INTRO TO 2.5D

Hi everyone! Does your franchise have a 2.5d/stage adaptation you're interested in? Are you not sure how to find it or get started? Me, @Sicarius130 and @Kari_D_0130 are going to drop a little guide on how to dive into the amazing world of 2.5D!

We're making this in light of several bigger name franchises like Boku no Hero Academia, Kimetsu no Yaiba, Hypnosis Mic, Persona 5 getting 2.5d adaptations alongside longer-standing stage productions like Touken Ranbu, Prince of Tennis, Haikyuu and A3!, as well as some concerns

about how we international fans can engage respectfully+productively with the productions that we love! Every aspect of the productions like the actors, crew, stagehands, ensemble, composers and more deserve our support for their hard work in bringing our fave franchises to life.

First of all, WHAT IS 2.5D?
2.5D broadly covers a range of live stage and musical adaptations of manga, anime and games. The name comes from it occupying the space between the 2D source material and the 3D of the real world. People often mistake 2.5D for professional cosplayers

or similar work, but that is not the case! They are professional theatre actors, singers and dancers cast through a rigorous audition process to bring the character to life.

HOW DO I WATCH?
While international fans have a few extra hurdles to jump through in order to support our fave franchises, it is by no means impossible! The most straightforward way is simply by buying the DVD/Bluray. Many 2.5D productions these days are recorded and sold a

few months later, so even if you miss out at the time the show is still watchable! Another way is through streams - many providers such as DMM or NicoNico provide a livestream on the closing night (daisenshuuraku) of the show with the purchase of a digital ticket.

Popular places to purchase DVDs/Blurays of 2.5D productions are Animate International, AmiAmi, Amazon Japan or CDJapan - though do note that AmiAmi typically is preorder only and will not keep a lot of stock on hand after release date - or secondhand sellers like Mandarake.

The recorded shows will not have subtitles, as the content is aimed at Japanese fans. Keep an eye out for soft fansub files, and definitely consider supporting any official release of English subtitles such as Musical Touken Ranbu recently released!

If streams are not available in your region, there are guides around for various provider platforms on how you can still purchase and support the show, so don’t feel discouraged as an international fan.

TICKETS
If you have the means to go see the show in person, we would strongly encourage it! There is an irreplaceable magic in live theatre, which is the intended medium of consuming this content, and it can be an unforgettable experience.

Tickets frequently are provided through a lottery system, involving entering the lotto to win the right to purchase tickets. These are generally done in stages, with fanclub/premium lotteries first and general admission lotteries later, then finally general admission for sale.

Many lotteries require some form of Japanese authentication such as registered phone number, but if you don't have a means of doing so like a friend who lives there, many shows are providing international sales and lottery through the 2.5D Association! https://www.j25musical.jp/en/ 

You can check their website for more information on show dates and if international sales are available - but keep in mind they sell out fast! Pickup generally involves bringing the credit card you used to pay and your passport to the theatre on the day.

If you enter into a Japanese lotto, BE WARNED! Many lottery wins require you to pay in cash at a convenience store like a Lawson within a very short window after the results are announced, so if you intend to enter make sure you have that sorted out first.

If you can't make it all the way to Japan, it's still not impossible! BNHA toured to Shanghai, Sailor Moon Musical to America and Musical Touken Ranbu to Paris, Macau, Bangkok and China, so keep an eye out for announcements closer to home.

ETIQUETTE AND INFO
Whether you are going to see the show or supporting from afar, it's important to remember that there are real people behind the costumes, and as international fans our behaviour represents our community (and we want more 2.5D to be available overseas!)

First of all, 2.5D is not a cosplay event. We would encourage you not to cosplay at all when you go see the shows - but feel free to bring your ita bags, uchiwa and penlights (if it's a show with idol components)

Second, a reminder that actors are real, everyday people. They read your fanletters, check their social media, and they or their managers are as online as we are and can often speak English. Be mindful of what you comment or reply to them - they aren't their character!

Keep in mind also that certain internet slang won't come across quite as well - many 2.5D actors are models as well and are very good looking, but keep your thirst out of their mentions, and remember that comments like "fdjfg fuck hes killing me i hate him" don't translate great.

If you're lucky enough to attend a show and happen to run into them in public, please don't bother them. They probably won't be able to give you autographs, selfies or much time, so it's best to avoid putting them in the awkward position of being recognised during normal life.

Lots of actors have their own goods - not just in character! Bromides, autographs, goods bearing their image or brand are a huge part of their income, as well as their own fanclubs that you can subscribe to with monthly rewards, so they won't be able to give that stuff away.

The same ticketing processes apply to things like actor fan meeting or birthday events, and you can sometimes lotto for show tickets through a special lottery through an actor's fanclub! If there's an actor you really love, it's often very simple for international fans to sign up

Also keep in mind things like reposting actor pics or clips of shows is frowned upon - the agency gauges the success of an actor in part on their social media engagement, and reposting their pictures etc. can divide views and interactions and take away from the actor.

Finally, the issue of piracy. Not all of us have the means to support the shows we love, but the internet is a public sphere and the production companies, actors and publishers/providers are right here on the internet with us. 2.5D may seem big right now,

but it's truly still a niche industry that needs our support. The actors and crew need to get paid for their hard work, if they have accomplished their job of entertaining you. The production companies are not blind to what happens on Twitter, and public disregard of their terms

of use paints international fans in a bad light and makes them less likely to consider us a viable market in the future. There is a culture of distrust between providers and international fans due to rampant public piracy, lack of respect for actors and entitlement.

If you go to see the show in person, that ticket is for you alone. The same logic applies to digital tickets. What you choose to do is up to you, but keep in mind your public actions and if you choose to share a show you love with a friend, keep it behind closed doors.

Other ways of supporting the show can be through goods for sale at their venue (often outside, so you don't even need a ticket!) or online. Bromide sales [collectible printed photographs] are an especially easy and cheap way to show your love for your favourite actor or character

While secondhand merch is great, buying new through a proxy is even better! Secondhand merch has already seen the sale, but buying new lets you show the organisers who you want to see more of and supports them more directly.

If you want to keep up with 2.5D news, check out https://twitter.com/enter_stage_en ! You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.5D_musical, and don't forget the 2.5D Association as well. A more complete version of this guide with many relevant links is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OTb6N_MH69ROEK17lLOBIV67ZFoRIp4b9kiZ0kWGrfM/edit?usp=sharing