Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 8 review: Doga Kobo’s depiction of Kana and Aqua’s acting leaves fans marveling at their brilliance

With the airing of the eighth episode of Oshi no Ko season 2, the anime explored the various forms of acting. Despite Kana Arima’s initial hesitation to portray herself authentically, Aqua encouraged her to shine radiantly. However, Aqua himself came to the realization that he could no longer find pleasure in acting. Therefore, he was forced to perform despite his inner struggles.

Each new episode of Oshi no Ko season 2 delves into various themes related to the entertainment industry. In the most recent episode, the series sheds light on the pressure that parents can put on child actors and the emotional turmoil experienced by actors when they are unable to fully enjoy their craft.

Oshi no Ko: Doga Kobo’s Love for Kana and Aqua Shines Through in Season 2 Episode 8 Review

Kana Arima as seen in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 8 (Image via Doga Kobo)

Despite being hailed as a prodigious child actor, Kana Arima’s career took a downturn as she reached adulthood and lost her roles. She had to adapt and learn to work well with others as an actor, a crucial skill that not many had anticipated of her. This was evident as even her fellow stage play cast members were determined to match her level of performance.

With this in mind, Doga Kobo was well aware of the importance of properly animating Kana Arima’s performance. As expected, the animation studio did not disappoint, successfully showcasing Kana’s acting skills as bright as the sun. This was achieved through the use of stunning artwork and accompanying background music by Doga Kobo.

In regards to the portrayal of Kana’s past, specifically her relationship with her mother, the anime made minimal changes to the storyboarding. However, the execution of these scenes was well-directed and effectively conveyed the reasons behind Kana’s single-minded pursuit of her goals, which was appreciated by fans.

Aqua Hoshino as seen in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 8 (Image via Shueisha)

Doga Kobo followed a similar path with Aqua Hoshino, but instead opted for contrasting elements to highlight his emotionally charged acting. Despite Aqua’s enjoyment of performing, he would inevitably experience feelings of guilt and suffer from panic attacks. As a result, Gotanda firmly believed that Aqua would never truly be able to find joy in acting until he confronted and dealt with his underlying trauma.

As a result, Aqua was able to maintain his performance by channeling his guilt and pain to heighten his emotions. This level of portrayal would not have been achievable without the exceptional animation and intense voice acting and background music provided by Doga Kobo.

Additionally, the animation studio impressed with an anime-original scene in addition to the two mentioned previously. In this particular scene, Aqua encouraged Kana to give her best performance, much to the delight of “AquKana”fans. The staff incorporated a special moment where Aqua and Kana gazed into each other’s eyes for 18 seconds, accompanied by romantic music, reminiscing on their shared experiences.

This particular scene was not originally part of the manga and appeared to have been included to cater to “AquKana”supporters. However, it must be acknowledged that the scene was undeniably delightful, unless one happened to be a fan of Akane Kurokawa. In defense of Doga Kobo, it is understandable given that even Akane herself was a fan of Kana.

Episode 8: Final Thoughts on Oshi no Ko Season 2

The latest episode of Oshi no Ko season 2, episode 8, was incredibly enjoyable, particularly for fans of Kana Arima. Viewers of the series were aware that this episode would revolve around Kana, but it surpassed their expectations and was widely praised as a brilliant installment. Doga Kobo continues to impress with their work on the anime, as they consistently infuse each episode with a great amount of love and care.