Beauty and the Beast but make it Takarazuka: all-male glamour, tragic spells, and roses everywhere.
The King, a Queen with a noble spirit and the Prince lead a quiet life marked by admiration and appreciation of roses. One day marks the end to their days of peace and quiet. The King is transformed into a tyrant through a magical spell by the Queen's sister. The King loses interest in his once-tranquil existence and falls under the woman's spell, becoming addicted to extravagance and gambling. The King banishes the Queen and summons her sister to take her place. The King and the Queen's sister eventually give birth to a prince. A short time later, the King passes away. Eager that her own son becomes the new King, the woman uses her magic to turn the first-born Prince into a wild beast. The spell will be broken on the day he encounters a woman who is not bothered by outside appearances and is capable of seeing through to the truth.
Costume
Extravagant rose-themed designs and gender-fluid royal regalia.
Direction
Kimura Shinji adapts stage spectacle to cinematic framing.
Acting
Kiriya Hiromu's beast transformation through physical theater technique.
Director
Kimura Shinji
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Takarazuka Revue's all-female troupe originated in 1913 and remains massively popular in Japan for its romantic, European-inspired musicals.
Director Kimura Shinji primarily works in anime—this rare live-action venture brings his stylized visual sensibility to theatrical performance.
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