【ラブライブ】あなた「ペットを飼ってみた」
Fans of the popular idol content "Love Live!" are buzzing online about a new trend: getting pets!
The internet is abuzz with questions like "Is it their favorite character's pet?" and exclamations of "My furry friend is a LoveLiver too!"
This new form of "Oshikatsu" blends the Love Live! universe and character love with daily pet life, promising heartwarming stories where healing meets devotion.
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The Love Live! Series
The “Love Live!” series is a school idol project launched in 2010 with the concept of “a story everyone can fulfill.” It is characterized by its extensive media mix development, encompassing anime, games, music, live concerts, and voice actor events. Notably, the style of voice actors performing live as their characters offers a new fan experience previously unseen in anime, garnering enthusiastic support. Representative groups include μ's, Aqours, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and Liella!, each possessing distinct charm and captivating many fans. Fans of this series don’t merely watch; they feel a strong sense of unity, supporting the characters' growth and co-creating their stories. Consequently, “Oshikatsu” (fan activities) that integrate elements of the series and its characters into daily life are extremely active. The current buzz around “getting a pet” is an example of this deep love for the work and its integration into everyday life. It is believed that by choosing pets that appear in the series or match the image of their favorite characters, fans feel closer to the world of the work and enrich their lives.
Integration of Oshikatsu (Fan Activities) and Lifestyle
“Oshikatsu” refers to all activities involved in supporting a specific subject (an “Oshi,” or favorite idol/character) in anime, idols, games, etc. In recent years, Oshikatsu has evolved beyond traditional forms like purchasing merchandise and attending events, to integrating elements of one’s Oshi into daily life and overall lifestyle. For example, there's a growing number of cases where fans cook Oshi-themed meals, decorate their rooms in Oshi colors, or even name their pets after their Oshi. This demonstrates that supporting an Oshi has transcended the realm of a mere hobby, becoming a part of self-expression and self-realization. Particularly, owning a pet is a significant life event that involves considerable time and responsibility. By incorporating Oshikatsu elements into this, fans seek to express their love for the work more deeply and continuously. When a pet feels like an extension of a favorite character, or interaction with a pet overlaps with the healing experience provided by an Oshi, fans achieve spiritual fulfillment. This fusion of lifestyle and Oshikatsu further spreads through sharing on social media, becoming a driving force for forming new fan communities.
Fan Communities and Empathy-Based Consumption on SNS
In modern fan culture, SNS platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram are indispensable for sharing information and generating empathy. Fans of anime and idol works actively post their “Oshikatsu” on SNS and interact with other fans. This brings together people who love the same works and characters, forming strong fan communities. The current topic of “Love Live!” fans “getting pets” is a typical example that has spread through SNS and garnered much empathy. Fans express their love for the work by naming pets after their favorite characters, using Oshi-colored pet goods, or posting photos of their pets alongside Oshi merchandise. Simultaneously, they satisfy their need for approval through “likes” and comments from other fans. Such behavior not only involves sharing information but also fosters a sense of unity within the community and even promotes “empathy-based consumption” of specific goods or services. For example, a unique pet item posted by one fan might become a hot topic, leading other fans to purchase the same item. SNS functions as a powerful tool that elevates individual daily events into “content” shared by the entire fan community.