It circles back to Ruby’s dream to be an idol and perform at a dome. Meanwhile, Aqua’s preparing for the play, Tokyo Blade.
Oshi No Ko 5 moves the story into Act 5, “The 2.5D Play Arc.” The volume focuses on the stage-around play production, complete with competitive egos, hectic scheduling, and conflicting visions. Despite Aqua’s minimized role in the volume and Ruby’s almost nonexistent, it is a page-turner. With interpersonal communications, conflicts, and challenges bridging plays and manga, Oshi No Ko 5 portrays a realistic and captivating look at any industry many enjoy but few know.
Created by Aka Akasaka with art by Mengo Yokoyari, the fifth volume covers Chapters 41 – 50. For fans of the anime series’ first season who want to see what happens next, this is where they would dive in. The Yen Press manga starts with Ruby at her mom Ai’s grave, relaying what’s happening in their lives. It circles back to Ruby’s dream to be an idol and perform at a dome. Meanwhile, Aqua’s preparing for the play, Tokyo Blade. Yet he continues to proclaim no interest in acting because he believes he lacks talent. After Ruby’s brief shine, it’s time to learn what goes into a play.
Oshi No Ko 5 Highlights Acting Types
The cast selection for Tokyo Blade makes sure to cash in on the reality show Aqua was on, along with the rivalry between Akane and Kana. It’s fascinating how their conflict stems partly from how the industry puts them in competition. Kana is the “old prodigy” because she was considered one as a kid. Meanwhile, Akane is the new prodigy. In addition, their acting styles differ. Oshi No Ko 5 explains the differences and showcases the skills and possible pitfalls for each.
Kana’s talent is formidable. As a child, she would outperform her peers. Unfortunately, this damaged her reputation because outshining the rest of the cast can harm a film. As such, Kana now focuses on adapting to whoever she’s acting with. So, for Tokyo Blade, she gets to unleash her talent because the actor playing opposite her is considered the best. Meanwhile, Akane struggles because her character is flat, and there’s little information for her to flesh out.
Communication Is Adult Telephone
A large part of what gets in the way of creative projects is ego. In Oshi No Ko 5, there is no shortage of people who believe they know best. Add in that communication is anything but direct. So, in the case of Tokyo Blade, several people relay what changes to incorporate from the manga creator to the play’s scriptwriter. Therefore, by the time it gets to the scriptwriter, the original changes become distorted, watered-down versions of the creator’s original demands.
Still, depending on who is reading Oshi No Ko 5, there is room for sympathy with some more than others. Also, the series shows both sides of making adaptations. The author of Sweet Today makes a return, drawing parallels to Tokyo Blade’s manga writer. So, Sweet Today’s creator, Yoriko Kichijouji, didn’t speak up when they failed to adapt her series correctly. Meanwhile, Abiko Samejima feels superior to all the others. Even though she lacks knowledge when it comes to scriptwriting or stage-around plays.
Oshi No Ko 5 is an outstanding volume, showcasing the industry as Aqua tries to find his father. The conflicts feel genuine, and the pacing never drags. The mystery is always present, but there’s a journey of self-discovery for Aqua in particular as he navigates an industry he claims to be indifferent to. With a fantastic realism that channels emotions from readers, Oshi No Ko 5 continues to show why this series is spectacular.
