiting out the subtle (but crazy good) things anime does. Discovered you through your first Oregairu video and genuinely enjoyed all the content since. Hope you'll start making more video again! (since the last one was a year ago) Thanks Replay!

[@RaiosSephi]

Like this REPLAY has VALUE!!! ...

[@nintensumphyrx4230]

honestly. the guy knows his stuff about both writing and visual arts. gonna keep my eyes out for his other works. maybe even subscribe if i catch him once more

[@nintensumphyrx4230]

nvm subd B)

[@nightfallnoir]

Ai is such an amazing character. The way she gives her best while accepting that she HAS to lie to be happy for everyone, but then finding true happiness thanks to her twins- meaning that if she *wouldn’t* have got the chance to live this unfortunately short life with her children, and would have just continued to be an idol normally, she wouldn’t have got the feeling of true happiness… Really irreplaceable by how incredible they made this first episode.

[@blueboy_hd7539]

i don't think so. Isn't it to dramatic to realize you happiness while dying? I think that she would eventually realize, that she deeply loves her children

[@OtakuBox]

And to also go off the last scene at the end, even the fact that the music they used, for a pretty intense scene, it's someone's last moments being shown in a violent act, is so serene was also very striking to me. Not only the way they've been framing things around her eyes, which I thought your analysis there was cool, for me the first thing that jumped out was the choice of having that scene be audibly so beautiful in the way the slow piano kind of seeps in there. Even in that moment where they let the stalker just kind of go off on his own, the music remains so serene and there's no drastic change, and it feels, in that moment like a very honest and clean piece of music, reflective of Ai in that moment. It's not one reflective of the kind of music we saw before from Ai, doing the whole idol thing, but one that utilizes very few instruments, doesn't overstate itself in that way and is incredibly gentle, again all relating to this moment of realization and honesty that she finds herself in. Such a great scene.

[@Mulch4321]

I'm so glad Akasaka's work is so widely appreciated, every time a new chapter drops my excitement reaches new heights, and now knowing Replay Value loves it too only further vindicates me

[@mrsputum4082]

Holy shit, he hath awoken from that slumber thought to be everlasting. Glad to see you’re back!

[@leonsdx]

This is one of the best adaptations I've ever seen. This series really went from being a rebound after the Act-age fiasco, to becoming one of my favorite series currently publishing I'm also so happy you're back man 😭❤

[@-Raylight]

The way Aqua's eyes lit up when he finally found his 2nd purpose is just so awesome Everything about this anime just amazing, the voice acting, animations, story. Can't wait for more!

[@PapaB_123]

You know a creator is good when you enjoy their analysis of stuff you don't even like. Great video RV, awesome to have you back.

[@PapaB_123]

@@Maverrick2140 To be clear, I have seen it, and read a few volumes of the manga. I just don't like it.

[@Audreys_Cloud]

2:02 you made me see someone I wasn't expecting to see, I've seen this episode 7 times because I keep making more people watch it, and I didn't notice they were there until your video.

[@JustAPokemonCommentingOnVideos]

welcome back man you are on point always!

[@MathWizHQ]

finally giving this a watch now that I have proper context. good to see you back!

[@Shimadacat]

What a succinct and well-written analysis! Praying that your channel blows up, because this is some quality content! Something I also found interesting was how crows seem to be a direct contrast to doves, which often represent love and peace. In this sense, Aqua's been given new life, but a cruel one that will lead him down a one-way path to desolation, as beautifully illustrated by his dark eye. Interestingly, Ai's eyes also briefly turn dark, especially when she's trying to scare off the director, though they transform back into light-colored ones when the director tells her that it's okay to lie.

[@hatefullove]

I didn't start reading the manga all those years back just so I could go complete blind when the anime came out. 3 years, 3 whole damn years I waited and goddamn I'm so glad that I did wait coz it was one of the best experience I had, the raw surge of emotions I felt from that just one episode. While I didn't know how the manga fans felt about the anime before this video, but for me those subtle yet clear foreshadowing hidden in a layer of lies, those metaphorical viewpoints, the expression, the deepness which existed within the simplicity and the colour pallete of the episode as a whole. It all added to to enrich the experience. Truly i'm glad that I didn't lose my patience 4 months ago when the pv came. Yeah to put it simply, I loved Oshi no Ko and now I'm making sure my friends will like it to by letting them feel the pain.

[@JustAWellwisher]

Nice vid. I super agree about the 'godhood' scene. I was even wondering if they were trying to undermine it for some reason.

[@DaceX20A]

The Return of the King! Welcome back and I hope you're good after your hiatus!

[@Nakytzu]

wake up, Replay uploaded

[@Hetsu..]

Replay value, dont leave ussssssssssssssss

[@Jayluna98]

Dude your analysis and breakdown of this episode to the tiniest of details was fantastic, I feel like I just got to relive that first episode through the way you handled the topic. Wonderfully done!🎉

[@aqualucasYT]

This anime was so hyped that it brought Replay back from the dead Welcome back king!

[@hewhowatches5711]

Thanks for coming back. You're videos are always great. Keep it up!!!

[@deann719]

Im so glad to see you back with content and its a banger as always!

[@Sportsgamingg2k]

so glad ur back

[@deco1747]

The first episode was so good that it made replay value come back from the gulag

[@butterfer0808]

My favorite oregairu analysis guy from last decade is still alive?? AINTNOWAY

[@saberbestgirl20]

omg replay value! so glad to see you're still here, hope you doing well ❤️

[@xkevhh]

Mann! I missed your videos, they are the best ones that I have seen, I havent read the Oshi no ko’s manga but this episode really hit me hard and I really want to continue this story, and with this analysis makes me wanted to keep watching it even more

[@spider-man9772]

I haven’t been this involved in a anime/manga for a long time but this has kept me very excited for next chapters and episodes

[@BarrakiOfToa]

So excited to see that you're back with another video!

[@ChaseTheHuman]

so glad you're back, love your stuff

[@thomasffrench3639]

Nice to see that you’re back, but I’m waiting for the end of the season for a HiDive Free trial binge, so I’m gonna have to sit out on this one.

[@GuvBubbs]

Loved this video. Great work RV!

[@ditch-1196]

Glad to see you back❤

[@Illvana]

I went in only knowing that it related to idols and that everyone said it was THE best thing to watch in like the past decade or so. WHAT A FRIGGING RIDE IT WAS! I say, without a doubt, the duration of the first episode was the best decision anyone made adapting anything in the history of mankind so far, doing it any other way would have likely hindered its impact. Ai's death scene was just incredible, I think I haven't seen any character's death shot that looked so visceral up to this point (I guess the fact that most end up being just overloaded with gore may have something to do with it, but, hey!). This episode did it so much for me that I ended up buying the first two tankobons after watching it, and I can't really buy that much manga, in the first place xD

[@cheeskies_]

8:58 in this scene they're using the red light stick which is the light stick that the audience use in concerts and also the color that ruby picks when she becomes an idol and dances on the stage too (she picked it because ai had the same color) and this gives us another easter egg!!

[@darkraven6207]

u r back!!!!!!!!!!

[@KiraCain]

OMG you are back with a great video.

[@Materia_Man]

Let's goo new Replay Value video

[@BarrakiOfToa]

This video has been sitting in my downloads for 3 months before I could watch the show and come back to it.

[@YGOkid8]

Also finally got around to watching through this the other week, I think your analysis on the direction of the first episode pretty much hits the nail on the head. Oshi no Ko's first episode sits in a weird spot for me where I think it's the strongest episode from a directing and technical POV, but was actually my least favourite in terms of content. A lot of it has to do with how the anime sets up a fairly serious tone because of Amamiya Gorou's murder/death and the need to keep Aqua and Ruby's identities a secret, yet a lot of the characters act in ways that should jeopardise their position but is ultimately played off for laughs. The baby light sticks scene is an example of a scene I really didn't like because of this, which is a shame because I completely overlooked the excellent transition you brought up being reflected in Ai's eyes, even though I probably registered it unconsciously. The funny thing about the tone mismatch with serious and comedic is that... it's pretty much a non-issue for the rest of the season because of the direction they story moves in. First episode makes it seem like Aqua's revenge drama story would be the focal point but ends up taking the back seat as a way to drive the direction of the narrative, while the anime focuses on other things. But it's through these other things I think the anime was able to make use of its lighter and comedic moments to greater effect, since e.g. the need to keep Aqua and Ruby's identity a secret isn't as immediately relevant or dangerous anymore.

[@formula1313]

welcome back to KZbin mate!

[@lokosquad7036]

YOURE BACK!!!

[@ClericV]

Noragami is one of your favorite mangas? Based. Also great review. As an anime only and fan of love is war, Looking forward to more from this series.

[@macrux152__8]

Good on ya replay value. Yer show on Hyouka is still my favorite of all the yt retrospectives I know.

[@nampham2892]

Welcome back ohh i miss u

[@boneatled]

I hate the other fandom's toxicity towards this adaptation and the shit they are saying at it, cause just this first episode brang me to the edge of tears, even though I knew what was coming. I love the way the way the team used color and just gotta say, this is amazing so far

[@viscera9579]

which fandom? From my experience there was nothing but praise for it, of course with that little troll here and there but there was no real hate I saw

[@aurora_xx6736]

Oh which fandom? I haven't seen any toxicity surrounding Oshi No Ko

[@boneatled]

Answering previous 3 comments: maybe the bullshit I see are just a select few that end up seeming like a lot, or in other parts of the world it isn't as much as in here, idk. I still love the anime anyway, so I won't tolerate any hate >:/ And please don't take me as a hardcore fanboy, I'm just happy to see a so well done adaptation

[@Amsel_616]

Probably Vtuber fans if i have to guess, Idol culture is also there for most corpo Vtubers, good thing here in South America most people hate it.

[@xaviersgiantego1453]

gonna watch oshi no ko just to enjoy the crumb of replay value content

[@Me-uv4ib]

THE GOAT IS BACK

[@RebelTheArtGal]

3:31 I think the freeze frame was to exemplify the comedic aspect of the shot as well as the trope of freezing up when caught doing smth they shouldn't

[@MKhan-zo8xo]

Youre back!

[@salmanige318]

He's back aye! Replay Value! Its great that this adaptation brought you back.

[@DezireTunes]

I love the attention VA11s ost has been getting recently with youtubers. Always loved it

[@somegal934]

Welcome back! I don't know this anime but I'm boutta watch it cuz of you

[@tsuaririndoku]

If the Manga Ai’s Death felt like you get hit by a Truck. Anime on Ai’s Death felt like you got hit by a Naval Gun AP shells.

[@femblemz9821]

I love this story. So much to tell, so much to learn, so much to say

[@hologomes1388]

Man I fucking love your videos, you're crazy good.

[@1996nick2]

Great video. Subscribed.

[@zellbi]

I want y'all to know, I knew this was coming. *The goat has returned.*

[@dragonbloo10]

Insanely good video!

[@lyew8886]

Did anyone notice the phone models turning newer with time in the anime, while the manga always had modern phones? Or with technology in general? In the prolog, the flatscreen in the hospital has been exchanged for an older crt to highlight the town being out of touch with the times while the phones in the prologue, which look like Iphone 10s (I think, not a smart phone person though) in the manga look like Iphone 4s in the beginning of the anime while becoming more modern as time goes on, thereby making the time skipped much more believable. As a side effect, it also means that the prologue starts in 2010 or later, meaning the actual story is set in 2026 or later

[@henlostinky273]

i think gorou's phone is meant to be an original iphone. it has the metal fringe around the edges that went away with the 3g and later when they switched to plastic chassis. 2023-16 = 2007, which would work out. going back farther, this also means Ai was born in 1990-1991 and is spoilered in approximately 2010.

[@lyew8886]

@@henlostinky273 that would make more sense for the rest of the story, since the plot playing in the future by my estimate didn’t really sit right with me. Also, minor update: The anime continued it’s streak of turning stuff from flashbacks older with Ais old phones in episode 3 and I still love that attention to detail

[@randompolygon8401]

"see you next week" please do, I missed these videos!

[@sanaan0168]

Thanks for this review cant wait for ep 2. Took a whole week to get over her death was soo sad only thing I cried. The piano music also fit the atmosphere. I hope episode 2 is still has great as the first episode. Can't wait for Aqua to become light yagami. I love the animation especially the eyes. Loved your video

[@ItsShaz1]

Loved the video my friend.

[@DogDogDogDogDogDogDogDogDogD]

He's back!

[@thatjames4156]

Good to see you're back, brother. Don't overwork yourself. Take care.

[@chaoticplayz363]

Replay Value is back!!!!

[@mrlost470]

As a Manga reader, it was really cool how they adapted most of the stuff. i really like the art style and how the eyes really capture who the person is. i also love the music and the lyrics behind it almost a cherry on top. Hopefully season 2 will be as great or even better with the new arc.

[@blitxaac]

0:03 Had a chuckle, Noragami fans have it tough eh

[@reezwave]

This is a really well done breakdown, I never realized that Ruby's voice and Sarina's voice are different

[@javipok]

See you next week? We really back now

[@steadyrow]

OH MY GOD HELLO! i missed you.

[@nickfulson186]

The king has returned to speak about this masterpiece, truly fitting 🙏

[@Sephictus]

I paused a xenoblade 2 song I was listening to around 4 minutes so I could pay more attention only to suddenly hear one in the video and got so confused. Great taste!

[@tgl2343]

Another interesting fact: Her name, Hoshino Ai, literally translates to "Love of star". Her name alone is a good title for this prologue, if it ever had one.

[@ardith]

Feel like you missed a few things, but overall a great analysis. Only things I would have wished you touched upon was Ai's inner light outshining the absolute crushing darkness inside of her, and Aqua's rejection of both Ai and Miyako's motherly love.

[@niaputri2094]

Yeah I always wonders why he seems like rejects Ai's affection as mother and still treats her as his idol even until her last breath he called her Ai not mother.

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

Another great analysis of a great anime adaptation

[@the42Vance]

You need to do a video on the new movies that change the ending depending on watch order. To every you I’ve loved before and to me who loved you.

[@Kakakaka-ri2kr]

YOU'RE BACK!?

[@forgived1450]

Oshi no ko blew me away with it's adaptation and presentation of the source material.. It felt more like a movie than a tv series which is great.. I hope that other high profile manga adapted like this with much thought and not just a cash grab..

[@Violet1234]

I think i felt more watching the anime than reading the first volume of the manga. Also welcome back after one year ❤❤🎉

[@dailydoseoftwitch8998]

Replay Value is alive let's goooooooo

[@FusionCode]

Return of the king

[@thecoolestfaisal]

Great Video! Just wondering, have you read Akasaka-sensei's earlier work IB: Instant Bullet? Despite feeling kind of rushed a amateurish compared to his later works, there's just something I really love about it. The characters really resonated with me and I could feel the passion he had for the story he told in that manga.

[@PrograError]

well, he only wrote it, another mangaka took care of the final manga version. still it's damn good manga... also weekly mangaka are a beast of their own...

[@angelamengualcortinas3614]

The Return of the King

[@steadyrow]

that was fucking bonkers. The idea that the entire episode was subplot for an hour and a half leading up to the inciting incident is insane. Whats even crazier is how gripping it was in just it's subplot!.

[@toger6061]

Miss you!

[@konfinally4114]

we back

[@courageousprincess]

Yay new replay value video!! i know nothing about this manga though so i am sitting here going wtf is this about

[@phoenyck]

Is the end an Internet Historian type bit where every video will end with a "see you next week" lmao

[@darrenklooosterman3206]

9:34 wait actually? LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO

[@anasalshikhkhalil2044]

Great analysis, could you perhaps talk about the masterful direction of Tengoku Daimakyou?

[@yellowcatgirl]

LETSGOOOOOO NORAGAMI MANGA FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@supermanguy4895]

The Return of the king

[@MiMiLock58]

himmy neutron returns 💪

[@TheRamblemanWhoSings]

When I originally saw this anime being recommended on the site I watch anime on, I didn't wanna watch it, but after hearing that the op & ed were good I decided to watch the series & it was an hour well spent, even if I knew that Ai would die

[@voltron77]

Damn the Gil in the thumbnail is cute af! That’s a real waifu there!