One of the best recent movements in anime is something American fans are truly missing out on.
Although the two media are not usually connected in people's perceptions, Anime and Musical theater really have several parallels. For instance, melodrama—expressed through song—is a hallmark of musicals including Moulin Rouge, Newsies, and a more recent work, The Notebook. Conversely, anime sets itself distinct from other media by showing intense emotions in shows like Erased and Fullmetal Alchemist using frequently rather theatrical means.
Although most American viewers are not aware of, Anime Musicals are one important source of entertainment even if America has access to most shows released in Japan. Only one anime musical has lately arrived in America. Based on the manga and anime series of the same name, Death Note The Musical has a Frank Wildhorn soundtrack, Jack Murphy lyrics, and Ivan Menchell book.
Main Analogues between Anime and Musicals
Two main commonalities between musicals and anime series distinguish them from other mediums. First, although Dragon Ball is well-known in Latin America for a number of reasons, it mostly reminds me of Telenovelas, which come from Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. Like anime, Telenovelas are known for their melodramatic tones and multi-season arcs. In the same vein, musicals use heartbreaking ballads, risky duets, and fun, humorous reprises to convey strong emotions.
Furthermore shared in use by musicals and anime are score. The story of musicals revolves around songs, which almost always capture the continuous emotions of the characters singing. Furthermore different from Western scores are anime soundtracks and motifs. Unlike Westernized animated movies like Disney or Pixar, Japanese anime scores and music emphasize the contextual emotions rather than the character movements, much as in musicals.
Attack on Titan: The Musical, the newest theatrical adaptation for anime
Attack on Titan: The Musical will create history in October, even if anime musicals have not yet found American venues. The AOT musical adaption based on Hajime Isayama will open at the New York City Center on October 11–13 in Japanese with live English subtitles. Isayama personally approved the musical, therefore demonstrating once more how amazing anime adaptations are at creatively presenting classic series in fresh approaches:
"I was amazed by how strong the production in Tokyo was. A musical seemed to be the ideal platform for telling the Attack on Titan narrative. Different from the manga or the anime series, the action and the songs by the performers have produced a fresh Attack on Titan. I am really excited for everyone to watch this incredible play they have produced in New York. Kindly count forward the opening. Hajime Isayama.
Death Note: Musical Notes
Starring the venerable Jeremy Jordan as Light Yagami and a cast of outstanding actors to bring the famous tale to life, Death Note: The Musical rocked America. Death Note is not the only anime, though, with a live-action musical accompaniment. London and Tokyo have seen presentations of Pokémon, Your Lie in April, and Sailor Moon. Apart from concept albums, these musical works have not seen much attention in America. But not for long; an Attack on Titan Musical coming this fall might transform everything and prove one of the best current movements in anime something American viewers are sorely missing out on.
The Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, Japan hosted the Japanese musical premiere on April 6, 2015. Hayato Kakizawa and Kenji Urai appeared as Light and Teppei Koike as L on the stage adaption. Originally composed in English, the musical later was translated. Released to promote the Japanese debut was the 2015 Complete English Concept Album. Apart from a concept CD, there have never been any anime musicals released in America. On the other hand, several anime musical adaptations have toured Japan, something Western anime enthusiasts are truly lacking out on.
