“Oshi no Ko,” tells the story of a popular idol, Ai Hoshino, and his fan doctor, who gets reincarnated as Ai’s child after getting killed by one of Ai’s fans. After being reincarnated, both work together in the harsh environment of the Entertainment industry and face various challenges.
The series has received a phenomenal response after its first episode aired. Not only did it top the rating charts of MAL with only one episode, but its opening song became the highest-viewed opening song of this anime season.
Here are the top 10 Anime Series like “Oshi no Ko”, which you would enjoy. “Oshi no Ko” follows themes like “Lies and Your Real Personality”, “Revenge”, “Reborn”, and “Acting as an Undercover Agent”. But what makes it unique is putting the “Dark Aspect of the Idol Industry” in it.
So, the following recommendations would be based on these themes.
10. Redo of a Healer
Number of Episodes | 12 Episodes |
Animation Studio | TNK |
Genres | Ecchi, Drama, Fantasy |
“Redo of a Healer” follows the “Revenge” theme of Oshi no Ko. The protagonists of Oshi no Ko, Aqua Hoshino, and Redo of a Healer, Keyaru, realize they must take revenge against the ones who did them wrong. Both of them return to undertake their revenge (Aqua gets reborn, and Keyaru reverses time).
However, Redo of Healer has Ecchi scenes, which has gotten the series into trouble in the past as publishers refused to translate it into English. So if you are uncomfortable with Ecchi, you might want to skip to the next recommendation.
“Redo of a Healer” follows the story of Keyaru, a healing hero betrayed and manipulated by his party members. With his memories intact, he uses his unique healing abilities to reset time and get revenge against those that wronged him.
Keyaru’s journey is filled with graphic scenes of violence and revenge as he navigates a world where power is everything. Despite his questionable methods, Keyaru seeks to change the corrupt society he lives in and create a new world where justice and equality prevails.
9. Erased
Number of Episodes | 12 Episodes |
Animation Studio | A-1 Pictures |
Genres | Suspense, Mystery, Supernatural |
“Erased” follows the “Revenge” theme to some extent and also follows the “Reborn” theme of Oshi no Ko. Satoru, the protagonist of Erased, gets sent back to his past to correct things.
Also, the mystery element of both these anime series is the same as both protagonists seek a killer throughout the series. So, this is one of the best anime to watch if you love Oshi no Ko. The ending of Erased might be unsatisfying for some fans.
“Erased” follows the story of “Satoru,” a 29-year-old man who can foresee an accident by returning a few minutes before them. He has saved a lot of lives through his power. But one day, he is accused of murdering someone. He uses his power to return to do things right.
Unfortunately, this time, he goes back 18 years to the past, where he tries to solve the murder of his female friend “Hinazuki.” He discovers different things about his power and the factors that affect Hinazuki’s everyday life. Will he be able to correct things for good this time?
8. Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Number of Episodes | 37 Episodes + 1 Movie + 1 OVA |
Animation Studio | A-1 Pictures |
Genres | Romance, Psychological, Comedy |
“Kaguya-sama: Love is War” is written by the same author as “Oshi no Ko” and follows the “Lies and Your Real Self” theme where characters hide their true self and lie to get what they want. On top of that, both anime are confirmed to take place in the same universe.
“Kaguya-sama: Love is War” follows the story of two genius high school students, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who secretly love each other. However, they are too proud and stubborn to confess their feelings and instead engage in a battle of wits to make the other confess first.
The two use their intelligence and cunningness to devise elaborate schemes and strategies to outmanoeuvring each other, with their friends and classmates getting caught up in the chaos. As they struggle with their feelings, will their relationship progress?
7. IDOLiSH7
Number of Episodes | 62 Episodes |
Animation Studio | TROYCA |
Genres | Drama |
“IDOLiSH7” follows the “Dark aspect of the Idol Industry” theme of Oshi no Ko. Both of them emphasized the title of “Idol” being just a job, in which the Idol cannot enjoy his own life because of their love for their fans. IDOLiSH7 has a pretty grim vibe, just like Oshi no Ko, making it a perfect recommendation.
“IDOLiSH7” follows the story of a rookie manager named Tsumugi Takanashi, who manages the struggling idol group IDOLiSH7. Tsumugi is tasked to deduct the idol group of seven people into four as, according to Tsumigi’s father, seven idols in a single group is too much of a hassle.
But Tsumigi does not comply and goes against his father to continue the idol group IDOLiSH7 as a group of seven people. Will IDOLiSH7 be able to survive under an amateur manager in the future?
6. Wonder Egg Priority
Number of Episodes | 12 Episodes + 1 Special Episode |
Animation Studio | CloverWorks |
Genres | Drama, Fantasy, Suspense |
“Wonder Egg Priority” follows the “Acting as an undercover agent” theme to some extent as Ai (Wonder Egg Priority) wants to bring back her best friend to life by defeating monsters secretly.
It also has a bleak vibe, just like Oshi no Ko, which makes the whole anime sad, even during happy moments.
“Wonder Egg Priority” follows the story of “Ai”, a high school girl who is differentiated from other class girls because of her heterochromia condition. But she has only one friend “Koito,” who takes her own life.
After the tragic incident, a mysterious creature contacts Ai and takes her to a machine, where she buys an egg- A Wonder Egg. After cracking it open, a person who took her own life appears before her.
Now, the condition she must meet to save Koito is that she has to save this person from the monsters that chase her (known as “Seeno Evils”), and when she does, Koito will slowly start to come back to life.
5. Shadow House
Number of Episodes | 25 Episodes |
Animation Studio | CloverWorks |
Genres | Mystery, Fantasy |
“Shadow House” follows the “Dark” theme of Oshi no Ko pretty well as it deals with dark stuff, overall. The show reveals the truth about the Shadow House (like Oshi no Ko, where the Idol industry’s truth is revealed).
Oshi no Ko and Shadow House start with a happy, cute vibe. But Shadow House’s atmosphere gets dark as we progress into the anime.
“Shadow House” follows a story that revolves around the Shadow family, a group of living dolls who serve as the shadow generators for a prestigious aristocratic household. Emilico, a new living doll, is assigned to serve the Shadow family’s youngest member, Kate.
As Emilico gets to know Kate and the other household members, she discovers the dark secrets within the Shadow House. Will Kate and Emilico be able to survive in this place?
Also Read: Top 10 Best Vampire Anime Series To Watch
4. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Number of Episodes | 23 Episodes + 1 Special Episode |
Animation Studio | Studio Bind |
Genres | Drama, Fantasy, Ecchi |
“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” also follows various themes of Oshi no Ko. Young Rudeus (Mushoku Tensei’s Protagonist) and Young Aqua (Oshi no Ko’s Protagonist) have the same voice actor, Uchiyama Yumi.
Rudeus gets reincarnated as a baby (just like Aqua Hoshino), and both have very serious aims for the future, for which they work extremely hard. The sequel Mushoku Tensei is already in production.
“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” follows the life of a 34-year-old unemployed man named Rudeus, who dies in a traffic accident and is reincarnated into a fantasy world as a baby named Rudeus Greyrat.
With his memories of his past life intact, Rudeus resolves to live his new life to the fullest and become the strongest mage in the world. Will he be able to live a new life properly from the start?
3. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Number of Episodes | 1 Episode (Movie) |
Animation Studio | P.A.Works |
Genres | Drama, Fantasy. |
“Maquia” is a slice-of-life centred anime movie that follows one Oshi no Ko theme and does it perfectly. The mother in Maquia (Maquia) has to hide her child, just like Oshi no Ko (Hoshino Ai has to hide her children from the world).
Both of these mothers share similarities, like how both are not proper parents (Hoshino Ai being an idol who has no time for her children and Maquia being immortal, so she always stays young, making her child develop feelings for her). So, this is a fantastic movie if you are looking for a tear-jerker anime.
“Maquia” follows the story of Maquia, a member of the Iolph, a clan of ageless beings who weave the threads of human lives. After a war breaks out and her people are hunted down for their immortality, Maquia stumbles upon a baby boy who has been abandoned.
She decides to raise him as her own and names him Ariel. As Ariel grows up, Maquia realizes that her immortality will inevitably lead to their separation!
2. Odd Taxi
Number of Episodes | 13 Episodes |
Animation Studio | OLM x P.I.C.S |
Genres | Mystery |
“Odd Taxi” is an underrated anime series that follows some Oshi no Ko themes. Odokawa (The protagonist of Odd Taxi) has many similarities with Aqua, as both are highly intelligent, and both like to remain invisible (as Odokawa is a taxi driver and Aqua is only a video editor).
“Odd Taxi” follows the story of a walrus taxi driver named Odokawa, who lives in a suburban town filled with anthropomorphic animals. One night, he picks up a passenger, a yakuza member, seeking a lost girl.
Odokawa becomes entangled in a dangerous web of crime and corruption involving several town characters as the search progresses. Along the way, he meets various interesting characters, including a celebrity alpaca, a missing idol, and a mysterious girl with a money bag.
Also Read: 10 Anime Like Hell’s Paradise That You Will Love Watching
1. Perfect Blue
Number of Episodes | 1 Episode (Movie) |
Animation Studio | Madhouse |
Genres | Drama, Horror, Suspense |
“Perfect Blue” is one of the best anime movies ever to exist, and it follows Oshi no Ko in almost every theme (except the Idol and Reborn theme).
Mima, the protagonist of Perfect Blue, retires from her idol group and enters the entertainment industry, where she discovers the industry’s dark side. This anime also involves a stalker for Mima (just like Oshi no Ko). It is a futuristic movie which was released in 1998.
“Perfect Blue” follows Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol who leaves her group to pursue an acting career. However, as she begins to take on darker and more mature roles, she becomes haunted by her past and begins to experience a series of hallucinations and delusions.
As her mental state deteriorates, she becomes unsure of what is real and not and soon finds herself caught up in a web of violence and murder. Will she survive in this new chapter of life?
Worth Reading: Anime Fans Horrified By Cannibalism Manga, Written By a Real-Life Killer
There you have it: Top 10 Anime Series, which you will love if you like “Oshi no Ko”. Did we miss any of the series you think would have deserved a place here? Let us know in the comments!