Summary

Oshi no Ko live-action was well-received by niche audiences, despite not garnering as much attention as the anime.
The original manga creators approved of the adaptation, with Akasaka in particular feeling a great sense of involvement.
Despite some reader disappointment, the ending of the Oshi no Ko manga was as the author intended, and the series maintains its own identity.

Oshi no Ko live-action series debuted on Amazon Prime Video last month, followed by a movie that premiered in Japan on December 20, 2024. This film is still not confirmed to get a global release, but since it is a direct sequel to the series, featuring the same staff, we can expect it to be available on Amazon Prime Video at some point as well.

While the live-action hasn't gathered the same attention as the anime, it has been generally well-received by niche audiences. Anime fans are often skeptical about live-action adaptations, partly due to negative past examples. However, since Oshi no Ko tells a more grounded, down-to-earth story, it is easier to be adapted into a drama format.

The creators of the original manga seem to have approved what they watched. Mengo Yokoyari and Aka Akasaka's statements were recently shared by the Japanese press, with both praising the movie. Yokoyari wasn't expected to be heavily involved in the production, while Akasaka revealed that he chose not to intervene much.

"Everyone Had a Great Sense of Involvement"

In his statement, Akasaka reveals he felt a "great sense of involvement" from the entire staff, who were dedicated to producing the series and movie. He added that he had been allowed to check the production since the beginning, and always felt respected. Despite the adaptation diverging from the manga at certain points, he felt that it wasn't necessary to "correct it," as live-action is a different medium. In his opinion, everyone was giving their best while respecting the source material. Thus, the series has its own identity.

Despite not being involved in the production, Yokoyari also stated she felt the themes she wanted to convey were properly represented in the movie.

Oshi no Ko Manga Recently Ended

The original manga recently ended serialization, but many readers expressed their disappointment with the ending. Some of them were also Kaguya-sama: Love is War fans, another series penned by Akasaka which ended in a way many disliked. Despite the controversies, the author has stated that the series ended the way he always intended it to end.

Oshi no Ko live-action series is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Source: Natalie, CBR

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