Make your cultural festival play unforgettable! A collection of ideas from Disney to trending works
Want to make unforgettable memories with your school festival play? We’ve got you covered with a variety of works, from fairy tales and musicals to anime and trending hits.
Disney titles, Studio Ghibli films, and beloved classic stories—each one is full of charm that will captivate your audience.
There are plenty that are fun to perform, too, so bring your class together to create a moving stage filled with acting, dance, and music.
It’s sure to become a memory you’ll cherish for life.
You’re bound to find the perfect piece for your class!
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Stage adaptations of modern anime and manga (11–20)
Touken Ranbu
How about the musical “Touken Ranbu,” based on the game that personifies Japanese swords? It might be challenging to gather enough male performers and prepare many swords and costumes, but please give it a try.
Making it yourselves is also one option.
Sazae-san
Many people are probably familiar with the nationally beloved anime Sazae-san.
It’s perfect to perform at a school cultural festival.
It warmly portrays a traditional family, making it easy to assign roles and highly recommended.
Try performing it with some original episodes while keeping the lively atmosphere unique to cultural festivals.
Imitating the costumes and hairstyles might make the stage even more exciting.
It may also evoke a sense of nostalgia or leave everyone feeling warm and relaxed.
GeGeGe no Kitaro
GeGeGe no Kitaro, based on Shigeru Mizuki’s manga, is a work that has been beloved for many years—not only as a TV anime and films, but even as a live-action drama! Featuring many characters with distinctive appearances—starting with the protagonist Kitaro and Medama-oyaji, and including the likes of Nezumi Otoko and Sunakake Baba—costume making can be creative and lots of fun.
Since it’s a series with broad popularity and recognition across generations, it’s sure to be enjoyed by many people.
SPY×FAMILY
SPY×FAMILY, with lines like “Anya loves peanuts” going viral, is also a hugely popular manga among students.
Its straightforward setup—a hitman and a cute girl—seems perfect for a stage adaptation.
Because the characters are widely known, it’s easy for audiences to get emotionally invested—also a big plus! It’s reassuring that there’s a template for a happy ending: a villain appears, they fight, and the heroes win.
I think creating an original script set at your own school would really hype up a school festival or class play.
If you include a famous teacher or one with a strong personality, it could be an even bigger hit!
The Prince of Tennis
This is a stage adaptation of the youth tennis manga The Prince of Tennis.
Many young, handsome actors appear in it, making it a musical that’s extremely popular among women.
Let’s use spotlights to stand in for tennis balls.
It’s especially recommended for junior high school students, just like in the original.
One Piece
Beloved by a wide range of people from children to adults, the well-known manga and anime One Piece features a multitude of unique characters.
The story is sure to be exciting, and it also seems like a work that could be enjoyed as a musical by incorporating songs and dance.
Stage adaptations of contemporary anime and manga (21–30)
Weathering with You
This is the story of Hina, a girl with a mysterious power to clear the skies, and Hodaka, a runaway boy, who meet in Tokyo where the weather has gone mad and it only rains, and together they confront their fate.
Though both carry their own circumstances, as they become involved with each other they grow closer, and that feeling transforms into a powerful resolve to protect the other no matter the cost.
Centered on the pair’s strong will and kindness, this grand tale is sure to move audiences even at a school festival.
It’s also a work that can prompt viewers to pay attention to environmental issues.
