Over the past two decades, anime has branched out to different industries and platforms. Video games, music, film and even stage plays. Many of fan-favorite anime like Death Note and Bleach are not only stage plays, but musicals. Produced by associations like Japan 2.5 Musical, anime plays are different than traditional standalone fare because each play is an episode to a series with additional chapters released the following year.
Production varies depending on budget, and sometimes the set and costumes are subpar. However, these musical adaptations are just the right amount of hype for loyal fans of any title and, with a medium as expansive as anime, even the unlikeliest of series are bound to have Tony Award potential. Here are seven left-of-center series that would make excellent musicals, episodic or stand-alone. If you do not see an anime you love on this list, chances are it already has a stage play of its own.
Black Clover
Black Clover’s magic system would make it difficult to adapt for the stage, however, the challenge would be well worth it for fans. As one of the top shonen series today worldwide, Black Clover has a dedicated following that would jump at the chance to see Asta and Yuno in the flesh. Whether the story is about the pair’s usual banter or fighting against the Eye of the Midnight Sun, the chance to see grimoires in action has spectacular visual and plot potential. Asta getting his Black Clover grimoire would even make a great opening number.
Fire Force
If its openings were anything to go by, Fire Force’s flaming motifs supply endless possibilities for hard-hitting songs. Much like Rock Musical Bleach, Fire Force is well suited to edgier, heavy rock fare to get audiences pumped for big action scenes. Like with other action anime musicals, the fight sequences could be re-imagined as dance numbers based on iconic fight moves from the anime. Real fire on stage might sound like a bad idea, but stage effects have evolved over the years. Audiences and cast members can enjoy real pyrotechnics with maximum safety with just the right coordination and distance. For a safer route, projectors and colored stage light could also be an illusory substitute to capture the anime’s dynamic magic.
MAGI
Magi is a gem of an anime that ended in two seasons. However, the series left viewers with great lessons about life and fate with a fascinating and unique magic system. Magi has well-developed characters with ever-changing allegiances, only to tell a tale that each person is a hero with their own beliefs. With scenes that left viewers laughing and in tears, Magi as a musical could deliver equally beautiful and heart-wrenching numbers. In terms of effects, Magi would run into the same problem with Black Clover when it comes to visualizing magic, but, again, that wouldn't make it impossible. On the bright side, cosplayers have shown the costumes would be fantastic, and even more so with stage effects.
Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko is about a cute 25-year-old red panda who likes to blow off steam from work by singing death metal on karaoke. Based on an original character by Sanrio, the aggressively relatable series already has the musical component built right in. For its stage adaptation, Aggretsuko could model itself to be a puppet musical like Avenue Q and have just as much -- if not more -- relevant social commentary.
Aggretsuko doesn't shy away from profanity and asks its viewers serious questions about the kind of life they want to live. Existential dread does wonders for a musical number -- especially if that number is a death metal anthem. Combined with the music and potential puppetry, the message about workplace strife and finding the courage to go your own way should appeal to a lot of young adult viewers, especially those who grew up with Sanrio.
Princess Tutu
Princess Tutu follows a duckling that transforms into a prima ballerina to save a prince by gathering fragments of his heart. Princess Tutu is not your average magical girl anime. The anime has a more somber tone that parodies tragedy and delivers a narrative that subverts classical fairy tale storytelling. With ballet at its core, Princess Tutu could deliver conservatory-worthy performances with elegant costuming and classical music any theatergoer could appreciate.
91 Days
91 Days is among the few anime mob stories with solid substance and pacing. Reminiscent of the God Father, 91 Days is a revenge story plotted out slowly, balancing foreshadowing and suspense. This anime would not suit the episodic nature of Japan 2.5's productions. However, as a standalone play, it has the potential to deliver classic theater drama equivalent to West Side Story. Set in the Prohibition Era, the historical context would add yet another layer of intrigue to the stage.
Kokoro Connect
In the same vein as 91 Days, Kokoro Connect would make an excellent standalone musical. The story is different from the typical feel-good high school anime because the premise involves five friends swapping bodies to literally understand what it is like to stand in each other's shoes. The characters dive into their traumas like a makeshift Breakfast Club and struggle to communicate their raw emotions without the barriers of their original bodies.
Each conflict brings the characters closer to understanding one another's identities away from a façade persona. The central theme is belonging and connecting, one that's recognizable in any coming-of-age musical, like Dear Evan Hansen, allowing for numerous opportunities for substantial duets or solos.