Warning! Contains spoilers for Tenmaku Cinema #Chapter 5!
popular cartoon Oshi no Ko is the most popular show of the season, but a new show Shonen dance manga is acting against it in the best possible way. That manga is Tenmaku Cinema by Yuto Tsukuda and Shin Saeki, the creator of Food Wars. The manga follows movie-enthusiast Shinichi, who is possessed by the ghost of a screenwriter and begins his journey to make an amateur film.
In chapter #5, translated by Camellia Nieh, Shinichi and the movie’s star Kurai search various locations for their movie. Location detection is an important part of filmmaking that isn’t often discussed, so it’s interesting to see it featured here. Shinichi and Kurai have to take into account how crowded a certain place is or whether it’s allowed to film there. Along the way, Shinichi takes various photos to use as inserts, which can be stitched into film to convey certain information about an area or soften a transition. He also rigorously checks the shot compositions at each location to find the best angle. It’s a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of a movie as a refreshing contrast to the way Oshi no Ko portrays the entertainment industry.
Tenmaku Cinema is a bright version of Shonen Jump’s Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko also shows the behind-the-scenes details of the entertainment industry, but it presents it in a darker way. Anime focuses on the more practical realities of being an actor, idol or producer and portrays the entertainment industry itself as a kind of big lie. These entertaining aspects are super fun to watch and can even carry an important message as the powerful sixth episode of Oshi no Ko did. But the constant darkness and cynicism that Oshi no Ko indulges in can make you a little weary. This is why Tenmaku Cinema is a welcome alternative.
Given that Tenmaku Cinema is about a group of movie buffs making their own movie unrelated to the seed industry that Oshi no Ko focuses on, it can present the filmmaking process from a positive perspective. much more extreme. Every character’s passion for the movie they’re making shines through and keeps the reader invested in their film. While in many ways the series has stripped away a lot of the romanticism surrounding the making of the film, seeing the characters overcome unexpected realism issues is satisfying in a way. its own. This relatively upbeat tone is ironic as Tenmaku Cinema could also be seen as Shonen Jump’s dark turn for Hikaru no Go, but given Oshi no Ko’s level of drama that’s not surprising. course.
Oshi no Ko fans need to see Shonen Jump’s Tenmaku cinema
Anime and manga fans curious about the realities of entertainment should enjoy both Oshi no Ko and Tenmaku Cinema for different reasons. By reading or watching them together, their contrasting tones can keep one from being overwhelmed. Oshi no Ko Fans looking for a similar series that aren’t too dark need to see Shonen dance‘s new comic Tenmaku Cinema.
Tenmaku Cinema Chapter #5 available to read from Viz Media.