Over its history, Cartoon Network’s Toonami has housed some of the biggest anime franchises to emerge from the medium. Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Naruto, My Hero Academia, Cowboy Bebop, and more got countless new fans in North America thanks to the cable network. Throughout the decades, there has been one series that might just take the cake for the strangest anime series to be a part of Toonami’s library, and while said series has ended, it is set to make a truly strange return. With this announcement, it’s clear that Japan is willing to bring any anime franchise to the stage.
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is a mouthful when not just attempting to say its title out loud, but also in attempting to explain the plot for those who might be unfamiliar with the titular character. The first stage performance of this series arrived in October 2024, with this performance set to be directed by Keita Kawajiri and starring Kato Masaru as the Afroed protagonist. For those willing to make the trek to Japan, the next line of performances will take place from June 12th to the 21st next summer at the Theater G Rosso, with more details sure to be released in the near future. Luckily, you can get a look at what these strange characters looked like when they first hit the stage below.
When it comes to the upcoming play arriving in the summer of next year, here’s how the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo live-action adaptation describes its tale: “In the year 300X, an emperor rules the world. To prove his authority over the people, the emperor starts a “Hair Hunt”, where he tries to take the hair of all of its citizens. The citizens are left in fear, but one man with a Golden Afro stands up…His name is……”BOBOBO-BO ・ BO-BOBO”! With his fellow partners, he begins his fight against the “Hair Hunt troops” to end the “Hair Hunt” once and for all.”
The final episode of the original anime, which was brought to life by Toei Animation, aired in 2005, with seventy-five installments to its name. Ironically, there is a manga sequel that further explores this world, dubbed “Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.” Running for close to two years, the manga ended in 2007, two years after the original anime’s ending. Nothing has been revealed in terms of actually bringing back the Toonami classic in the anime world, but the upcoming stage show proves that someone remembers the hair-bending tale.
While Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo didn’t garner the same success as Dragon Ball and/or One Piece when they landed on Toonami, the parody series was so unbelievable that it is still thought of to this day. Even the official title of the stage play, “Super Exciting Stage Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Fate! Nose Hair! Showdown” proves how hilariously insane the anime franchise is.
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