Fall 2022 Anime: Eternal Boys

Synopsis

The story follows six middle-aged men who have experienced successes and failures in their lives. One day, they decide to become an idol group. But do they have the necessary physical condition to become an idol group? Can they overcome a barrier called age?

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Vina Nurziani (The Indonesian Anime Time)

Kentarou Sanada, an ordinary middle-aged man, is fired from his job because his working place is going bankrupt. He tries to apply for a new job without succeeding until he stumbled upon a job offer at a talent agency. Thinking that the offer is for a sales position, he applied desperately. Later, he realized that it was not a sales job, but an offer to be a member of an idol group. From then on, Kentarou Sanada and the other members of Eternal Boys strive to be an idol in their 40s.

The show somehow manages to make the backstory quite realistic and relevant to the real-world problem. Pragmatically, Kentarou Sanada being unemployed near his 40s is realistic enough because many people lose jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another member, Haru Asai, needs to earn his part for child support since he’s a retired athlete. Meanwhile, Tsuyoshi Imagawa is just trying to find another source of income in showbiz. For most people, age around 40 years old is the time they reach a stable period in life. But in Eternal Boys, the bois spend their 40s starting over their life.

As a show, Eternal Boys understands the conflict that comes with having 40 years old protagonists. Forming a new relationship as an adult can be quite a struggle since the individual mindset has been solidified through life. Not to mention physical issues started to rise as they grew older. Exploring the middle-aged men’s point of view to deliver a story of an idol group journey gives the idol-themed anime another breeze.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times