Highlights
- “FATAL” by GEMN continues exploring themes of toxic fandom through Aquamarine Hoshino’s perspective in Oshi no Ko‘s second season opening.
- Visual glitches and lyrics in the opening reveal Aqua’s trauma from Ai’s death, showcasing his struggle with the “lack of love.”
- The twins, Aqua and Ruby, embody different fan perspectives, with Ruby playing a senior role as the one who introduced Ai to Aqua.
As a devoted fan of this captivating anime series, I find myself deeply moved by the intricate narrative and poignant lyrics that permeate through the opening sequence of “FATAL”. The story of Aqua, Ruby, and their lost mother Ai resonates with me on a profound level, as I too have experienced the bittersweet longing for someone who has left an indelible mark on my life.
In 2023, Oshi no Ko was among the most beloved anime series, with its ongoing second season captivating audiences. The story delves into the sinister aspects of Japan’s entertainment world, a sphere that has fostered a harmful, entitled fan culture and parasocial relationships – a troubling phenomenon widespread globally.
In a more accessible manner: The initial themes of both seasons of Oshi no Ko are mainly presented through the suffering of its main character, Ai Hoshino. However, how does the second season’s opening theme further develop the central themes introduced in the first opening?
A Recap of The First Season’s Opening
45510, The Short Side Story
2023 saw YOASOBI’s rendition of “IDOL” becoming a massive success, transcending from an exceptional song in its own right to one deeply intertwined with the narrative of the series “Oshi no Ko”. Instead of merely mirroring the story and characters, it becomes a vital extension of the plot, as if the song itself were born from the story. The opening theme is inspired by Aka Akasaka’s short story titled 45510, which delves into the former B-Komachi group member’s experiences working with Ai Hoshino and recalls a long, revealing live-stream on an old video website. This glimpse provided a nuanced portrait of Ai’s fractured personality, yet preserved her enigmatic and detached idol persona. The lyrics of “IDOL” incorporate verbatim phrases from this live-stream as well as lines from her fandom. However, the second season’s opening takes on Aquamarine Hoshino’s perspective—Ai’s reincarnated son, who is also the reborn form of Ai’s gynecologist and fan, Goro Amamiya.
1. “Her unconquerable grin has taken over the media world; there’s an air of mystery about her that leaves everyone intrigued; whatever she seems to be missing only adds to her allure; a master manipulator in disguise, she’s not just a genius, but an icon.”
– YOASOBI, “IDOL”
In the initial scene, character Ai, whose name signifies love, mirrors the discrepancy between her manufactured celebrity persona and the genuine individual behind it – a dichotomy that both she and her followers find challenging to distinguish. Notably, her name is written in katakana, a style of Japanese script used for foreign words or text clarity, implying emphasis or easier reading. In Japanese, “Ai” symbolizes the most profound form of love, yet its interpretation can be complex due to the multiple types of love that exist depending on context. By using katakana instead of traditional kanji characters, the character’s struggle with defining authentic love is conveyed, as well as her recognition that maintaining a celebrity identity, even if it is built upon deception, embodies its own form of love. The use of katakana highlights the false notion of love that Ai feels she embodies.
A “Love” Story Without the Core Component
The Opening Is Largely From the Perspective of the Twins
In the premiere of Oshi no Ko season 2, the theme song “FATAL” is played by GEMN, a duo comprising Tatsuya Kitani, known for his work on the opening for the Hidden Inventory Arc in Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kento Nakajima from the Japanese boyband timelesz, more recognized as Sexy Zone, who contributed to the theme song of A Condition Called Love. A keen-eyed fan on the creditless opening shared by the official Oshi no Ko YouTube channel pointed out that “GEMN” is a shortened form of “Gemini”, without the “-i”. This insightful observation aligns well with the song’s central theme, which revolves around the absence of “love” or “-i”. The visuals in the opening sequence show brief glitches affecting Aqua and Ruby, transitioning between their present and past selves. As the first verse begins, the visuals transform from a scene of the entire cast gathered at a bay to a stage setting where we watch Aqua and Ruby climb stairs, as if they are performing in a play.
“Kirakira o hoshi-sama yadoshita anata no eyes Karakara kawaite kawaisou na lack of Ai? Subete o kodoku kara sukuu mabushii hikari Boku ni dake ochiru kage wa anata no sei?” “Your eyes with glittering stars in them All dried up, poor thing, a lack of love? A dazzling light that saves all from loneliness Is this shadow that falls only on me because of you?”
Through Nakajima’s introduction at the start of each episode, we discern that the story is told from Aqua’s point of view. He wakes up from dreams, feeling helpless and burned by memories of the past. His longing for Ai, who has passed away, fuels his despair. The first verse suggests that Ai herself is a symbol of his lost love, a “dried-up, poverty-stricken” representation of his own suffering due to her death. This is further emphasized in the interlude, where Aqua blames Ai for his flawed nature and the destruction she caused in lives, although it’s clear that this destructive impact was a result of her passing, not her character during life.
Twin-Stars and a Lack of Ai/I
There Are Changes in Perspective That Explore A Core Theme In Various Ways
In this part, both singers join to sing the pre-chorus: “Could you lend me your voice, these intertwined and complicated wounds, the one who inflicted them upon me is none other than you, only you (only you, only you). Keep your gaze upon me, keep your gaze upon me.”
“Without you, I cannot live anymore, I would sacrifice anything for you,
I can’t get enough of your love, what should I use to fill in what’s missing?
Fatal, fatal, fatal love; fateful, fateful, fateful I
Inevitable, inevitable, inevitable sorrow
Keep your eyes on me, my dearest fatale.”
In their previous lives, Aqua was a doctor and Ruby was her patient. However, it was Ruby who knew Ai first, giving her an older fan status. Unfortunately, Aqua witnessed his mother, Ai, dying violently, while Ruby passed away due to illness. In the series, Ruby has taken a backseat role, but episode 5 hints at exploring her experiences following the absence of Ai. For much of the opening sequence, the twins are portrayed together or holding hands, until the pre-chorus scene where they’re recklessly chasing after their mother, disregarding the risk of falling from a high building.
In a previous statement, I mentioned that the double meaning in question was actually a triple entendre. Here’s why:
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2024-08-10 21:34