Hayao Miyazaki’s first animated series to be adapted into a stage play
By Ryan General
Hayao Miyazaki’s groundbreaking 1978 anime series, “Future Boy Conan,” is set for a stage play adaptation in Tokyo this year.
Fresh take on a classic: The iconic anime, which originally aired from April to October 1978 in Japan for 26 episodes, will make its theatrical debut at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater Playhouse in May and June 2024, according to a press release. The stage rendition is set to incorporate musical elements, promising a fresh take on the show’s sci-fi narrative.
What the anime is about: Produced by Nippon Animation, “Future Boy Conan” is set in a post-apocalyptic world where war has depleted Earth’s resources, leading to natural disasters and societal collapse. The narrative follows a young boy named Conan as he navigates a war-ravaged landscape.
About the adaptation: The stage adaptation, titled “Stage: Future Boy Conan,” will be co-directed by French scriptwriter and director David Mambouch and Israeli filmmaker and choreographer Inbal Pinto. Writer Yasuaki Ito will be on the script, while Umitarō Abe, known for his work in films like “Drifting Home” and “Penguin Highway,” will compose the play’s music.
Miyazaki’s enduring legacy: “Future Boy Conan” not only served as Miyazaki’s debut but explored themes that would echo throughout his career. The cautionary environmental messaging seen in the series resonates in later works like “Princess Mononoke” and “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.”
The news of the adaptation comes following the recent success of “Spirited Away: Live On Stage,” another stage play based on Miyazaki’s anime masterpiece. Miyazaki’s latest film, “The Boy and the Heron” also made waves at the U.S. box office in 2023, earning at least $12.8 million during the movie’s opening weekend at the theaters.
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