With over 140 million copies sold worldwide, the Attack on Titan manga is both a critical and commercial success. This success has led to numerous adaptations, the most notable being the anime series that debuted in 2013.
The Attack on Titan anime is as equally beloved as the manga, receiving universal critical acclaim. With critics praising its storytelling, animation, action and characters, it's considered to also be one of the greatest anime series of all time.
In addition to the anime, we've received novels, parody spin-offs, video games, and actual theme park attractions. In 2023, Attack on Titan: The Musical premiered at the Orix Theater in Japan.
If you couldn't already guess, Attack on Titan: The Musical is a staged musical theater adaptation of the manga and anime series, combining conventional musical theater techniques with state-of-the-art technology, performed by a cast of 35. Written by Masafumi Hata, based on a story by Hajime Isayama, with music by KEN the 390, the live stage production -- directed by breakdance world champion Go Ueki (Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle) -- impressed audiences in Japan. And now it's headed to North America.
It was announced today that Attack on Titan: The Musical is coming to New York City for four performances. This limited run, from October 11-13, 2024, will mark the musical's first international performance. It will be performed in Japanese with subtitles.
Although a musical with choreographed dances may feel like a strange choice for adapting a dark fantasy like Attack on Titan, manga creator Hajime Isayama praised the live stage production as the perfect medium.
"When I saw the Tokyo performance, I was overwhelmed by the power of the stage," he said. "I thought that the musical method of expression was perfect for the work."
The synopsis for the musical closely aligns with that of the manga and anime. The description reads:
A century ago, the grotesque giants known as Titans appeared and consumed all but the last remnants of humanity. The survivors took refuge behind giant walls. Today, the threat of the Titans is a distant memory, and a boy named Eren Yeager yearns to explore the world beyond his current circumstances. What began as a childish dream, though, will become an all-too-real nightmare when the Titans return and humanity is once again on the brink of extinction.
There are currently four showtimes for Attack on Titan: The Musical:
- Friday, October 11, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets for the limited New York run of Attack on Titan: The Musical will go on sale at noon on June 3. Presale for fans with the advance ticket promo code -- CRUNCHYROLLNY24 -- began today, Wednesday, May 29.