The Secrets of Oshi no Ko's Opening | WIAOP? Idol, YOASOBI
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Like the anime itself, Oshi no Ko has an opening packed with secrets and double-meanings. Let's unpack em, shall we?
And when you're done here, go watch "Why We Love Oshi no Ko:" • What’s So Great About ...
Use code BASEMENT for 500 yen off the Oshi no Ko manga at global.bookwal...
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Guys, I really think he likes the Oshi no Ko OP.
Nahh look like it’s just mid for him
Definitely a longer video than most of the OP videos, so definitely way above average but not the best out there? :D
I also think the same, i wonder tho
Hmm I dunno...
If Geoff loves this op I bet he swallows
One thing about the first shot of the kids on stage that should be mentioned is how it syncs up with the Japanese lyrics. For Aqua, the lyrics are from the perspective of fans or an interviewer, asking questions about the Idol's personal life: "What did you eat today?", "What book do you like?", "Where do you go to play?" and he turns and walks away from these on that last question, right as they say the words どこに行くの？ which, on their own, could also mean "Where are you going?!" showing he has no intention of dignifying any of it, even as the audience demands he come back and answer their questions.
Then as the song shifts to the Idol's answers, Ruby takes the stage, ready to give the audience what they want. "I didn't eat anything." on the smash cut in, "That's a secret!" on the zoomed in 'shh!' gesture, and "no matter what you ask, she's too evasive" on the playful tongue-out wink-smile, almost like she's taunting them for a question she can't answer. Both the lyrics and the choreography surrounding them are so simple yet so in-tune that it does a fantastic job of showing the character difference between the twins.
How do people notice this lmao
Ive listened to this song a million times, seen the opening maybe just as much and yet I still missed it, great job finding it tho
Hey Fun Fact: This song is based on a Oshi no Ko short story written by Aka Akasaka titled "45510". If you haven't already, you should check that out. It may help you see this song with new eyes. PS. It's not a spoiler for anything future in the manga (I don't think), and it's probably canon.
wow...this is... for real... god damn the internet for making me very sceptic of numbers related to anime things
In fact, I don’t think it even has spoilers for anything past episode 1.
(Also, the ending is… very quietly gutting.)
Where can you read it?
More like a part of the song is based on 45510. The full song tells the image of Ai in different POV: first, general perspective; second: B-Komachi member's perspective; and third: Ai herself.
EDIT: changed fans to general. i instinctive typed it as fan on first comment. sry
@@fuqnzht I’d say the beginning is from the 45510 narrator’s perspective too - the “liar” bit in the intro doesn’t feel like a typical fan, and the “kyou nani tabeta?” bits are directly drawn from the narrator watching the old video of the livestream and reflecting on how frustrating, yet mesmerizing, Ai could be.
The third verse, yeah, that’s 100% AI’s POV, and of course the final lines are taken directly from the main story.
I love the choice to dwell so much on Ai's mouth when she's such an eye-focused character.
Her lips is sexy, what can I say
The truth that eyes show vs the lies that come out of the mouth. An amazing imagery really, the director is fucking amazing.
I'd dwell on Ai's mouth too if you know what I'm saying..
@@deki9827 truly an "Ai" opening experience.
Im sorry for the horrible pun
@@p-5199 I will hunt you for sport
Not sure if anyone's commented similar but the brief x over ai's abdomen could also symbolize for her breaking the taboos of idolhood and having children, meaning she did things that lead to children which is a huge taboo in idols since there is an obsession with virginal purity within the culture, x for a part of her own body that "doesn't belong to her but instead to her fans who expect purity, something that should be untouched, untainted", just been mulling it over a bit after seeing it pointed out
Exactly!
I guess it’s kinda both and their relationship with each other, she broke the taboo of children and being an idol but that simultaneously put a target on the same source of the taboo, condemning her to her fate.
the about half of the lyrics are almost word for word quotes from the LN "extra" chapter about one of the old B Komachi idols reminiscing about her time in the group and how much she both lothed Ai and was Ai's biggest fan. We learn the origin of the password Ai had on her cell phone, and most of the stuff in the song come from a Q&A from an old discord server the band had where some fans could ask questions. the first part (in the opening) are mostly the questions and Ai's answers in the discord server, the second part are quotes from the old member of BKomachi and how much she loathed Ai, and the third part are quotes from the old member of BKomachi as she deletes Ai's answers from the server, as she reveals her love for Ai as an idol. she's deleting the answers to shield Ai's memory... by removing answers which were not "good" for an idol to make.
note, the passcode was the first letters of the first names of the original bkomachi's members. something Aqua could have guessed in days not years had he known anything about Ai beyond the idolized Venus her turned her into in his head
Ironically, Akane kinda dislikes Kana and at the same time, she is also one of Kana's biggest fans.
I am starting to see similarities between Kana and Ai, and I don't think I like it. Lol
Not a discord server, it was a livestream archive reuploaded from an already dead livestreaming web service
@@rylamistrandall6517Not even that. It was a private interview. The video was later edited and uploaded to a now dead website and she has a copy of it on her personal computer. (which is what she deleted but i don’t remember the details)
The Mem being inspired by Ai theory would make sense. She is the one who recognized that Aqua's description of what he wants in a girl lined up with Ai. Considering she's been out of the public eye for a decade it would be a massive leap for anyone who isn't a fan loyal even through her death to still have her called to mind so easily s the first answer of who matches his criteria.
I don’t know why it’s a theory, instead of a confirmed fact. In flashbacks of her childhood she’s literally waving heart-shaped signs with Ai written on them.
@@PenguinAlexey I'll have to go back and rewatch. I didn't realize we had Mem flashbacks or I would have gone to check.
I think the way that she points to her "Ai" smile, similar to the move Ruby pulls in the last episode, might also be telling.
The sequence of Goro before a black void with a few glowstick moving around followed by Aqua in the same position surrounded a chaotic dance of frantic movement is so powerful to me for some reason. The juxtaposition of his past and current lives and how he was basically thrust into the world of entertainment directly under the spot light.
I always love seeing that part. It's sad to see how something people enjoy so much can also be so dark and unhinged but the show keeps going on as he stares at what once was and forgets about his own past like flashes of light. Idk I'm trying to be profound it's just such a good scene in the OP I love it.
I gets me every time. It's 5 seconds at best but to me it's packed with meaning.
The frantic movement and chant as an opposition to the void that is life. The fans and audiences know what's up. They know it's all pretend but they do it anyway because that is how they choose to make their stand. In a life is full of inability to assert control, this is how they fight for theirs. Prayer and religion are not much different.
And here's Goro/Aqua, in the middle of that illusion in the realest way. You're wondering if he's facing that crowd as one of them of one against them and can't help think he's probably both. He can't bring back Ai, no matter what, not by his means because it's up to whatever higher power reincarnated him if anything will ever be given to Ai past her previous life. However, Goro/Aqua won't walk away, will not look away from that void and the faceless glowsticks. He will accept a life of pain for the sake of what someone else gave him. No wonder he was a doctor. He doesn't ignore others, doesn't let them be forgotten. More that healing their flesh, he gave his patients the knowledge someone will care even after they are gone. Just like how Ai remembered her stalker's name when he thought he was completely invisible.
@@Jackie_Tikki_Tavi Yes, exactly! It's a short sequence but boy it carries so much of the show's themes and story.
in episode 9 at 3:59 in memcho's in short backstory she holded two fans that said ai is my idol forever
1:48 "Mem-cho is the only one who doesn't have any confirmed link to [Ai] so far, but given that she's secretly 25 and has aspired to be an idol since she was a young girl, the timing does line up for Ai to have been her inspiration as well."
In episode 9 at 3:58 there's a flashback of Mem-cho as a child holding up "Ai fan forever!" signs as she watches one of Ai's performances, so it's actually confirmed
I see that someone has already brought up the "45510" short story - yes, it definitely has deeper meaning than just "a random password that Aqua managed to find through brute-force trial-and-error" - but I'm mostly chiming in to say that my interpretation of the red penlight section was a bit different from Geoff's.
Apparently that red-pink that keeps showing up is specifically the color a fan would use to show that Ai was their favorite (their 'oshi'), just like how red, yellow, and white were used in the next-gen B-Komachi performance at the end of the season. So the red lights aren't predatory! Instead, we watch the doctor just barely beginning to "see the light" of Ai fandom. The glasses breaking show the transition of his death, and then in his next life as Aqua... the red light he sees is now an overwhelming obsession.
IMHO.
Numbers is start of names of old b comachi
@@yarko9877 Yes.
Given what a fan eventually does to Ai, it's reasonable to think that the red lights could also evoke predators in addition to your interpretation.
The ED deserves its own analysis imo
The second shot of Aqua in front of the crowd of glowsticks is always my favourite.
It always reminded me of a raging fire, which I interpreted as the intensity and dangers of the audience, and how quickly it can turn/burn the performer.
With the first shot of a crowd being viewed by his past life, and the second being viewed by Aqua, it made sense to me that after his childhood experiences with the dangers of fame, he would see the crowd as an inferno and be wary of them.
I'll be honest, Mr. Basement. I was a HUGE fan of your What's in an OP videos and I miss them dearly. I hope we get to see more on this channel at least.
Here’s a fun fact that you probably don’t know about the opening. 45510 is referencing a spin off light novel about one of the Ai’s fellow members of B-Komachi. I won’t get into the light novel for spoiler purposes(you should be able to read it after watching the anime cuz it doesn’t go into the manga stuff) but I will add that the lyrics of the opening directly quote the story several times and also the rap part is from the pov of her fellow members. Feel free to go back and listen
isn't it more accurate that the name of the short story references the code used to open her phone?
Oshi no ko's decision to do an hour-long first ep is a option I wish more studios had a say in. Being able to cover a very important but slow opening arc is great. So glad season 2 got announced immediately after the final episode aired. I've really been enjoying the manga. I hope season 2 gets the same love season 1 did.
I think you missed it, when we saw MEMcho as a child in her back story we can see her being a big fan of Ai, wearing and holding Ai goods
Honestly, this OP was amazing when I first saw it, and then when HDive added the English translation, I was completely blown away by how perfect the lyrics are. Definitely one of the best OP's I've seen, and Yoasobi is just excellent with their own music video, and their live concert video, as well. To note, you've commented that it reached #1 on the Worldwide Billboard chart (not including the US), but it also reached #7 on the Billboard 200, which does include the US, and it is the highest any Japanese song has ever reached on that chart. The fact they did the English version of the song themselves is also insane to me.
I don't think "Ruby is pure" is the message of the opening. In the full MV she is holding hands with Shadow Ai, implying a darker side to her character
Maybe it is implying she is following in her mother's shadow
Not pure, but that she's following a brighter path (at least compared to his brother) with dark undertones (the entertainment industry).
Man, now I’m super hyped to see what they come up with for the next OP - especially since the 2.5D Stage Adaptation arc is one of the manga’s most popular.
Small correction: while Daisuke Hiramaki is indeed the series director, the OP is directed by Yuusuke Yamamoto.
Another facet of that shot the group of crows: crows are worldwide often linked to wisdom, but what is the term for a group of crows?
A _murder._
I actually kinda hate the OP because it cuts the god damn BEST LINE in the whole song which translates somewhat to “In the end, I was able to say this and it wasn’t a lie: I love you” where in the Yoasobi OMV, Ai hugs Aqua and Ruby after dropping her costume. WHY DID THEY CUT THAT MAN THAT WAS SO GOOD
I was thinking the other day, watching the final episode, "I could really go for a 'What's in an OP' video for this show." Well done.
15:55 I get relentless hyped for these "What's in an OP?" videos. The ones about animes I love take me back to every detail of joy and anguish I felt on first watch.
Geoff...please, never stop putting g these out. It is a highlight of your online career to me.
I think your point on the ravens/crows might be spot on, so far watching your video I'm reminded they fly up around the stalker after the cliff scene and in the swirling darkness that becomes the first gorgeous shot of Dark Eye Aqua at the end of Ep1.
Note: in Mem-Cho’s flashback, she actually holds a sign that says something like “Ai is forever”.
Can't wait for you to read the manga, I was surprised to hear you haven't read yet. I typically get my recs from you and catch up. I'm ahead for once! Hope you enjoy (and also make a very very long video I can binge and rewatch when I'm jonesing for something to put on).
Something I also note is how when Goro/Aqua is standing on the stage surrounded by the lights, the colour is red, Ai's colour, as if he's trying to put himself in her shoes but he's standing still, unable to replicate her moves showing the disconnect between his desire to understand her and his inability to understand her.
The shot of Memcho moving around possibly implies that she is acting as a teenager idol while the next scene where she gives a smirk while turning around and a shadow above her head, implying that she is infact lying about her age and is much older. The lyrics at the time were "Its like the sweetest peach, so out of reach" (possibly Ai's stardom) "but seems one could breach." Like what Memcho is trying to do.
I'd never heard of this anime before you talked about it on your main channel. Now I'm obsessed
You really go into these OP's well and love the hidden lore on certain animes that I like. Thank you
Just like in Love is War those crows are there on purpose as foreshadowing that you will see near the end of season 2.
One thing you missed was when the camera pans in on Aqua's face in the beginning of the video he performs a theatrical move known as Exit Stage Left (An orderly and uneventful departure, timed so as not to detract or distract.) when it switches to the scene with Ruby and has her stay in the center stage under a spotlight.
Important missed detail, Goro standing and lookign at red glowsticks specifically is a reference to his obsession with Ai, since red glowsticks are Ai's color. (Mentioned by Ruby)
the crows are also a reference to someone who appears later in the manga
The best and worst thing about this OP does is that it stays rent free in your mind all day.
I really hope you keep doing these
The bit about crossing out phrases in the intro and outro are great comedy. Excellent work... (The rest of the video is pretty good too.)
i've missed WIAOP so much!! Please do more 🙏
I love to watch your “what’s in an op” videos, and was especially excited when this time around it was the Oshi no Ko op!!! If you decide to make another one of these videos I highly suggest (ask very sincerely) that you cover the second link click op, it’s indescribable.
I'm so glad there's a "what's in an op" for this!!
There were several moments in the OP where I tried assuming the context of a small segment, aside from Ruby carrying on Ai's legacy by grabbing the Star, I could barely grasp any of them properly. This actually blows my mind how less then a second moments in this OP carry so much meaning. (Even tho I think it sorta spoiled the fact that Mem-Cho is gonna become a member of B-Komachi. haha)
I really enjoy the OP analysis vids of yours. I REALLY wanna see you tackle the Magical Destroyers OP one day. (If that's even remotely possible lmao.)
So hyped for the return of “What’s in an OP.” Real talk it’s most of my favorite content of yours.
When Geoff learns about the significance of the crows... 👀👀👀
With an anime as beautifully animated as Oshi no Ko, there is absolutely no way I'm reading ahead
I missed these so much!! Thank you, Geoff! These analyses bring attention to so much that goes unnoticed!!
I'd love to see a breakdown of the openers/closers of G Witch.
The heartbroken wail that kicks off the second closer seems to constantly highlight the gut punch at the end of almost every episode in the second half and made me seek out the lyrics and give some thought to the meaning
The ravens do reference a specific supernatural thing that happens later on. We don't have any answers to that thing that happens, but it's a bit of foreshadowing that there are other things at play here.
the crows in the OP are SUCH an iykyk moment for manga readers
Ooo, thanks for pointing out the parallels of Aqua and Ruby! I didn’t really appreciate the shots where light falls over Ruby face while shadow overtakes Aqua’s until now :00 💖
Commenting because I heard on a stream you say these videos don’t perform well for some reason but they are the reason I started watching. Hopefully this comment helps the algorithm!
4:47 Ah yes... The crows... Manga people, where are you? (Comments might contain spoilers)
Every time I see your interpretations of OPs and things like it blows my mind, maybe I am just an oblivious NPC that just consumes anime without thinking, but wth I think its amazing
Haven't watched this series yet, so I'm just dropping a like and a comment to get this up in the algorithm.
I found Idol through Yoasobi's official music video of it the hour it was posted, as I follow them, so I didn't even know it was an opening for an anime until Ai came out from the title text like 15 seconds after it started. Watching the Official Music Video can give you a lot of hints about the show as well, like the fact Ai is never seen outside of a TV, hinting that she is not in the twin's life, and is a memory or gone. Or the clone Ai seems to have showing a more muted and darker palette, hinting that we don't really know her.
I really enjoy the What's In An OP series. Hope this channel lets you do more of them, or even reupload some of the older ones. The one I'm dying to watch was the one you did comparing Re:Zero and Konosuba's first seasons, it's been removed but it was mentioned in the Konosuba S2 OP analysis so that's how I heard about it. If you get a chance, I'm very anxious to see that video fixed and reuploaded at some point.
Aqua: "I AM YOUR DOCTOR"
Ruby: "NO, IT CAN'T BE!"
I might be reading too much into it especially as someone who only knows these lyrics through translation, but there really seem to be a lot of points in the OP that are carefully timed to interact with the lyrics of the song in some way or another. just to prod at the first several to appear:
-"Even her ditzy aspect is her area" lines up with MEM-cho's eyeshot; her appearance is even slightly delayed to set this up
-"You, perfect and a liar" lines up with Akane's eyeshot, but as best as I can tell, she disappears just before "and a liar"
-and, of course, Ai, the gifted idol-sama, appears just in time to sing "a gifted idol-sama"
-the next couple lines -- "What did you eat today? // What books do you like? // If you're going out to have fun, where do you go?" -- are a barrage of fannish questions that is shown while Aqua is having his moment onscreen
-the answers -- "I haven't eaten anything // That's a secret // No matter what you ask me, I'm evasive" -- go with Ruby's jumbotron moment instead, and each one actually seems to sync right up with her choreography. "I haven't eaten anything" when she has her back turned; "That's a secret" when she pulls the "shh" expression; "No matter what you ask me, I'm evasive" when she drops the eto bleh
Yay!!!!!!!! What's in an OP is back!!!!!!!!!
Oshi no Ko is a one in a life life time masterpiece. And Yoasobi did it absolute justice with _Idol._
I always look forward to your OP analysis, I hope you make more!
Omg yes! Feels like the last op analysis video was forever ago lol
WIAOp is the best content you do, my guy. Keep it up.
Would you be interested in doing a similar analysis of Yoasobi's music video for Idol? It is basically just a separate OP for Oshi no Ko, with a focus on Ai.
Yes finally we get another what's in an op. I love this series and even if it's on this channel I hope we get more what's in an op.
This video literally gave me goosebumps.
I do love the clips of crows , I didn’t even notice them until after I read the manga where they are more blatant
why did i almost cry just watching this Geoff????????? AAAAAAAAA
Surprised Geoff didn't point out the similarities in the opening shot of Ai and Perfect Blue. The eerie crt cut reminded me of Perfect Blue immediatley
this op gets even better when you've gotten the context from the manga
The movement of Akane in the starting sequence is very reminiscent of Ai's movements too. That fucking blew me off on the next episode after she goes "Teehee".
I am more of an OP listener than a watcher, so I wasn't paying too much attention to the visuals, I hadn't even seen Akane there, but that was when I started to just watch it for the next episodes. I was floundering for days lmao.
6:37 I think it's simpler and simply because that's the place where Kana fell in love with Aqua.
The anime isn't as obvious, but in the manga it's clear that when they film "The face of the maiden, who has fallen in love with the protagonist" she looks at Aqua.
Honestly, the manga did it so much better than the anime, I loved that part.
I'm so glad. I love this OP so much already, and now I get to love it even more. Thank you so much.
Great video!
I'd love to see a breakdown of the music video someday, it's so good.
Nice video, didnt look at the op like that, but now i hope they do the same for the second season, because the contrast will be interesting,
I never knew you have a second channel until your last video
Geoff, at some point I’d love to see you team up with 12tone for a What’s in an OP video, you analysing the visuals and him analysing the music.
Meanwhile I just sat there like "oh pretty images and nice beeps and boops"
As a manga read, I really can’t wait for the next season. Cause hot damn we got some scenes coming up
Love to see "what's in an op" make a come back!
7:51 The way Geoff praises this part makes it sound like anyone who sees it instantly realizes, "oh, that girl turns suicidal, definitely"
I also want to point out (as something that just blew me away) that during the stage shot of Ai, the lyrics say "you're the ultimate and perfect Idol", however, Ai is shown while the lyrics say "you're the ultimate and perfect" and as the word "Idol" is sung, Aqua breaks through his mothers eyes, which I interpret as either him becoming Ai's successor as her son OR him uncovering the truth behind the danger and hardships of Idol culture!
Excellent upload tie in 😁
10:00 I actually fing teared up just listening to someone talk about these images.... 😅
god damn what a great analysis of the intro
❤❤❤❤ I really needed this video and I didn't know about it
I hope you do one for the ending credits too, and bring up the fact the ending card and song has become a meme in japan
I heard English covers of this song and had no idea the story/anime had such a story behind it.
Bro, even if you read ahead the anime is so good, even if you know what happens next the anime will still surprise you. That’s how I felt watching the anime even though I was caught up with the manga.
wait why is this on this channel not Mother's Basement?
This is what your channel is about. This is the content I subscribed for all those years ago. What's in an OP.
I'd love to see a "what might be in an OP" - you trying to predict what is about to happen in an anime based on only the OP without any prior knowledge
0:10: I only heard "Idol" in one TikTok. But that's a lot, since I have never used TikTok.
To answer the obvious question: I'm counting videos uploaded to UA-cam which were clearly designed with TikTok in mind as "TikToks". And the one informal-TikTok I saw it in was the stop-motion Hololive one that Animist did.
I’ve been waiting for this
Also, there are five crows in that shot which could symbolize the five main characters (Aqua, Ruby, Kana, Akane and Memcho)
Even as someone who doesn't like oshi no ko I'm excited for this video.
Ruby puts her finger in front of her mouth when the lyrics are "sore wa naisho" which means "this is a secret". Just to underline it.
Love you analysis
Two things that caught my attention:
1. The TV Ai kinda looks like a VTuber's 3D avatar, giving her an uncanny, otherworldly feel. Both to separate her from the rest of the stars in the OP as a one-of-a-kind talent (literally a dimension above them) and to convey that she's dead.
2. Akane looking at her smartphone and crying: that could actually be the scene where she watches the video made by her LoveNow coworkers to save her reputation.