Popular 2.5D musical and stage roundup

Bungo Stray Dogs

Stage play “Bungo Stray Dogs” holds an open dress rehearsal! Supernatural battles brought to life through theater | EnstaStage

Bungo Stray Dogs is a manga written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa that turns real-life literary masters into characters.

It’s a hugely popular series in which each character fights using special abilities inspired by the authors’ works and titles, and it has spawned anime, novels, and spin-offs.

Commonly called “Bunsto,” the stage adaptation that began in 2017 is known as “Bunsute” and has also gained wide popularity.

The plays build their stories on the manga and novels, delivering heart-pounding performances where you can experience the full impact of the supernatural battles right before your eyes!

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

From the musical Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon -Le Mouvement Final-: “Starshine of Love” (13-person version)

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, the manga by Naoko Takeuchi that many girls—from children to adults—have admired.

It tells the story of Sailor Guardians in sailor-style costumes who battle evil, and it has garnered enormous popularity not only in Japan but also overseas.

The anime ran for five series over five years starting in 1992, and a new anime began airing in 2014.

The franchise also has a long history as a musical: the first stage production premiered in 1993, with various stories performed through 2005.

Later, anniversary productions were staged from 2013 to 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary, and performances featuring members of Nogizaka46 were held from 2018 to 2019.

Just like in the anime and manga, the stage lets you fully enjoy the dazzling, sparkling presence of the Sailor Guardians.

NARUTO -Naruto-

Live Spectacle 'NARUTO' ~The Tale of Naruto Uzumaki~ (Dress Rehearsal)

Masashi Kishimoto’s work Naruto, which has been a massive hit both as a manga and an anime, is immensely popular not only in Japan but also overseas.

Even after the series ended in 2014, its popularity shows no signs of waning.

Naruto was first adapted for the stage in 2006 as a “Ninja Illusion” performance, and since 2015 it has been presented as a live spectacle, with productions staged not only in Japan but also abroad.

The dynamic stage, which uses extensive visual effects to seemingly project the world of the series as-is, is packed with highlights.

Ensemble Stars! THE STAGE

Ensemble Stars! Extra Stage ~Judge of Knights~ BD & DVD Commercial

Ensemble Stars! is a smartphone game about producing male idols.

Nicknamed “Ensta,” it has gained widespread popularity, especially among women.

It was adapted into a TV anime in 2019 and a theatrical anime in 2022.

Since 2016, Ensta has also been adapted for the stage, with performances that reconstruct the original story.

In the live segments, audiences can enjoy the show just like an idol concert, waving cheering uchiwa fans and glow sticks.

It’s a stage production that lets you enjoy both the story and the concert—twice the fun in one experience!

Osomatsu-san on STAGE

“Osomatsu-san on STAGE ~SIX MEN’S FESTIVAL~” Blu-ray & DVD Digest Video

Osomatsu-san is a work based on Fujio Akatsuka’s manga Osomatsu-kun that has been adapted for the stage since 2016.

This hugely popular series, which follows a set of sextuplet brothers, first appeared under the title Osomatsu-san in 2015, the 80th anniversary of Akatsuka’s birth.

It has since been made into a feature-length anime and games, and even received a live-action film adaptation in 2022.

The first stage adaptation premiered in 2017, and two series have been performed: Osomatsu-san on STAGE ~SIX MEN’S SHOW TIME~, which combines theater and live performance, and Osomatsu-san, which presents theater only.

Come experience the zany antics centered on the sextuplets for yourself!

Patarillo!

Stage Play 'Patalliro!' ★Stardust Project★ Public Dress Rehearsal | EnterStage

Patarillo!, a gag manga by Mineo Maya set in the fictional Kingdom of Marinera, has been serialized for many years since 1978 and has garnered a large following.

In 2016, a stage musical adaptation began its run.

The lead role of Patarillo is played by actor Ryo Kato, whose eyebrows closely resemble the character’s, and the script is written by Tetsuya Ikeda, an actor known for appearing in a wide range of productions.

Beyond its powerful, cool musical numbers, the show is packed with the kind of chuckle-worthy humor you’d expect from a gag work.

Yowamushi Pedal

DVD: Stage Play 'Yowamushi Pedal' Inter-High Arc The WINNER TV Commercial

Yowamushi Pedal, the manga by Wataru Watanabe that also earned acclaim as an anime and a live-action film.

Centered on bicycle racing, it’s a story about growing through riding and competing in races.

Stage productions began in 2012, and every run has been such a hit that tickets sell out immediately.

On stage, only the handlebars of the bicycles appear, yet the direction vividly conjures the image of riding and racing for real.

The intensity of races and other showdowns is portrayed with the same heat as the original, delivering the characters’ sweat and tears directly to the audience.