PandoraHearts' Second Musical Adaptation "Retrace II" to be Staged in October
PandoraHearts fans have exciting news: Jun Mochizuki's unforgettable series returns to the stage with its second musical adaptation. This new production titled 'Retrace II -madness of lost memory-' will meet audiences at Theatre H in Tokyo from October 2-12, 2025, and then at AiiA 2.5 Theater Kobe in Hyogo from October 16-18.
The first musical adaptation in 2023 received great attention for PandoraHearts, and this time it focuses on a different story segment with the subtitle 'madness of lost memory'. The series creator Mochizuki thanked fans in a statement, saying “I am grateful to everyone who made this project possible”, and drew a special illustration for the production. The illustration depicts the series' iconic characters Oz Vessalius, Alice, and Raven in a mysterious atmosphere.
With its story spanning from 2006 to 2015, PandoraHearts is considered one of the most beloved works of the gothic fantasy genre. Mochizuki's dark narrative and detailed character development drove the manga to over 5 million sales worldwide. The anime adaptation released in 2009 also gained a large fanbase. Although the author later achieved great success with The Case Study of Vanitas, the impact of PandoraHearts still continues.
Considering the success of the first musical 'Retrace', this second production is expected to sell out quickly. Especially Japan's 2.5D theater culture has become a major industry by bringing anime and manga adaptations to the stage. This musical will both revive nostalgia for old fans and open the doors of the PandoraHearts world to new audiences. Ticket sales and additional cast details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
