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Peacemaker ~Calling on the Shinsengumi~

Peacemaker ~Calling on the Shinsengumi~ (PEACE MAKER〜新撰組参上〜)

Romaji: Peace Maker ~Shinsengumi Sanjou~ Other Names: Peacemaker Stage Year(s): 2011 Summary: In this adaptation of the PEACE MAKER/PEACE MAKER Kurogane, Ichimura Tetsunosuke joins the infamous Shinsengumi as a page. His motive in doing so is to become strong enough to avenge the death of his parents.

Full Cast list on Clockworkstage

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Musical: Code: Realize

Musical: Code: Realize (ミュージカル「Code:Realize」)

Romaji: Myujikaru "Code:Realize" Other Names: Code: Realize Musical Year(s): 2018 Summary: A musical adaptation of the otome game Code:Realize Guardian of Rebirth.  Cardia is a mysterious girl with a horrible power, her skin burns anything she touches.  After being whisked away by a mysterious thief Lupin, she finds herself hunting down her father with Lupin and other new friends she finds.

Full cast list on Clockworkstage.

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Update!  It’s Late, I know

So, nothing’s been posted the last few weeks.  Why?  Because Alt thought that everything was qued but it was not!  Entirely my fault and I apologize.  I will get everything up and running for next week and will try to make sure to double check that everything is working correctly.

Thank you for sticking with us!

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Ensemble Stars! On Stage! ~To the Shining Future~

Ensemble Stars! On Stage! ~To the Shining Future~ (あんさんぶるスターズ！オン・ステージ 〜To the Shining Future～)

Romaji: Ansanburu Sutaazu! On Stage! ~To the Shining Future~ Other Names: Ansute/Ensute Stage, Ansute TtSF Year(s): 2017 Summary: The latest installment of the stage adaptation of the phone game Ensemble Stars.  Featuring idol units: Knights, UNDEAD, AKATSUKI, RYUSEITAI, 2wink. fine

Full Cast list can be found on Clockworkstage.

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Danganronpa The Stage ~Trigger Happy Havoc

Danganronpa The Stage ~Trigger Happy Havoc (ダンガンロンパ 希望の学園と絶望の高校生)

Romaji: Dangan Ronpa: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei THE STAGE Other Names: Danganronpa 1, Danganronpa 2014, Danganronpa The Stage ~Hope's School and Despair's Senior High School Students Year(s): 2014 Summary: Following the story of the game of the same name, Danganronpa takes a class full of Ultimate Students attending Hopes Peak Academy and puts them in the Ultimate Showdown...against each other!  Onwards towards Despair...

Full Cast list on Clockworkstage.

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Apologizes for the delay

We wanted to apologize for the last profile’s delay as well as the most recent one.  It’s been a little hectic in the real world and honestly, Alt who is in charge of posting everything, keeps losing track of what day it is.  We shall endeavor to do better from now on!

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Musical The Prince of Tennis: Remarkable First Match Fudomine

Musical The Prince of Tennis Remarkable 1st Match Fudomine (ミュージカルテニスの王子様 Remarkable 1st Match 不動峰)

Romaji: Myuujikaru Tenisu no Oujisama Remarkable 1st Match Fudomine Other Names: Tenimyu Fudomine, Tenimyu 1st Match Fudomine, Tenimyu Year(s): 2003-2004 Summary: In this chapter the long-running  Prince of Tennis musicals, Seigaku faces off against their first opponent: rival school Fudomine.

Full Cast list can be found on Clockworkstage.

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Musical Hetalia Singin' in the World

Musical Hetalia Singin' in the World (Musical ヘタリア Singin' in the World)

Romaji: Musical Hetalia Singin' in the World

Other Names: Hetamyu

Year(s): 2015

Summary: Himaruya Hidekaz's original comic "Axis Powers Hetalia" has been musical-ified!! Centering around cheerful and lovable Italy and strict and too serious Germany,  Japan, America, England, and the rest are here for the unfolding of this anthropomorphic comedy.

(c) http://musical-hetalia.com/sw/story [translated by Bridge]

Full Cast can be found at Clockworkstage.

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Suzuki Shogo (鈴木勝吾)

Alternate Spelling: Shoogo, Shougo Date of Birth: February 4, 1989 Company: Hirata Office Site: Here / Twitter Known roles: Guitarist (Cocoa Otoko), Chani Chiaki (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger), Kazama Chikage (Hakuoki Musical)

Full Credits are listed at Clockworkstage.

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Introduction to "2.5" Part I

Introduction to 2.5 Part I: The Basics

Also avaiable on Clockworkstage

"2.5" is an expression that, in different contexts, can mean different things.  For the purposes of the Japanese Stage and Myu fandom(s), it typically refers to one thing: live action media that started as an anime, video game, or manga.

2.5 or 2.5-D is the mixture of "two-dimensional" media, such as video games, anime or manga, and "three-dimensional" media which includes live actors.  While 2.5 can refer to live action movies and television shows as well, for the purposes of Clockworkstage we only work with Stage and Musical media.

At this point in time, it would almost be easier to list what hasn't been turned into a live-action adaptation than what has as 2.5 has really taken off.  It's more a guess as to if a series will get a tv show, movie, stage or myu than if it is going to get one at all.  Still, as with every adaptation or re-imagining of anything, there are always issues.

Often anime-styled characters have traits or features that are physically impossible to replicate or they have powers or abilities don't exist in the real world.  These features are often changed or replicated as best as possible using screens, lighting tricks, or planned choreography.  Often this works out beautifully.  Sometimes, however, the effects can come off as "campy" and can adversely affect the quality of a stage.

One of the biggest hit-or-miss moments seems to often lie in the casting.  Fans often want their favorite characters to be faithfully replicated in sound, personality, and look.  This comes up even more so in some long-running series where characters are recast one, two, up to an infinite number of times as the series continues.  As of this writing the Musical: Prince of Tennis series has had three seasons and nine different casts for the main team.

While not all of the community probably agrees, some personal 2.5 suggestions from the admins would be as follows:

Musical Prince of Tennis (2nd cast and after)

Ensemble Stars

Black Butler Musicals

Hakuoki Musicals

Touken Ranbu Stageplays and Musicals

--Admin Alt

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Bonus Content Update for May

Due to some IRL circumstances, this month’s bonus content will not be the Tenimyu ranking.  We’ll still be doing it, but that particular project is on hiatus until some stuff clears up.  There will still be a bonus content coming out, so please wait for it.

--Admin Alt

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Musical "Touken Ranbu" The Story of Atsukashiyama

Musical "Touken Ranbu" The Story of Atsukashiyama (ミュージカル『刀剣乱舞』 ～阿津賀志山異聞～)

Romaji: Musical "Touken Ranbu" Atsukashiyama Ibun Other Names: Toumyu 2, Atsukashiyama Ibun Year(s): 2016 Summary: WIP

Full Cast can be at Clockworkstage.

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Messiah -Dou no Sho-

Messiah -Bronze Chapter- (Messiah メサイア -銅ノ章- )

Romaji: Mesaia -Dou no Shou- Year(s): 2013 Summary: Waking from a year of sleep, a new Messiah story has begun. Beautifully violent action encases the love-struck Messiahs and their painful conflicts. You can only help your Messiah. You may only receive help from your Messiah. From now on, I will only believe in one person... In the midst of an extreme situation, they will come to learn the meaning of desperately living. And when will they find it? They only have one hope... This stage play continues the movie's (Messiah -Shikkoku no Shou-) story. (c) https://www.clie.asia/messiah/dou/ [translated by Bridge]

Full Cast can be found on Clockworkstage.

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Ensemble Stars! On Stage! ~Judge of Knights~

Ensemble Stars! On Stage! ~Judge of Knights~ (あんさんぶるスターズ！オン・ステージ 〜Judge of Knights～)

Romaji: Ansanburu Sutaazu! On Stage! ~Judge of Knights~ Other Names: Ansute/Ensute Stage, Ansute JoK Year(s): 2017 Summary: A bonus stage from the Ensemble Stars universe, featuring the full Knights lineup after the return of their leader, Leo.  Featuring idol units: fine, Ra*bits, AKATSUKI

Full Cast list can be found on Clockworkstage.

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Bonus Content Survey

Hello everyone

We’re planning to do a Prince of Tennis themed Bonus Content this month and for that, we need some opinions.  Please visit the survey below and help us give you all content that you’re interested in

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SQJDX7H

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Teruma (輝馬)

Date of Birth: June 6, 1989 Company: Space Craft Group Office Site: Here / Twitter / Blog Known roles: Inui Sadaharu (Prince of Tennis), William T. Spears (Kuroshitsuji Musical), Hijikata Toshizo (Bakumatsu Rock)

For the full list of Credits please visit Clockworkstage.

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Actor Highlight: Takasaki Shouta

Highlight can also be found on Clockworkstage.

Takasaki Shouta was born in 1988 and made his stage debut in 2008 playing Kikumaru Eiji in the Musical Prince of Tennis series.  Since then, he's been in many productions, both live, in stage and musicals, and on the big screen.  While not exclusively, he does tend to stick to 2.5 productions and today's highlight is going to be one of these:

Yamazaki Suzumu from the Hakuoki Musical series.

While Takasaki was the third actor to play the role, he is, as of this writing, the longest running actor to play the role.  He played Yamazaki in six different plays, starting with Kazama-hen in 2014, and finally ending his role with Harada-hen in 2017.

For anyone unfamiliar with the series, Yamazaki is a more minor character. He is only a spy in the Shinsengumi, unlike the other characters who are mostly captains.  He did not have a romance route of his own (until the two most recent games) and only appears in any notable amount in Okita Souji and Hijikata Toshizo's routes in the Hakuoki games.  In the musicals, he's given a more prominent part, especially since another character with a similar role, Shimada Kai, was removed for the musicals.

As a character, Yamazaki can best be described as overly serious, dedicated, and loyal to a fault.  While he will bicker with Okita, the only humor ever associated with him is how he's serious all the time, even when the situation doesn't call for it.  He also puts Hijikata up on a pedestal, which is an important point.

Of the three actors who have played this role, Takasaki Shouta stands out as fitting the role the best, in comparison to the original game, at least according to the admins.  Despite Takasaki's naturally bubbly personality, on stage he's always painfully serious, running around and constantly both on and off stage.

There are two points in particular in which Admin Alt decided that Takasaki played Yamazaki the best.  A spoiler warning is in effect from here on.  First off, one of the most notable features, especially in the earlier games where Yamazaki had a minor role, was how much he seemed to almost worship Hijikata.  Takasaki played this beautifully, always watching Hijiakta even when he didn't need to be and kneeling in front of him to deliver messages or news as if it was completely natural.

Also, the most notable moment was his death.  Yamazaki always dies, in every route except his own, at some point.  The historical figure he is based on, of the same name, died as well, so it's unavoidable.  However, Takasaki's performance in Kazama-hen was outstandingly beautiful.  He rushes in to save Hijikata from Kazama but ends up becoming a fury (half demon) himself and then pleads with Hijikata to kill him.  This is Yamazaki's final act to protect the Vice Captain that he holds dear and watching that death really hits home how much Yamazaki values Hijikata and doesn't value his own life.  His action helps direct Hijikata in the second act, even though he no longer appears on stage.

On a much more subjective note, Takasaki also looks the most like Yamazaki so far.  As a character, he's very slight (the third shortest at just taller than Toudou Heisuke and Yukimura Chizuru) and Takasaki is naturally short, giving a good height comparison to the other actors.

When it comes down to it, all of the actors who have played Yamazaki have been good, and Takasaki Shouta's performances have ranged from good to fantastic in other roles.  But if the Admins had to narrow it down to one, his depiction of Yamazaki has to take the cake.

--Written by Admin Alternatewarning