Karakuri Circus Anime

DestinyDogma

So lately lots of series under the category "Less likely to have an anime" are getting one, Karakuri Circus by Kazuhiro Fujita is one of them. I hoped for this to happen after the Ushio to Tora´s anime, but seeing it actually become true is amazing. I will update the thread every time that we got new info, until it airs (it won´t be soon though) The manga is translated until the half (more or less), no one is currently translating it.

Narumi is a young man that learned chinese martial arts and has a weird illness called "Zophama Syndrome", when he sees someone sad he starts to have lots of trouble to breathe and also suffers great pain, it won´t stop until he makes the other person laugh. That´s why he is currenlty working as a Circus´s pet, it is then that he meets Masaru, a yound kid that inherited a fortune from his father, so now the older brothers that got nothing are trying to kill him to get the money, by using not only assassins, but puppets that move on their own or controlled by people. Narumi and Masaru are saved from some of them by Shirogane, a young woman with silver hair and eyes that controls a giant puppet called Halerquin. That´s only the start of this series with two sides, Karakuri and Circus.

Original creator: Kazuhiro Fujita
Studio: Studio Voln
Anime´s creative producer: Masao Maruyama
Release date: Unkown
Number of episodes: 36

First trailer (without animation):

Second trailer with animation:

Fujita´s illustration with the main characters to celebrate the anime:

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Nectar

Holy crap! The impossible came true.
They haven't even cast voice actors. Gonna be a long wait. Hate to sound old but anime has gotten a bit same-y lately. We need more unique adaptions like this. My only fear is it'll be heavily censored. Now, if someone can finish scanlating the manga…

Here's an old animated commercial for the manga:

Baldulf

Really? I never expected to see this animated

They'll probably make one season of the most "normal" part of the series and see if it stucks. Its a weird manga that changes tones way too much for the anime market (constantly jumping from a shonen style to depressing and kinda brutal Berserk inspired stuff)

redeyes27

Wonder how long it would be. First half is Narumi's adventure and second half is Masaru's and the finale is Masaru + Narumi (still mostly Masaru though). So it will never do justice if only one gets the spotlight. Fair for both would be a little bit lengthy though. Nonetheless I'll be looking forward to it for sure and crossing my finger that Gekkou Jourei will also receive the same love. The time for Kazuhiro Fujita to receive some Western acknowledgement that he deserved has finally arrived (I'm saying this based on the fact that not many of his manga are scanlated and published at least in America).

Baldulf

@redeyes27:

Wonder how long it would be. First half is Narumi's adventure and second half is Masaru's and the finale is Masaru + Narumi (still mostly Masaru though). So it will never do justice if only one gets the spotlight. Fair for both would be a little bit lengthy though. Nonetheless I'll be looking forward to it for sure and crossing my finger that Gekkou Jourei will also receive the same love. The time for Kazuhiro Fujita to receive some Western acknowledgement that he deserved has finally arrived (I'm saying this based on the fact that not many of his manga are scanlated and published at least in America).

Yeah, he is criminally overlooked outside of Japan. Souboutei must be destroyed, his last series, is damn good but the scanlation is too slow to really enjoy it.

DestinyDogma

So it seems that the anime will only have 36 episodes, 3 episodes less than Ushio to Tora´s anime and Karakuri Circus manga is longer than the first (ten volumes longer) I don´t know how to feel about this, I mean, there are things that can be cut, but I still hoped for a few more episodes.

Source: http://moetron.news/post/172196991715/it-was-announced-at-an-animejapan-stage-event-that

redeyes27

Can I dream that 36 ep is only 1ss and we can get more? Ushio to Tora was easier to adapt thanks to its Monster of the week for the first part. This one though goes on and on. Cutting off anything would hurt my soul so much.

DestinyDogma

@redeyes27:

Can I dream that 36 ep is only 1ss and we can get more? Ushio to Tora was easier to adapt thanks to its Monster of the week for the first part. This one though goes on and on. Cutting off anything would hurt my soul so much.

Fujita himself said "The uninteresting parts of the manga won´t be animated", he accepted having only 36 episodes to adapt everything despite knowing that lots of fans would have wanted a full adaptation.

It´s a pity, perhaps it isn´t possible to adapt the whole thing, but even so I think that the anime can work if they adapt the relevant parts, so I am still looking foward to it.

Also here is the story of how the anime came to be:

The series producer Makoto Kimura was a big fan for the manga since the time of it’s serializetion, so when he talked with Maruyama about it he said: “there’s no one who will do this tough thing so I will do it!” https://twitter.com/Deem939/status/977559154796777473

redeyes27

@DestinyDogma:

Fujita himself said "The uninteresting parts of the manga won´t be animated", he accepted having only 36 episodes to adapt everything despite knowing that lots of fans would have wanted a full adaptation.

It´s a pity, perhaps it isn´t possible to adapt the whole thing, but even so I think that the anime can work if they adapt the relevant parts, so I am still looking foward to it.

Also here is the story of how the anime came to be:

Not every hero wears a cape and this guy is obviously one of them. Yeah I can think of some parts that he can easily omit but there are not that many of them. But of course I will still be looking forward to it nonetheless. The fact that it got a chance to be on screen at all has already been a dream comes true. That has been fulfilled. Now I will start a new dream of Gekkou Jourei.

Nectar

Disappointed at the number of episodes but, damn, it's still Karakuri Circus. Right now, my biggest hope is the series getting popular enough for scanlators to pick it up. Don't even think I'll watch past the last translated chapter just in case.

Kdom

For french speakers the complete scan is available on this site http://karakuricircus.blogspot.fr/ and Kaze should complete Moonlight Act one day (8 volumes left)

Baldulf

After 10 years someone has finally decided to start the scanlation of Gekko Jorei.

It was easy to miss since no one seems to talk about it.

https://mangadex.org/manga/14206/moonlight-act

redeyes27

Woah just in time! Thanks for the heads up I did definitely miss it

DestinyDogma

@Baldulf:

After 10 years someone has finally decided to start the scanlation of Gekko Jorei.

It was easy to miss since no one seems to talk about it.

https://mangadex.org/manga/14206/moonlight-act

Thanks for sharing, the first chapter was pretty good, it´s a really interesting concept and Fujita´s faces are amazing as always.

DestinyDogma

The anime will air this October, as for the staff:

Director: Satoshi Nishimura
Series Compositon: Toshiki Inoue, Kazuhiro Fujita (Ushio to Tora)
Character Designer: Takahiro Yoshimatsu (Slayers, Trigun)
Music: Yuuki Hayashi (Haikyuu, My Hero Academia)
Studio: Studio VOLN, Twin Engine

We also have the first three seiyuus:

Chihiro Ueda as Masaru (an actual child that won the audictions)
Megumi Hayashibara as Shirogane (Lina Inverse, Ranma, Hakumen no Mono)
Rikiya Koyama as Narumi Kato (EraserHead, Ging Freaks, Kogoro Mouri)

It´s coming out a lot sooner than I thought, but the staff seems pretty good so far and the seiyuus too. It´s kind of funny how Megumi went from giving her voice to the big bad of Ushio and Tora to become the seiyuu of the main heroine of Karakuri. I am looking foward to this, even if some parts won´t make it to the anime.

Edit: Here is a bigger image of the characters

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Nectar

October? I was shooting for spring 2019 at the earliest, nice. Liking the team behind it. I'm getting excited.

DestinyDogma

First trailer with actual animation:
[

I](

) like Shirogane and Narumi´s voices, Masaru is okay (it seems that the voice actor isn´t a kid, but an adult woman) They look pretty good, but the trailer only covers the first chapter, still pretty damn excited though.

Nectar

I don't want to set high expectations, but it's tough. No, no, no. Calm down, only 36 episodes…of a manga adaptation I thought I'd never see. I'm so conflicted!

DestinyDogma

If someone is insterested, the last person that was traslating Karakuri Circus posted this link with the chapters 242-246: https://uploadfiles.io/3yfr8

This doesn´t mean they will continue, but I am still grateful, this time the last chapter translated is a nicer place to stop. Now we have to wait for the anime and hope for another person to continue the manga scalation or for the series to be licensed in english (who I am kidding)

Nectar

Thank you!
At least the scanlator isn't leading us on, leaving fans waiting for chapters that'll never come. May take a while (years) but the anime will bring someone willing to scanlate.

DeathKnight

I really wish that it gets english scanlations or gets picked up with official translations for the whole series.

DestinyDogma

First look at the designs of Guy (Nozomu Sasaki) and Ashihana (Takahiro Sakurai)

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It´s a little weird that they are showing Guy´s design before other characters that should appear sooner. I will try not posting spoilers from the manga, except the first trailer of the anime.

DestinyDogma

The anime will have its broadcast premiere on october 11th.

Source: http://moetron.net/post/178272068445/the-karakuri-circus-tv-anime-will-have-its

Nectar

Less than a month away, nice.

DestinyDogma

More character designs and seiyuus:
-Gramps (Hisao Egawa)
-Blond Brother (Ryota Iwasaki)
-Pony Tail brother (Kaito Ishakawa)
-Talanda (Tomoyo Kurosawa)
-Vilma (Marina Inoue)

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Source: http://moetron.net/post/178301731635/more-of-the-cast-from-the-karakuri-circus-anime

Nectar

I thought Vilma had darker skin.
checks Nevermind. Guess I imprinted Robin on her.

DestinyDogma

I almost forgot, but Karakuri Circus will also have a smartphone game called "Karakuri Circus Larmes d´un Clown"

Source: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-09-20/karakuri-circus-anime-gets-smartphone-game/.137067

@Nectar:

I thought Vilma had darker skin.
checks Nevermind. Guess I imprinted Robin on her.

Same here, I never made the conection with Robin though, but they really look alike.

DestinyDogma

Third trailer (with the opening by Bump of Chicken and a little tease at the end): [

S](

)o far so good, the song doesn´t seems to go well with the series, but maybe the images and the lyrics will change that. To be fair, Ushio to Tora has one of the best op sons ever.

Nectar

They're holding their cards tight. Most scenes are probably from the first two episodes. But, that animation is nice. The pacing is gonna be nuts depending on what they want to adapt. I'm trying to keep my expectations low, but damn it, I'm freaking out.

Baldulf

That looks pretty good.

Character designs are good (Narumi mainly) and animation seems solid

DestinyDogma

More seiyuus and character designs:

-Lucille Berneuil (Romi Park)
-Zenji Saiga, Masaru´s uncle (Akio Ohtsuka)
-Shoji Saiga, Masaru´s Grandpa (Masahiko Tanaka)

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Pretty damn good voice actors, I expected someone older for Lucille, but I trust Romi Park.

DestinyDogma

Short trailer with a little bit of Lucille (Paku Romi) talking and the ending song (Marionette by Lozareena):

Nectar

At first, I was thinking indie notoriety at most, but this might be the surprise hit of the season. The animation is on fire, but I'm not sure about the CGI Arlequin. Will have to see more.

DestinyDogma

Weirdly enough, the anime twitter just showed a promotional image with Francine and his four servants, also the main trio. It´s a little spoilerish though.

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There are also the designs and voice actors for the four:

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-Pantalone (voiced by Joiji Nakata / Alucard, Giroro, etc)
-Dottore (voiced by Ryuuzaburou Ootomo / Crocodile in One piece)
-Arquelino (voiced by Jun Fukiyama / Lelouch, Koro-sensei, etc)
-Columbine (voiced by Aoi Yuki / Asui Tsuyu, Diane, etc)

Aside from the fact that is weird showing them so soon, they look pretty good. The first episode will finally air tomorrow, looking foward to it. Also hoping that we don´t have to wait another week for the opening, I am really curious about it.

DestinyDogma

I saw the first episode and it was really impressive so far, there were little changes here and there, but there weren´t any pacing issues. The animation is great and so is the voice acting, even if it will take me a while to not hear Tora when Narumi talks. The opening is really cool too, but I still prefer the Ushio to Tora ones.

On the other hand it worries me a little that they are already foreshadowing "that" circus from episode one, even more, in the opening only characters from one half of the story appear, even though we already have seiyuus for the other ones and they should appear sooner.

Nectar

Wow! Been a while since I felt this happy watching anime. I love it. Seeing this story in color and moving and talking and… everything. Yeah, I got my rose-colored glasses on, but I don't care. Please let it be a hit just so more people will hear about it and tune in.

@DestinyDogma:

I saw the first episode and it was really impressive so far, there were little changes here and there, but there weren´t any pacing issues. The animation is great and so is the voice acting, even if it will take me a while to not hear Tora when Narumi talks. The opening is really cool too, but I still prefer the Ushio to Tora ones.

On the other hand it worries me a little that they are already foreshadowing "that" circus from episode one, even more, in the opening only characters from one half of the story appear, even though we already have seiyuus for the other ones and they should appear sooner.

I'm expecting a breakneck pace throughout the entire series. In my mind, I've already accepted this as the abridged version of the manga, so any changes they make I'm fine with as long as the story doesn't suffer too much. At this point, I couldn't ask for a better 1st episode.

DestinyDogma

@Nectar:

I'm expecting a breakneck pace throughout the entire series. In my mind, I've already accepted this as the abridged version of the manga, so any changes they make I'm fine with as long as the story doesn't suffer too much. At this point, I couldn't ask for a better 1st episode.

It´s really helps that Fujita is on board with the changes and that the staff is really, really good. I am gonna miss some scenes though, at this point not knowing how the second half of the series goes really helps (the people who only watched the Ushio to Tora anime liked it and didn´t notice any problems with it)

And yeah, it was a perfect first episode, the only thing that I would change is the scene at the start with Masaru in the circus, compared to that the foreshadowing at the end didn´t bother me at all.

Nectar

Another good episode. I really love how all three main characters bounce off each other. Again, the art and pacing are perfect. They really trust the original material.

DestinyDogma

I missed a little the "Stay or Run" thing, but the episode was good, Narumi showing Masaru the album is a moment I like a lot. The puppet battle was also neat, they changed Arlequin to CG in the middle of the battle, but in some moments is so subtle that is hard to notice the difference.

By the way, the music for the previews is pretty good:

DestinyDogma

They skipped a few things, but I really enjoyed Masaru´s moment of bravery and the scenes with Narumi and Shirogane. The uncle was just as creepy as I remember, but it makes me a little sad that he got such a cool voice that another villain could have used instead, it fits him well though.

Nectar

Oh, so they did skip some stuff. I wasn't sure, been a while since I read those chapters. Not sure if they'll tackle all the puppets or not. Maybe a couple more and then end the arc. In fact, I don't see this arc lasting more than three more episodes.

DestinyDogma

Episode 4 was the weakest for me so far, they skipped lots of things this time around, I think even the anime-only watchers will find the pacing too fast… One single more episode to adapt this arc would have been great, then they could have included.

! -Two whole puppets enemies (the gun and the jumping one)
-The "RUN or STAY" thingie
-Masaru forgiving his uncle and trying to save his life
-Narumi breaking a wall and filling the room with water, that´s how Masaru survived
-And a few more things, but not so important
I don´t mind they skipping "filler" arcs, but the fact that they cut things that result in the series making less sense (Masaru surviving the fire without the water) worries me a little. I still enjoyed the episode, but now even if Fujita is in charge of the changes I am not sure he can pull it off like he wants, mostly because it´s just too much content to adapt.

I still look foward to the anime and will enjoy it, but man, Fujita deserved a HxH 2011 type of anime for Karakuri.

DestinyDogma

They announced 8 seiyuus more for the series: [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-02/karakuri-circus-anime-adds-8-cast-members/.138961

A](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-02/karakuri-circus-anime-adds-8-cast-members/.138961)nd after seeing a few anime-only reactions, most of them are positive, so maybe having read the manga is making me less unbiased about it.

They call me D

I am an anime only follower, and the ending of the 4th episode based on sheer shock value got me more interested in the show, despite the pacing seeming incredibly fast.

Nectar

Glad anime only watchers are liking it. Again, I want it to be a huge hit.

I liked this episode, but part of that is due to me not remembering much of the first arc. Yeah, the pacing will vary, but I'll glad they're trying to make it cohesive. If they can continue hitting the major points, I'll be okay.

! I expect Team Masaru 2.0 will join back to back, probably get an episode each (Of course, Rock Grandpa and his sons only need one episode).

I still look foward to the anime and will enjoy it, but man, Fujita deserved a HxH 2011 type of anime for Karakuri.

Yes. Yes. And, yes. I'm still upset over the series' length but I'm working through it.

DestinyDogma

The episode was fun, but I am gonna miss the car chase and the murder tiger, those were cool things… What worries me is that next episode is gonna be the hospital with the kids already, that´s a little too much of a cut, I hope they simply changed the order.

Nectar

Wasn't sure if the Uncle somehow survived, but he's dead. Too bad, I liked how scared of Masaru he became. They squeezed in a lot, but it didn't feel bloated. I guess they'll add Vilma next episode, no reason to wait. The Midnight Circus arc will probably start in a few more episodes.

DestinyDogma

@Nectar:

I guess they'll add Vilma next episode, no reason to wait. The Midnight Circus arc will probably start in a few more episodes.

Actually, this is the next episode preview:

Nectar

Thanks. Guess she's showing up later and we are about to dive in the Midnight Circus arc. At the rate, the anime may hit the last English scanlation sooner than I thought.

DestinyDogma

Well, episode 6 had the most original content so far, but I still liked it. Narumi´s character points are still clear and seeing him bonding more with the children was nice, the last scene was pretty damn cool as well. I suppose that the origin of the Midnight Circus will be covered in the next episodes. Lucille´s flashback is one of my favorite moment, so I hope they keep it.

! In the manga Arlequino went to the shirogane mansion because Narumi destroyed that automata that captured Lucille and the other granny, in the anime I suposse he will go there because Narumi defeated the teacher/student duo.