Following the recent premiere of the OSHI NO KO anime, YOASOBI has released the music video for “Idol,” the opening song of the show.
The “Idol” music video is directed, storyboarded, and unit directed by Naoya Nakayama, the animator who solo key animated (and storyboarded and directed) the famous “Chika Dance” ending sequence from Kaguya-sama Love is War. Some of Nakayama’s other past unit direction and storyboard work include the “stars we chase” performance sequence from Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Season 2 and the “Butterfly” performance from Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Season 1.
Some of the other credits on “Idol” include:
• Visual development/motion graphics: Yuuma Saitou (World Dai Star opening animation co-storyboard artist and co-unit director)
• Visual development/motion graphics: Shun Yamaguchi
• Animation direction: Kanna Hirayama (OSHI NO KO character designer and chief animation director)
• Color designer: Kei Ishiguro (OSHI NO KO)
• Compositing director: Takafumi Kuwano (OSHI NO KO)
• Art director: Studio Easter’s Tetsuya Usami (OSHI NO KO)
• Animation production: Doga Kobo
OSHI NO KO is an adaptation of the Shueisha-published manga written by Aka Akasaka and drawn by Mengo Yokoyari, which began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in 2020 and has 10 tankoubon volumes as of January 2023. It is published under the Young Jump Comics label.
Yen Press describes the premise as:
Gorou is a gynecologist and idol fan who’s in shock after his favorite star, Ai, announces an impromptu hiatus. Little does Gorou realize that he’s about to forge a bond with her that defies all common sense! Lies are an idol’s greatest weapon in this outrageous manga from Aka Akasaka (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) and Mengo Yokoyari (Scum’s Wish).
The anime’s staff includes Daisuke Hiramaki (Selection Project, Asteroid in Love) as director, Chao Nekotomi (Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie opening director and storyboarder, Selection Project Episode 7 dance part director and storyboarder et al.) as assistant director, and Jin Tanaka (Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, Laid-Back Camp) as series composer. Doga Kobo is the animation production company.
Meanwhile, the cast members include Rie Takahashi as Ai, Takeo Ootsuka as Aqua, Yurie Igoma as Ruby, Kento Itou as Goro, Tomoyo Takayanagi as Sarina, Yumi Uchiyama as young Aqua, and Yurie Igoma as young Ruby.
Source: Ayase/YOASOBI YouTube channel
