10 More Dramatic Shows Worth Watching!
Oshi No Ko left a big impact on the anime community with its hour-long premiere. It’s about an unnamed doctor dying and reincarnating as the popular idol Ai Hoshino’s son, Aqua. After Ai’s death, Aqua vows to protect his twin sister Ruby from a similar fate and locate his father. He believes his father’s responsible for his mother’s death and wants to make him pay. With its strong focus on the entertainment industry and idol culture, alongside its sense of mystery, Oshi No Ko is a satisfying tale that’ll leave you entertained.
Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Oshi No Ko! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Oshi No Ko.
Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming Oshi No Ko!
Skip Beat
Similarities – Characters, Showbiz Commentary, Themes
What would you do if caught your best friend talking nonsense about you to strangers? Would you confront them in person or hope to upstage them in their preferred career? If you chose the latter answer, then you’re no different from Skip Beat’s female protagonist Kyouko. After her long-time friend, Shoutarou talks ill of her, she vows to become a more popular entertainer than him.
Even though she’s unfamiliar with the world of showbiz, she’ll do whatever it takes to make Shoutarou pay for his cruel remarks. Like Aqua, Kyouko enters the entertainment industry for revenge purposes. Her reasons are sillier compared to Aqua, but the sense of vengeance is felt throughout both anime. Skip Beat gives viewers another view of the competitive nature of the entertainment industry.
Where Kyoko will compete against her rival Shoutarou, multiple characters throughout Oshi No Ko compete for fame and a luxurious life. Both anime use competition as a useful plot device to move their stories forward. They also use this notion to explore the psychological and emotional tolls that come from being an actress or an idol. If you’re looking for an anime with more of a romantic comedy approach, then Skip Beat should appeal to you.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Similarities – Author, Characters, Comedy
Before Oshi No Ko, Aka Akasaka created a heartfelt romantic comedy anime called Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. This anime focuses on the relationship between two student body representatives named Miyuki and Kaguya. Despite their dormant feelings for each other and everyone else’s opinion of them being the perfect couple, Kaguya and Miyuki refuse to show affection toward each other.
They argue showing affection for the other will deem them weak. We examine their growing feud and love for each other. Like Oshi No Ko, Kaguya-sama features similar humor. Viewers can expect funny facial expressions, gags, and jokes throughout this series. Both anime feature well-rounded casts with intruiging personalities, backgrounds, and issues. If you’re looking for an anime with less drama, but more comedy and romantic endeavors, check out Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.
Smile Down The Runway
Similarities – Insightful Commentary On Respective Industries
Smile Down The Runway is an incredible manga with great dramatic segments. Our story follows Fujito, a girl who wants to become a phenomenal runway model. After encountering an aspiring fashion designer named Tsumura, Fujito vows to help him achieve his dreams if he promises to reciprocate similar support in return.
Smile Down The Runway and Oshi No Ko deliver unique takes on their respective industries. You’ll be shocked by how much research went into both narratives and will appreciate how it relates to our characters’ multiple predicaments. Furthermore, Ruby and Fujito are one and the same despite their different goals. They both feel motivated and must overcome hurdles to achieve notoriety.
The competitive nature of both industries is also explored in these anime. Fujito must compete with multiple runway models if she hopes to become one of the best. As for Ruby, she must recruit more idols for her group, learn about the marketing side of the industry, and maintain hope that she can become as great as her mother, Ai. If you’re looking for an anime with excellent commentary on the fashion industry, check out Smile Down The Runway.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Similarities – Themes
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a fun romantic comedy anime. In it, we follow the growing connection between two high school students named Sakuta and Mai. Mai has been affected by their school’s puberty syndrome, leading Sakuta to support her. This results in Sakuta getting into hilarious misunderstandings with other women.
Like Oshi No Ko, Bunny Girl Senpai emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong human connections. Sakuta’s relationships with his acquaintances are vital to helping him resolve his supernatural issues. Similarly, Aqua befriends multiple people who’ll lead him to meet others who have connections to his deceased mother. Both shows indicate how forming connections will help you solve issues.
Both anime include characters who struggle to meet expectations and endure societal pressure. The problems our characters face in Bunny Girl Senpai are due to puberty’s hold on them. As for the idols, actors, actresses, etc. in Oshi No Ko, they suffer from common real-world issues regarding criticism, failed performances, and other issues.
Perfect Blue
Similarities – Story, Characters, Themes
Perfect Blue is a classic, mind-numbing thriller created by the late Satoshi Kon. Like Oshi No Ko, it gives viewers a deep dive into the horrors of popularity and the entertainment industry. In it, we follow Mima. She’s a pop idol who quits her position to pursue an acting career. Although things are looking up for Mima, matters turn south swiftly, resulting in her struggling to distinguish what’s real.
Ai’s entire arc in Oshi No Ko is nearly identical to what Mima experiences in Perfect Blue. Although she doesn’t have kids, Mima will experience all types of horrid situations like stalkers trailing her down to media pressure and reporting schemes that’ll tamper with her mental health. Furthermore, Mima undergoes more breakdowns than Ai does in Oshi No Ko.
Perfect Blue likes utilizing dream-like sequences and unreliable narration to create a sense of uncertainty and confusion, making viewers just as puzzled as Mima is in the anime. Both anime also explore the consequences of obsessive behavior and the toll it can have on those who succumb to it. If you’re looking for an anime with a complex story, a great protagonist, and a chilling world, check out Perfect Blue.
Blue Period
Similarities – Characters & Industry Commentary
Where Oshi No Ko delves deep into the world of the entertainment and idol industry, Blue Period gives viewers an insight into the lives of artists by examining Yatora’s journey to becoming a fantastic artist. From proving his parents wrong to improving his artwork, Yatora will do whatever it takes to reach his dreams. His determination will rub off on viewers just as much as Ruby’s in Oshi No Ko.
He’ll befriend and challenge many people who’ll help him improve upon his craft. Blue Period’s supporting cast is just as fleshed out as the cast from Oshi No Ko. They all have interesting reasons for pursuing art and fun personalities to help viewers grow attached to them. Both casts will endure multiple hurdles that’ll attempt to prevent them from reaching their dreams.
However, with enough perseverance and effort, they’ll find ways around their problems to secure a bright future for themselves. Even if you’re not the biggest art fanatic, Blue Period offers enough motivational scenarios, fun interactions, and life lessons that’ll keep you invested in its story.
Zombieland Saga
Similarities – Unique Takes On Idol Culture
Zombieland Saga is another series that provides an interesting twist on idol-themed anime. It follows Sakura and six other girls from different eras of time. They all perished in brutal accidents and have been revived. The person responsible for their revival wants them to become an idol group. Sakura and her new friends accept his terms and we follow their wacky endeavors as zombie-based idols.
While Oshi No Ko features some humorous jokes here and there, it’s not on the same level as Zombieland Saga. The latter is filled with nonstop hilarious scenarios. The characters in this anime have distinct personalities and backgrounds like the idols, actresses, and stars we meet in Oshi No Ko. Both anime examines the intense competition and pressure within the idol industry, though.
Visually, Zombieland Saga has a great mix of 2D and 3D animation. It adds to the show’s sense of absurdity and over-the-top humor. If you’re looking for an idol anime that leans heavily into the comedy side of things but has incredible music worth jamming to, I’d give Zombieland Saga a shot.
Monster
Similarities – Mystery
For Oshi No Ko fans who like Aqua’s side of the story in Oshi No Ko, Monster is a great anime to check out. Like Aqua, Monster’s protagonist Dr. Kenzou Tenma is after someone responsible for ruining his life. The person in question is Johan Liebert, who is arguably one of the greatest anime antagonists you’ll ever meet in this medium.
He’s a cunning and strategic individual, whose always several steps ahead of Tenma. While he doesn’t make as many appearances in the story as you’d hope, his presence is felt throughout the majority of the episodes. This anime features some great plot twists and cliffhangers. You’ll be shocked by how gripping this crime-themed anime’s plot can become over time.
You’ll find it difficult to put it down. The supporting characters receive excellent depth in this tale too. Many have backgrounds that are on par with Oshi No Ko’s characters like Kana, Akane, and others. Therefore, if you’re a fan of Aqua’s goals and journey throughout Oshi No Ko, you’ll adore following Tenma’s path of justice in Monster.
Erased
Similarities – Murder-Mystery & Characters
Monster isn’t the crime thriller you should check out if you love Aqua’s arc in Oshi No Ko. Erased is another thriller series with similar supernatural aspects as Oshi No Ko. In it, we follow Satoru who uses his time travel abilities to catch the culprit behind his mother’s murder and his former classmate’s disappearance. Like Aqua and Ruby, Satoru finds himself stuck as a child during the anime’s tale.
However, he’ll use his knowledge of his future self to assist him in fixing up aspects of the past. Although the culprit is shrouded in mystery in Erased, the anime gives you several hints as to who it might be. The answer is a bit obvious, but the events leading up to the reveal are intriguing enough to keep you anticipating Satoru’s intense encounter with this person.
Both anime have great supporting characters too. Each one has a great personality and background rooted in grief or intrigue. Satoru’s interactions with these characters can be overly emotional, so it’s best to carry a pack of tissues with you while watching this anime. If you’re looking for an anime that’ll elicit an emotional response from you, check out Erased.
Glass Mask
Similarities – Story, Themes, Characters
Glass Mask is a great anime from the mid-2000s era that many folks don’t know about. Like Oshi No Ko, it explores the complexities of the entertainment industry and features the struggles many young performers endure within it. After watching it, you’ll understand how challenging it can be for young performers to make it in the competitive performance world.
Glass Mask follows Maya and Ayumi. They’re two girls who compete for the role of The Crimson Goddess in a famous play created by the legendary diva Chigusa. To achieve it, Maya and Ayumi must complete multiple challenges, break their limits, and make sure one of them fails in these regards. Like many idols in Oshi No Ko, Maya must sacrifice aspects of her personal life to achieve her dreams.
Maya has someone she can look up to for support like Ruby and Aqua do in Oshi No Ko. Chigusa is just as insightful and entertaining to watch on screen as Miyako and Taishi. Viewers will adore seeing her assist Maya in honing her skills as an actress. This shows how having someone to lend an ear to can make a huge difference in one’s journey to success.
Both shows tackle themes involving identity and authenticity. Maya struggles with her identity as an actress and must learn to navigate the challenge of performing as different characters. These are common problems that plague many characters’ lives in Oshi No Ko too. In addition to having detailed character designs and appealing animation, Glass Mask is worth your time.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Oshi No Ko!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!