Karakuri Circus

Karakuri Circus
The cover of the first volume of Karakuri Circus
からくりサーカス
(Karakuri Sākasu)
Genre Adventure
Manga
Written by Kazuhiro Fujita
Published by Shogakukan
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Original run July 1997 – June 2006
Volumes 43
Anime television series
Directed by Satoshi Nishimura
Produced by Twin Engine
Written by Toshiki Inoue
Kazuhiro Fujita
Music by Yuki Hayashi
Studio Studio VOLN
Licensed by Amazon (streaming)
Original network Tokyo MX, BS11
Original run October 11, 2018 – scheduled
Episodes 36

Karakuri Circus (からくりサーカス, Karakuri Sākasu) is a manga by Kazuhiro Fujita, also the manga artist of Ushio and Tora. The manga was published in the Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine (1997 No.32–2006 No.26). The manga is currently available as individually compiled and bound tankōbon.

Although this story is vastly different from Kazuhiro Fujita's previous title, Ushio and Tora, it inherits many themes from his previous work. Themes such as a boy with sense of justice willing to go against great odds to save others, a man chose to become a demon to fight great evil, and as well as a tiger puppet featured in volume 24.

The most recognizable similarity between the two titles is the curse brought by the ultimate weapon against the evil. The wielder of the Spear of the Beast inherits not only a great power, but also the creator’s hatred and killing intent. Drinkers of the water of Life obtain eternal life but also the hatred toward auto-mannequins. This leads to the cursing the user of both items to spend the rest of their life to carry on the original creator’s unfinished works.

A anime television series adaptation by Studio VOLN began airing on October 11, 2018.

Plot synopsis

The story centers around three main characters, Masaru Saiga (才賀 勝, Saiga Masaru), Narumi Kato (加藤 鳴海, Katō Narumi), and Shirogane (Eleanor) (しろがね (エレオノール)) and combines the settings of a circus, alchemy, and karakuri puppets into one story filled with mystery and action.

The story starts when Masaru's father dies and leaves 18 billion yen of inheritance solely to him. His siblings (all from different mothers) and his uncle set out to either kill or abduct Masaru to make all the money their own. By coincidence, Narumi ends up rescuing Masaru with the help from Shirogane.

As each episode progresses, a 200-year-old tragedy is uncovered and the mystery of the origin of the Shirogane, Automatons, and the Zonapha syndrome unfolds.

Each of the main characters are tied in reincarnation cycle that is the result of the tragedy of 200 years ago. After the third volume of manga, the story splits into two separate but related arcs.

Narumi Kato joins the other Shirogane to battle against Automatons (auto-mannequins) to cure the world of Zonapha syndrome. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Masaru Saiga join the circus and attempt to live a normal life but their fate are still heavily linked to their pre-determined destiny.

The events triggered by either Narumi Kato or Eleanor side of the story were mentioned on each other's story, sometimes directly affect one another. After a while, during the climax of the story, the two paths came to a cross. Every member of the Shirogane group and Karakuri Circus has to save the world from Z.O.N.A.P.H.A syndrome and its utter destruction. More importantly, bring the 200 years cycle of tragedy and hatred to an end.

Characters

Main characters

Masaru Saiga
Voiced by: Chihiro Ueda[1]
A young boy who has inherited 18 billion yen from his father, his mother was his father's mistress and thus he is an illegitimate son. His father left him the money because he know his other children would try and kill him over the money by hiring assassins using puppets.
Narumi Katō
Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama[1]
A young man who practices martial arts and suffers from Zonapha syndrome.
Shirogane Saiga
Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara[1]
She was found by Masaru at a circus while he was being chased by puppets, she is his bodyguard/caretaker. She wields Arlequin one of the most powerful puppets in the story.

Supporting characters

Eiryō Ashihana
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[1]
Gii Christoph Resh
Voiced by: Nozomu Sasaki[1]
Talanda "Lise" Liselotte Tachibana
Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa[2]
Vilma Thorne
Voiced by: Marina Inoue[2]
Shinobu Nakamachi
Voiced by: Hisao Egawa[2]
Noriyuki "Nori" Nakamachi
Voiced by: Ryōta Iwasaki[2]
Hiroo 'Hiro" Nakamachi
Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa[2]
Shōji Saiga
Voiced by: Masahiko Tanaka[3]
Zenji Saiga
Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka[3]
Lucille Berneuil
Voiced by: Romi Park[3]

Midnight Circus

A circus of Automatons that travel while spreading Zonapha syndrome in hopes of one day fulfilling they late master/makers final wish "to make Francine smile/laugh".

Francine

The queen of the circus. She is a highly complex automaton who was created to be her master's bride of sorts, but no matter what he did she wouldn't smile. He then created four powerful master automatons with the sole purpose of making her smile basing they designs off clowns and jesters. Since his passing she has assumed the role of leader and has created many other automatons in order to realize her masters desire to make her laugh. The solution she found is by spreading the Zonapha syndrome she hopes to find someone with the soft stone which is the key element in making aqua vitae which is supposed to grant life. So she can use the aqua vitae to become "alive".

Arlecchino
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama[4]

One of the four master automatons, he is the musician of the circus. His clothes are all white and his instrument is a mandolin. He is thoughtful and seems quite proud. His attacks lay in the manipulation of fire.

Pantalone
Voiced by: Jouji Nakata[4]

One of the four master automatons, he is the ball walker of the circus. He is quick to angry and is easily the most irresponsible of the four. His main form of attacking is using his arms which possess a very high level of strength even for an automaton making him the physical strongest of the circus.

Dottore
Voiced by: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo[4]

One of the four master automatons, he is the juggler of the circus. He wants to know what the word "delicious" means. He can extend his arms and his hat has a razor sharp brim.

Columbine
Voiced by: Aoi Yūki[4]

The only woman among the four master automatons, she is the acrobat/rope walker of the circus. She wants to live a love story like the ones she's read in books, the only flaw is that she can't feel the sensation of the skin of another person. Being the acrobat of the circus she can jump very high.

Media

Anime

A 36-episode anime television series adaptation premiered on October 11, 2018 on Tokyo MX and BS11.[5][6] The series is animated by Studio VOLN and directed by Satoshi Nishimura, with Toshiki Inoue and Kazuhiro Fujita handling series composition, and Takahiro Yoshimatsu designing the characters. Yuki Hayashi is composing the series' music, and Twin Engine is producing the series.[1] Bump of Chicken performed the series' opening theme song "Gekkō"[2] and Lozareena performed the ending theme song "Marionette".[7] The series is being simulcast exclusively on Amazon Video worldwide.[1]

Reception

The manga has over 15 million copies in print. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Karakuri Circus Anime Unveils Cast, Staff, Video, October Debut, Amazon Streaming". Anime News Network. July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Karakuri Circus Anime's 2nd Promo Reveals More Cast, Bump of Chicken Opening, October 10 Debut". Anime News Network. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Masahiko Tanaka, Akio Ohtsuka, Romi Park Join Cast of Karakuri Circus Anime". Anime News Network. September 30, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Karakuri Circus Anime Unveils 4 Cast Members, New Visual". Anime News Network. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Karakuri Circus Manga by Ushio & Tora's Kazuhiro Fujita Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Karakuri Circus Anime Gets 36 Episodes". Anime News Network. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Karakuri Circus Anime's Promo Video Previews Lozareena Ending Song". Anime News Network. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  8. ↑ http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/03/13-1/kazuhiro-fujitas-super-important-announcement-is-revealed-as-karakuri-circus-tv-anime
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