Top Musical Theater Manga Recommendations

20 Seiki Shounen

Also known as 20th Century Boys.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Thriller

Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren't for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns. This is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world.

For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock 'n' roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that's been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.



Tags: Politics , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Seinen , Fugitive , Achronological Order , Dystopian , Conspiracy , Cult , Pandemic , Time Skip , Post-Apocalyptic , Terrorism , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Detective , Musical Theater , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Historical , Tragedy , Dissociative Identities , Augmented Reality , Police , Robots , Transgender , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Nudity , Foreign , Time Manipulation , Homeless , Twins , Crossdressing

Given

Also known as Given.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Ritsuka Uenoyama is bored with it all—with school, with his basketball club, and even with his one true passion: playing guitar. That is, until the day he finds his favorite hidden napping spot occupied by a strange boy cradling a broken-stringed guitar. At first, Uenoyama is nonplussed by Mafuyu Sato and his slightly odd behavior, but when, on a whim, he asks Mafuyu to sing, the power of that song pierces him to the core.



Tags: Boys' Love , Band , Rehabilitation , LGBTQ+ Themes , Musical Theater , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Josei , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Bisexual , School , Suicide , Love Triangle , Kuudere , Tsundere , Urban , Unrequited Love

Kuroshitsuji

Also known as Black Butler.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In Victorian era Europe, a young boy loses everything he once held near and dear to a vicious plot. In his moment of death, he strikes a deal with a demon: his soul, in exchange for revenge. Ciel Phantomhive is now the head of the Phantomhive corporation, handling all business affairs as well as the underground work for the Queen of England. His new partner is a demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, whose prowess as a butler is only surpassed by his strength as a demon.

The story follows the two along with their other servants, as they work to unravel the plot behind Ciel's parents' murder, and the horrendous tragedies that befell Ciel in the month directly after.

Tags: Demons , Revenge , Tragedy , Crime , Historical , Butler , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Orphan , Twins , Royal Affairs , Foreign , Cult , Detective , Shounen , Steampunk , Magic , Found Family , Circus , Mythology , Maids , Assassins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Travel , Medicine , Zombie , Fugitive , Anachronism , Transgender , Crossdressing , Boarding School , Estranged Family , Musical Theater , School , Torture , Swordplay , Witch , Disability , Idol , Urban Fantasy

Fuuka

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Ecchi , Music , Romance

New meetings always come suddenly! The protagonist, Yuu Haruna, moves into a new town where he meets a somewhat strange girl who doesn't have a cell phone. The girl, Fuuka, seems to have a strange allure that draws people to her, very much like a summer breeze. Looks like Yuu has been caught up in one wild love story!



Note: Chapter count includes 195 regular chapters and 9 extras.

Tags: Band , Tragedy , Agriculture , Musical Theater , Age Gap , School , Shounen , Coming of Age , Bisexual

Ore to Akuma no Blues

Also known as Me and the Devil Blues: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Drama , Horror , Music , Mystery , Psychological

Legend has it that if you take your guitar and stand at a crossroads at the witching hour, the devil will appear. He’ll grab your instrument, play a song, and hand it back to you. You’ll walk away an expert bluesman, but you’ll have to pay the price: your immortal soul.

The year is 1929. Deep in the Mississippi Delta, a young man named RJ dreams of becoming a bluesman. RJ is a simple farmer who can barely play guitar, but when he takes a midnight stroll, his life is forever changed. A phantasmagoric reimagining of the life of legendary blues great Robert Johnson, Me and the Devil Blues follows the journey of a man who really did sell his soul to the devil. Why not come along for the ride?



Note: Won the 2009 Glyph Comics Awards in the Best Reprint Publication category.

Tags: Seinen , Historical , Body Horror , Male Protagonist , Musical Theater , Foreign , Anachronism , Travel , Demons

Nodame Cantabile

Also known as Nodame Cantabile.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

The son of a famous pianist, music student Shinichi Chiaki dreams of studying abroad and becoming a conductor like his mentor. Unfortunately, his fear of flying grounds his lofty plans! As he watches other classmates achieve what he has always wanted, Shinichi wonders if he should quit music altogether. Then one day he meets fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame. This oddball girl cannot cook, clean, or even read a music score, but she can play the piano in incomparable Cantabile style. And she teaches Chiaki something that he has forgotten: to enjoy his music, no matter where he is.



Note: Includes four bonus chapters and the side story "NodaCan BS".

Tags: College , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Josei , Musical Theater , Language Barrier , Tsundere , Work , Coming of Age , Otaku Culture , Ensemble Cast , Classical Music , LGBTQ+ Themes , Transgender

PPPPPP

Also known as PPPPPP.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Gakuon Otogami was a genius pianist whose name is among the greatest in the annals of the music world. He had seven children who also all became genius pianists. All seven except for the one named Lucky that is. This is the miraculous story of a regular kid taking on godly talent!



Tags: Twins , Musical Theater , Tragedy , Revenge , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Dissociative Identities , School , Classical Music , Primarily Teen Cast , Bullying , Adoption

Piano no Mori

Also known as Forest of Piano.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

This is a story about a piano, pitifully abandoned in the woods, and a young boy, Kai, who grew up playing it as his favorite toy. While Kai cannot even read sheet music, one day, he meets Shuhei Amamiya, an aspiring child pianist who transfers schools from Tokyo, and their music teacher, Sosuke Ajino. Ajino was also once a gifted pianist, until a tragic accident stole his promising future from him forever. Each from a different background, the trio’s personalities gravitate to one another and rebound. All the while, the piano sits patiently, awaiting a hand to play it.



Tags: Seinen , Foreign , Musical Theater , Teacher , Male Protagonist , Band , Gangs , Family Life , Gender Bending , Classical Music , Crossdressing , Classic Literature

Shino-chan wa Jibun no Namae ga Ienai

Also known as Shino Can't Say Her Name.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

High school can be a stressful time for many young people. The change means a new commute, new friends, new courses…new teachers. For Shino Oshima the change could have meant an opportunity to blossom into adulthood. Unfortunately, things go wrong on her first day - she fails to even say her name during her homeroom introduction. From then on Shino is a part-mute part-stuttering mess. Ostracized and afraid she struggles to find her place in this new world... But thankfully for her, she finds her voice through music and some unexpected new frienemies.



Tags: School , Language Barrier , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Bullying , Musical Theater , Time Skip , Disability

Sensou Kyoushitsu

Also known as The Bugle Call: Song of War.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Psychological

In Arboral Year 1294, the world is dominated by nine massive towers known as the Spires, remnants of an ancient civilization. Filled with lost secrets and powerful knowledge, nations struggle to possess them. Luca is a bugler in a mercenary company who wants nothing more than to leave the battlefield behind and become a true musician, a maestro. But marked as one of the enigmatic Branch-hexed, and gifted with the strange ability to see the sound of his instrument, Luca finds himself drawn reluctantly into a war of epic proportions!

Tags: Shounen , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , War , Super Power , Time Manipulation , Philosophy , Conspiracy , Politics , Shapeshifting , Musical Theater , Slavery , Anachronism , Clone

Fukumenkei Noise

Also known as Anonymous Noise.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Both boys promised Nino that they would find her one day through her singing, so she holds on to that hope and continues to reach out with her voice. Now in high school, Nino serendipitously reunites with Yuzu, but she yearns to see Momo again…



Tags: Shoujo , Musical Theater , Love Triangle , Band , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Rock Music , School Club , Tsundere , Unrequited Love

Jaejeucheoreom

Also known as Jazz for Two.

Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Romance

Taeyi hears a familiar melody fill the empty halls and makes his way to the old music room. He knows his brother is dead, but he can’t help but hope, maybe, just maybe...it’s his brother playing his favorite song. When he slams open the door, however, he finds Seheon, the new transfer student, at the piano. Disappointment comes crashing down and Taeyi can’t control his anger. How dare Seheon play his brother’s song? How dare he smile? How dare he say he loves jazz? “If I ever catch you playing the piano again...that’ll be the end of you.” And with that begins their story, as unpredictable and visceral as jazz.



Tags: Boys' Love , School , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Full Color , LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Suicide , Jazz Music , Musical Theater

Ao no Orchestra

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Music

Hajime Aono was a prodigy violinist until he grew jaded with playing the violin due to personal reasons. Now in his third year of middle school, he struggles to decide his academic path. One day in school, he meets Ritsuko Akine, a hotheaded novice violinist who wants to enroll in a high school with a distinguished orchestra club. When he finds himself getting closer to Ritsuko and being brought back to the world of violinists, time starts moving again for him.

This is the beginning of a youthful drama where sounds and hearts alike resound in harmony.

Tags: School , Musical Theater , Seinen , Rehabilitation , School Club , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Classical Music

Kageki Shoujo!!

Also known as Kageki Shojo!!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama

Watanabe Sarasa has a dream: she wants to play the role of Oscar as part of the Kouka Acting Troupe, an all-female acting troupe similar to Takarazuka Revue. But before she can do that, she has to attend two years at the Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts. As Sarasa practices singing, dancing, and acting, she grows closer to the other girls in her year, including her roommate, the stoic former J-idol Ai. But though Sarasa is great at making friends, her outspoken nature and grand ambitions earn her lots of enemies as well. Can Sarasa keep her upbeat attitude and achieve her dream of stardom?



Tags: School , Shoujo , Primarily Female Cast , Acting , Musical Theater , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Boarding School , LGBTQ+ Themes , Kuudere , Twins , Yuri , Idol

Play, PLII

Also known as Secret Playlist.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Hanju is your ordinary university student… except for the fact that she’s also the up-and-coming Metube cover artist, PLII. When popular boy group member Levi takes notice of PLII and requests to collaborate, Hanju will do anything to hide her secret identity. But as the two grow closer working on a class project, Hanju’s cover begins to unravel. Will Levi discover her secret?



Tags: Idol , College , Full Color , Love Triangle , Musical Theater , School

Shounen Note

Also known as Shonen Note: Boy Soprano.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Yutaka Aoi has a talent few boys have: He can sing soprano. But when Yutaka's voice begins to change as he enters puberty, the journey ahead will be one of self-discovery and reflection for not only himself, but also for those around him.



Tags: Coming of Age , Musical Theater , LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Disability , Transgender , Male Protagonist , Classical Music

Sayonara Piano Sonata

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Enter Hikawa Naomi, son of a music critic and Ebisawa Mafuyu, a young prodigy pianist who suddenly disappeared from the music world. Together they formed a rockband with members involved in classical and rock music.

Tags: School , Seinen , Musical Theater , Band , School Club , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Rock Music

Renai Gokko Sayokyoku

Also known as A Serenade for Pretend Lovers.

Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Tough luck for Sayo, who was suddenly presented with the sight of her boyfriend cheating on her while at work. Thereafter, her boss forces a close coverage program on her, but the composer, Kobuchi Chizuru, outright rejects her! However, he will agree to do the program if Sayo agrees to be his contract lover?! An eccentric composer who doesn’t know what love is x a really unlucky girl at both her job and love life, a heart-racing lovers’ contract!

Note: Includes 1 extra chapter.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Josei , Primarily Adult Cast , Nudity , Work , Musical Theater

Kimi no Wasurekata wo Oshiete

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

"I'm dying but you still do not forgive me"

Shuu Matsumoto, a college-dropout living the NEET life, felt it wasn't worth living anymore. At the invitation of his friend Tomi, he decides to visit his hometown and his old high school. A chance encounter with childhood friend turned celebrity, Kiriyama Sayane, turns the wheels of Shuu's fate once again.

Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Musical Theater , Shounen , Tragedy , Philosophy

Yeonghwaneun Real-ida

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

While working as a small supporting actor in a movie, Ki Man-Seong has nothing else going for him. However, that was when, through mysterious circumstances, the movie set had become reality during filming.

With the sound of the director’s cut, during that short take, he’s not an actor but actually thrown into the events occurring, showing the pain and emotions he faces at that moment.

He can only come back if he creates that perfect take…! Can he grow to become the greatest actor?



Tags: Acting , Male Protagonist , Augmented Reality , Memory Manipulation , Full Color , Crime , Time Manipulation , Urban , Foreign , Language Barrier , Musical Theater , Drawing , Love Triangle