Warning! Contains spoilers for Tenmaku Cinema #Chapter 5!
The hit anime Oshi no Ko is the most popular show of the season, but one new Shonen Jump manga is acting as its opposite in the best way possible. That manga is Tenmaku Cinema by Yuto Tsukuda and Shin Saeki, the creators of Food Wars. The manga follows passionate cinephile Shinichi who becomes possessed by the ghost of a scriptwriter and embarks on a journey to make an amateur film.
In chapter #5, translated by Camellia Nieh, Shinichi and the star of the film Kurai scout various locations for their movie. Location scouting is a vital part of movie making that often doesn’t get discussed, so it is fascinating to see it shown off here. Shinichi and Kurai have to take into account how crowded a given location is likely to be or whether it’s even allowed to film there. Along the way, Shinichi captures various shots to use as insert shots, which can be spliced into the film to convey certain information about an area or soften transitions. He also rigorously checks shot compositions at each location to find the best angle to shoot at. It’s a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of a movie that serves as a refreshing contrast to how Oshi no Ko portrays the entertainment industry.
Tenmaku Cinema is Shonen Jump‘s Bright Version of Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko also shows behind-the-scenes details of the entertainment industry, but it does it in a darker way. The anime is focused on the more pragmatic realities of being an actor, idol, or producer and portrays the entertainment itself as a sort of grand lie. These aspects of entertainment are incredibly interesting to see and can even carry an important message as Oshi no Ko‘s powerful sixth episode did. But the constant darkness and cynicism that Oshi no Ko revels in can get somewhat exhausting. This is why Tenmaku Cinema is a welcome alternative.
Given that Tenmaku Cinema is about a group of cinephiles making a movie on their own disconnected from the seedy industry that Oshi no Ko focuses on, it is able to present the process of filmmaking in a much more positive light. Every character’s passion for the movie they’re making shines through and makes the reader invested in their film. While in many ways the series strips away a lot of romanticism surrounding the process of making a movie, seeing the characters overcome the unexpected practical problems that arise is satisfying in its own way. This relatively optimistic tone is ironic given Tenmaku Cinema could also be considered Shonen Jump‘s dark twist on Hikaru no Go, but given how dramatic Oshi no Ko is it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Oshi no Ko Fans Need to Check out Shonen Jump‘s Tenmaku Cinema
Anime and manga fans curious about the realities of making entertainment should enjoy both Oshi no Ko and Tenmaku Cinema for different reasons. By reading or watching them together, their contrasting tones can prevent one from getting too overwhelming. Oshi no Ko fans looking for a similar series that isn’t as dark need to check out Shonen Jump‘s new manga Tenmaku Cinema.
Tenmaku Cinema Chapter #5 is available to read from Viz Media.
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