Karakuri Circus

Japanese manga series and its adaptations

Karakuri Circus

First tankōbon volume cover, featuring (from left to right) Masaru Saiga, Éléonore Saiga and Narumi Katō

からくりサーカス
(Karakuri Sākasu)
Genre|

* Action[1]
* Dark fantasy[2]

Manga
Written by| Kazuhiro Fujita
Published by| Shogakukan
Imprint| Shōnen Sunday Comics
Magazine| Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Demographic| Shōnen
Original run| July 23, 1997 – June 14, 2006
Volumes| 43 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by| Satoshi Nishimura
Produced by| Shōta Wada
Written by|

* Toshiki Inoue
* Kazuhiro Fujita

Music by| Yuki Hayashi
Studio| Studio VOLN
Licensed by| Sentai Filmworks
Original network| Tokyo MX, BS11
Original run|  October 11, 2018  –  June 27, 2019
Episodes| 36 (List of episodes)
Anime and manga portal

Karakuri Circus (Japanese: からくりサーカス, Hepburn: Karakuri Sākasu, lit. 'Mechanical Puppet Circus') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiro Fujita. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from July 1997 to June 2006, with its chapters collected in 43 tankōbon volumes.

The series follows Masaru Saiga, a young boy who inherits a vast fortune and dreams of becoming a puppeteer; Narumi Katō, a martial arts expert afflicted with Zonapha syndrome—a mysterious condition that halts his breathing unless he elicits laughter from others; and Shirogane, a silver-haired woman serving as Masaru's caretaker, who manipulates the puppet Harlequin. Together, they engage in combat against hostile Automatons (auto-mannequins) while striving to uncover a cure for Zonapha syndrome and prevent global catastrophe.

Karakuri Circus was adapted into a 36-episode anime television series by Studio VOLN, broadcast from October 2018 to June 2019. A mobile game was launched in December 2018 and stage play ran in January 2019.

By March 2018, the Karakuri Circus manga series had over 15 million copies in circulation.

## Synopsis

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

The series' events revolve around a 200-year cycle of reincarnation beginning with Bai Yin and Bai Jin, two brothers who traveled from China to Prague to study alchemy and puppetry. Both fell in love with a woman named Francine, but when Yin married her, a jealous Jin abducted her. After nine years, Yin found Francine imprisoned and dying in Quiberon, France. He created the Aqua Vitae, an elixir of life, to save her, but she perished in a fire before he could administer it.

23 years later, Jin built an Automaton resembling Francine, infusing it with Aqua Vitae, but it remained lifeless. Desperate to make it laugh, he unleashed the Zonapha Syndrome (Z.O.N.A.P.H.A.) on Kuroga Village, cursing its people with agonizing paralysis unless they provoked laughter. Yin later sacrificed himself to cure them, passing his memories and puppet, Harlequin, to villager Lucille Berneuil.

Centuries later, swordsman and physician Shōji Saiga studied under Bai Yin and met Angelina, a healer carrying the "Soft Stone", a source of Aqua Vitae. After drinking the elixir to stay with her eternally, they adopted a marionette named Dean Maistre (later Sadayoshi). They also encountered Jin's abandoned Francine Automaton, which Shōji weakened. When Angelina gave birth to Éléonore—who unknowingly housed the Soft Stone—Automata attacked, forcing Angelina to entrust the baby to Francine. The Automaton perished saving Éléonore, who was then raised by Lucille.

Years later, Shōji discovered Sadayoshi was Jin's reincarnation, plotting to transfer his consciousness into his son, Masaru, for immortality. Shōji destroyed the memory data and sent Éléonore to protect Masaru and reclaim the Soft Stone.

### Plot

[edit]

Further information: List of Karakuri Circus characters

The plot follows Masaru Saiga, Narumi Katō, and the shirogane (an Automata destroyer) Éléonore Saiga—referred to simply as Shirogane—blending elements of circus performance, alchemy, and karakuri puppetry. Upon his father's death, Masaru inherits an immense fortune, making him the target of assassination and abduction plots by his uncle and half-siblings. During an attack by his uncle's henchmen, Masaru is rescued by Narumi, a martial arts expert and a sufferer of the Zonapha syndrome, alongside Éléonore. As the story unfolds, a centuries-old tragedy is revealed, intertwining the origins of the Shirogane, malevolent Automatons, and the Zonapha syndrome. The Shirogane faction and the Nakamachi Circus group must collaborate to avert global catastrophe.

Later on, the narrative diverges into two parallel story arcs. The first follows Narumi as he allies with the Shirogane to combat the Automatons and halt the spread of Zonapha syndrome. The second arc centers on Éléonore and Masaru, who join the Nakamachi Circus in an attempt to lead ordinary lives, though their destinies remain inextricably tied to the overarching conflict. Events from each arc are referenced in the other, occasionally directly influencing their respective outcomes. The two storylines ultimately converge during the climax, resolving the central conflict.

## Media

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### Manga

[edit]

See also: List of Karakuri Circus volumes

Written and illustrated by Kazuhiro Fujita, Karakuri Circus was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from July 23, 1997, to June 14, 2006.[3][4] It spanned 425 chapters, which were collected in 43 tankōbon volumes, released from December 10, 1997, to August 11, 2006.[5][6] The manga has been reprinted and collected in multiple editions: "My first wide" edition (collected in 16 volumes, released from November 2008 to February 2010);[7][8] wideban edition (collected in 23 volumes, released from July 2011 to April 2013);[9][10] bunkoban edition (collected in 22 volumes, released from May 2017 to February 2019);[11][12] and kanzenban edition (collected in 26 volumes, released from September 2018 to September 2019).[13][14]

An official guidebook was published by Shogakukan under the Shōnen Sunday Comics Special imprint on July 16, 2004.[15]

### Anime

[edit]

Main article: List of Karakuri Circus episodes

A 36-episode anime television series adaptation aired from October 11, 2018, to June 27, 2019, on Tokyo MX and BS11.[16][17][18] The series is animated by Studio VOLN and directed by Satoshi Nishimura, with series composition by Toshiki Inoue and Kazuhiro Fujita and character designs by Takahiro Yoshimatsu. Yuki Hayashi composed the series' music and Twin Engine produced the series.[19] The episodes were collected in three Blu-ray sets released by VAP between June 19 and October 23, 2019.[20] Bump of Chicken performed the series' first opening theme song, "Gekkō" (月虹),[21] and Lozareena [ja] performed the first ending theme song "Marionette" (マリオネット, Marionetto).[22] The second opening theme song is "Haguruma" (ハグルマ), performed by Kana-Boon, and the series' second ending theme song is "Yūdachi" (夕立ち), performed by Memai Siren [ja].[23] The third opening theme song is "Over Me", performed by Lozareena, while the third ending is the previous first opening song "Gekkō" by Bump of Chicken.[24][25]

The series was simulcast exclusively on Amazon Video worldwide.[19] In February 2021, Sentai Filmworks announced that they had licensed the series for home video and digital release.[26] It was released on Blu-ray Disc on May 18, 2021.[27]

### Games

[edit]

A RPG smartphone game developed by Tenda, Kick Ass and Game Gate, titled Karakuri Circus: Larmes d'un Clown, was launched on December 18, 2018.[28][29][30] The game was shut down on most platforms on October 24, 2022.[31]

A pachinko game, P-Fever Karakuri Circus, was released by SANKYO in August 2022.[32]

### Stage play

[edit]

A stage play adaptation ran in Tokyo at the Shinjuku Face theater from January 10–20, 2019. Yū Murai directed the play and Keita Kawajiri wrote the script. The cast included Taiga Fukazawa as Masaru Saiga, Koudai Takikawa as Narumi Kato, Momoka Onishi and Riho Iida as Shirogane/Francine (double cast), Kairi Miura as Bai In, Ryōtarō Kosaka as Bai Jin, Kento as Eiryo Ashihana, Shōjirō Yokoi as George LaRoche, Yūki Ochi as Guy Christophe Rech, Ryōko Tanaka as Lucille Berneuil, Natsuki Maeda as Harlequin, Saki Endō as Fatima, Yōjirō Murata as Faceless, Mitsuru Karahashi as Pantalone, Hiroya Matsumoto as Arlecchino, Seshiru Daigo as Columbine and Shūhei Izumi as Dottore.[1][33]

## Reception

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By March 2018, the manga had over 15 million copies in circulation.[34][35] Karakuri Circus was nominated for the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category in 1999.[36] It was one of the Jury Recommended Works at the 5th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2001.[37] It was nominated for the 38th Seiun Award in the Best Comic category in 2007.[38] On a 2020 poll conducted by the Goo website about the best Weekly Shōnen Sunday titles, Karakuri Circus ranked ninth.[39] On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Karakuri Circus ranked 86th.[40]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Komatsu, Mikikazu (October 12, 2018). "Karakuri Circus will Also Get Stage Play Adaptation in January 2019". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
2. ^ Chapman, Paul (April 5, 2019). "Puppets and Panic Run Wild in Karakuri Circus TV Anime Trailer". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
3. ^ 週刊少年サンデー 1997年 表示号数32. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). National Center for Art Research. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
4. ^ 週刊少年サンデー 2006年 表示号数26. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). National Center for Art Research. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
5. ^ からくりサーカス 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
6. ^ からくりサーカス 43 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
7. ^ からくりサーカス（第1巻） （My first wide） (in Japanese). Rakuten. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
8. ^ からくりサーカス（第16巻） （My first wide） (in Japanese). Rakuten. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
9. ^ からくりサーカス [ワイド版] １ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
10. ^ からくりサーカス [ワイド版] ２３ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
11. ^ からくりサーカス [文庫判] １ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
12. ^ からくりサーカス [文庫判] ２２ 完結 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
13. ^ からくりサーカス 完全版 １ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
14. ^ からくりサーカス 完全版 ２６ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
15. ^ からくりサーカス公式ガイドブック (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 6, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
16. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 12, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Manga by Ushio & Tora's Kazuhiro Fujita Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
17. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 27, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime Gets 36 Episodes". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
18. ^ 第1幕 開幕ベル (in Japanese). Tokyo MX. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

第36幕 閉幕 (in Japanese). Tokyo MX. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

19. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 31, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime Unveils Cast, Staff, Video, October Debut, Amazon Streaming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
20. ^ からくりサーカス Blu-ray BOX vol.1 (in Japanese). VAP. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

からくりサーカス Blu-ray BOX vol.2 (in Japanese). VAP. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

からくりサーカス Blu-ray BOX vol.3 (in Japanese). VAP. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

21. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 25, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime's 2nd Promo Reveals More Cast, Bump of Chicken Opening, October 10 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
22. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (October 3, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime's Promo Video Previews Lozareena Ending Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
23. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 20, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime Reveals New Theme Songs' Artists in Promo". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
24. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 29, 2019). "Karakuri Circus Anime's Latest Promo Video Previews New Opening". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
25. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 5, 2019). "Karakuri Circus Anime's Latest Promo Video Previews New Ending Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
26. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (February 5, 2021). "Sentai Licenses Karakuri Circus Anime for Spring Release". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
27. ^ Mateo, Alex (May 18, 2021). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 16-22". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
28. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (September 20, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime Gets Smartphone Game". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
29. ^ 「からくりサーカス」がソシャゲ化、物語とアクションシーン活かしたRPGに. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
30. ^ カードバトル RPG「からくりサーカス ～Larmes d'un Clown～」配信開始！初心者応援キャンペーン実施中！. Tenda (in Japanese). Tenda Co., Ltd. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
31. ^ Nogishi, Aki (August 29, 2022). "Service for the Karakuri Circus mobile game is coming to an end, but onlookers wonder how it survived as long as it did". Automaton. Active Gaming Media. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
32. ^ 【8/8パチンコ新台導入】Pフィーバーからくりサーカス／大当たりは全て3,000個or1,500個となる破格の出玉感. August 8, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
33. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 28, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Stage Play Reveals Main, Cast Visuals". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
34. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (March 14, 2018). "Kazuhiro Fujita's "Super Important Announcement" is Revealed as "Karakuri Circus" TV Anime". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
35. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 27, 2018). "Karakuri Circus Anime Gets 36 Episodes". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
36. ^ Hahn, Joel. "Kodansha Manga Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
37. ^ "Manga Division – 2001 [5th] Japan Media Arts Festival Archive". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
38. ^ 2007年星雲賞 (in Japanese). Nihon SF Taikai. Archived from the original on April 6, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
39. ^ Schley, Matt (April 19, 2020). "Fans Rank the Best Manga from Shonen Sunday". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
40. ^ テレビ朝日『国民15万人がガチで投票!漫画総選挙』ランキング結果まとめ！ 栄えある1位に輝く漫画は!?. animate Times (in Japanese). Animate. January 3, 2021. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official manga website at Web Sunday at the Wayback Machine (archived 2006-04-26) (in Japanese)
* Official anime website (in Japanese)
* Karakuri Circus (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

* v
* t
* e

Works by Kazuhiro Fujita

Major works|

* Ushio & Tora (1990–1996)
* Chapters
* Episodes
* Characters
* Karakuri Circus (1997–2006)
* Volumes
* Episodes
* Characters
* Moonlight Act (2008–2014)
* Sōbōtei Kowasubeshi (2016–2021)

Other|

* Kazuhiro Fujita's Short Stories (1988–2003)
* BakéGyamon (2006–2007, concept only)
* Jagan wa Gachirin ni Tobu (2006–2007)
* The Black Museum (2007; 2014–2015; 2022–2023)

* v
* t
* e

Weekly Shōnen Sunday: 1990–1999

1990|

* Niji-iro Tōgarashi
* Ushio & Tora
* Kyō Kara Ore Wa!!

1991|

* Go!! Southern Ice Hockey Club
* Samurai Crusader
* Ghost Sweeper Mikami

1992|

* Our Field of Dreams
* H2

1993|

* Love

1994|

* Case Closed
* Ganba! Fly High
* Major
* Jaja Uma Grooming Up!

1995|

* Dan Doh!!
* Flame of Recca
* Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M

1996|

* Shinsei Motemote Ōkoku
* Monkey Turn
* Inuyasha

1997|

* Tuxedo Gin
* Project ARMS
* Karakuri Circus

1998|

* Katteni Kaizō
* Salad Days

1999|

* Cheeky Angel
* Fantasista

* 1959–1969
* 1970–1979
* 1980–1989
* 1990–1999
* 2000–2009
* 2010–2019
* 2020–present
* Shōnen Sunday S
* Monthly Shōnen Sunday

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Satoshi Nishimura

Anime television series|

* Trigun (1998)
* Hajime no Ippo (2000–2002)
* Ushio & Tora (2015–2016)
* Karakuri Circus (2018–2019)

Films|

* Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road (2003)
* Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010)
* Garo: The Fleeting Cherry Blossom (2018)

* v
* t
* e

Studio VOLN

Television series|

* Ushio & Tora (2015–2016)
* Idol Incidents (2017)
* Karakuri Circus (2018–2019)
* Back Arrow (2021)
* Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga (2024)
* Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga / The Blue Night Saga (2024–2025)

Films|

* I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
* Usuzumizakura: Garo (2018)

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