Karakuri Circus
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Episodes (36)
1 / 2- 1EP 1
Masaru Saiga faces kidnapping threats from puppets after inheriting his father's fortune.
Oct 11, 2018Eleven-year-old Masaru Saiga inherits a vast fortune following his father's death in an accident. This wealth makes him a target for kidnappers who deploy fearsome puppets to abduct him. Masaru manages to escape with assistance from Narumi Kato, a circus employee. However, the kidnappers quickly catch up with the pair. Just as the situation appears hopeless, a mysterious woman named Shirogane makes her appearance to intervene.
- 2EP 2
Masaru, Narumi, and Shirogane face assassin Eiryo Ashihana and his marionette Pulcinella.
Oct 18, 2018Following a short break, Masaru, Narumi, and Shirogane encounter immediate danger again. Assassin Eiryo Ashihana locates them and launches an assault using an evil clown-style marionette named Pulcinella. Shirogane counters by deploying her own marionette, Arlequin. However, while Shirogane is occupied with this confrontation, Ashihana’s subordinates manage to capture Masaru, leaving the group in a precarious situation.
- 3EP 3
Masaru seeks refuge with Zenji while Shirogane assaults the Saiga villa with Narumi.
Oct 25, 2018Masaru stays with his uncle Zenji Saiga, though he remains suspicious. The Slaughter Team prepares to attack the Saiga villa as Narumi and Shirogane launch a frontal assault on the Kidnap Team. Shirogane fights Takami while Nakata attacks with a Rolling Arms karakuri, but a trap destroys the puppet and kills Nakata. Shirogane releases Harlequin to destroy the door, allowing Ashihana’s men to enter. Takami attacks with her karakuri Theogualtier, which Shirogane destroys using Harlequin. Meanwhile, Masaru hides from Zenji and finds notes revealing he is bait to destroy the Kuroga clan. Narumi and Shirogane fall into a trap, causing Narumi to have a Zonapha attack where she explains her past. Masaru jumps from a tower window to escape Zenji, landing safely near Ashihana, and offers to hire the Slaughter Team.
- 4EP 4
Masaru joins Zenji after learning the truth, leading to a destructive villa battle.
Nov 1, 2018Ashihana initially declines Masaru’s employment proposal but accepts after discovering the Saiga are using the Slaughter Team as test subjects. He forces entry into the villa using Grimaldi, while Yamanaka traps Narumi and Shirogane in the basement. Masaru agrees to become Zenji’s son, yet Zenji intends to kill them, prompting Masaru to attack him violently. During this chaos, Shirogane shares her tragic past with Narumi as Masaru and Ashihana rescue the pair. Yamanaka assaults them again, but Masaru pilots Harlequin to shift the battle’s momentum. Explosives detonate within the villa, destroying the structure. Masaru, Narumi, and Shirogane survive the collapse, with Ashihana aiding Shirogane’s escape. However, Masaru and Narumi remain inside the burning ruins. By morning, Masaru is alive, but only Narumi’s left arm remains.
- 5EP 5
Masaru recovers and joins Nakamachi’s circus while Narumi remains critically injured
Nov 8, 2018Two months later, Masaru has recovered from his injuries and lives with Shirogane who looks after him. She enrolls in the high school next to his school protect him from bullies. However when the bullies try to antagonize Masaru he shrugs off their actions and shows the scars he received in his encounter while he was away. Elsewhere, Mr. Shinobu Nakamachi is about to be evicted for non-payment of rent while he tries to rebuild a circus. At school, Masaru becomes more accepted, and at high school Shirogane becomes popular because of her many talents, including her acrobatic skills. To cheer up Shirogane, Masaru takes her to see Mr. Nakamachi and convinces her to join his circus with Nori and Hiro and their animal handler Liselotte. Elsewhere, Narumi lays unconscious in intensive care, missing his left arm.
- 6EP 6
Narumi wakes with amnesia in an Illinois hospital run by Dr. Banhart
Nov 15, 2018Narumi regains consciousness in an Illinois hospital with amnesia and a prosthetic left arm. Guy Christophe Resh reveals the facility houses 2,000 children with Zonapha, cared for by staff who suppress their own emotions to prevent attacks. Narumi learns that terminal patients cannot die and remain comatose. Resh explains that automata from the Midnight Circus spread the syndrome and asks Narumi to become a Shirogane to fight them, noting that Aqua Vitae healed him. Lucille Verrneuil announces that Paulmann and Anselmus are attacking the school. Resh deploys his Karakuri Olympia to battle the automata, and Narumi joins him to defeat the attackers.
- 7EP 7
Narumi becomes Shirogane while Shirogane faces Vilma's challenge and betrayal
Nov 22, 2018Paulmann and Anselmus attack Narumi, but his Aqua Vitae healing allows him to destroy them. To protect the children, Narumi accepts Resh's offer to become a Shirogane and fight the automata. Meanwhile, Shirogane performs as a clown with the Nakamachi Circus and is approached by Vilma, who challenges her to a contest of skills. Vilma befriends her, but later corners Masaru at the circus campsite and prepares to kill him. Shirogane suddenly arrives to intervene, but Vilma immobilizes her with throwing knives. Shirogane's body recovers enough to fight back with Harlequin and defeats Vilma. Impressed by Shirogane's loyalty and Masaru's resolve, Vilma decides to join them in the Nakamachi Circus.
- 8EP 8
Shirogane enters a beauty contest while Narumi fights automata during the circus opening
Nov 29, 2018Shirogane participates in a beachside beauty contest to generate publicity for the Nakamachi Circus. Masaru persuades Lise to perform, and Shirogane shares memories of Narumi with Vilma. Concurrently, Guy and Lucille transport Narumi to China to confront automata, but ten machines hijack their aircraft. Narumi defeats them without triggering explosions that would kill the passengers. The plane is then attacked by insectoid automata controlled by Mr. Spazza. Guy exits to fight the insects while Lucille attempts a water landing. The Nakamachi Circus grand opening is interrupted by the crash. Inside, the automaton Magdalen attacks to obtain blood, but Shirogane intervenes. Magdalen is destroyed, and Shirogane and Masaru witness Narumi through the smoke.
- 9EP 9
Shirogane nurses Guy while Masaru seeks Narumi amid family alchemy secrets.
Dec 6, 2018After an airplane crash, Shirogane rescues and cares for her injured former teacher, Guy. She shares her history with him, explaining how Narumi helped her gain humanity rather than remaining a puppet. Disturbed by dreams of Narumi, Masaru departs quietly to find him. Meanwhile, Narumi, Lucille, and Ming-Xia search the Chinese mountains for the Midnight Circus. They discover Ming-Xia’s father, Liang Jian-Feng, suffering from Zonapha syndrome at an Aqua Vitae spring. He recounts the story of his Bai family ancestors, brothers Yin and Jin, who traveled to Prague two centuries ago to study alchemy and enhance their puppetry. Narumi recognizes this tale, which involves a woman named Francine whose presence created conflict between the two brothers as both fell in love with her.
- 10EP 10
Narumi shares memories while Lucille learns of Jin's deadly automaton and the Aqua Vitae spring's destruction.
Dec 13, 2018Narumi recounts history through Yin's memories, detailing Jin's abduction of Francine after her engagement to Yin. Nine years later, Yin locates Jin in Quiberon, where Francine is imprisoned due to a rare disease. Yin perfects Aqua Vitae to cure her, but she dies when the prison burns. Twenty Three years later, Jin creates an automaton named Lady Francine and injects it with Aqua Vitae. To make her laugh, he releases Zonapha syndrome into the village, threatening a living death for those who fail. Lucille reveals she suffered under the murderous clowns. Six years later, Yin sacrifices himself to activate Aqua Vitae and save the villagers. Lucille drinks the water, gaining Yin's memories and the puppet Harlequin, vowing to destroy Jin's automatons. Pantalone seeks the Aqua Vitae for Lady Francine, but Liang Jian-Feng triggers an explosion that destroys himself and the spring.
- 11EP 11
Shirogane-Os clash with Midnight Circus automatons in the Sahara Desert.
Dec 20, 2018Narumi, Lucille, and Ming-Xia travel to the Sahara Desert in North Africa, where the Midnight Circus is located in Harvest, Maine. In Deauville, France, George Laroche recruits the assassin Ashihana to join the Shirogane-Os. At the circus tent, the Faceless Commander challenges Narumi’s group with Les Quatre Pionniers automatons. Zed attacks first but is defeated by Merry-Go-Round Olsen. Rockenfield then destroys an automaton with his bare hands. The acrobat brothers Orazio and Pedrolino fight Fatima and Ming-Xia, who uses blood drops from Lucille to counteract the Zonapha-filled atmosphere. The Shirogane win the battle, but Dottore opens a trap-door, causing them to fall into a new chamber for another challenge.
- 12EP 12
The group faces deadly traps and a combat trial before meeting Lady Francine.
Dec 27, 2018Fatima and Ming-Xia receive treatment in a medical capsule while the rest of the party encounters two doors leading to Lady Francine. Narumi, Shirogane, Rockenfield, Malina, and Tor enter a dark staircase chamber where they must fight each other to proceed. Meanwhile, George and Eiryo travel to the Sahara by helicopter. Below the Midnight Circus complex, Narumi and Shirogane face deadly traps. The Faceless Commander sacrifices himself to save Narumi, who then reunites with Tor, Timbavati, Rockenfield, and Malina. The group must now face Les Quatre Pionniers in a contest before Lady Francine.
- 13EP 13
Lucille arrives with reinforcements to save the Midnight Circus from the Quatre Pionniers.
Jan 10, 2019Tor, Timbavati, Rockenfield, and Malina attack the Quatre Pionniers while a wounded Narumi fails to reach Doll Francine. Lucille arrives with Fatima, Ming-Xia, Eiryo, and George, surprising everyone by revealing a Francine marionette named Angelina. She convinces Dottore to disavow Francine, draining his synthetic body fluids, but he fatally cuts her with his hat, causing her to crystallize and disintegrate. Tor self-destructs to eliminate automata, allowing Narumi to be treated in a portable medical capsule. Timbavati attempts to reach Lady Francine but is intercepted by Columbine, who stabs him with her Mains Blanches Immaculeés. He counters by biting himself with his Mamba's Tower of Venomous Fangs, using his Shirogane blood to neutralize Columbine's fluids. She melts away as Tor crystallizes and disintegrates.
- 14EP 14
Narumi confronts Shirogane while Francine's true origin is revealed after the battle.
Jan 17, 2019Pantalone and Arlecchino destroy the Francine marionette and George. The shirogane doctor sacrifices himself to save Narumi on the operating table. Fatima attacks with Spinettina but is defeated. Narumi regains consciousness and defeats Pantalone. Arlecchino attacks with flames, but Fatima survives to see Narumi cut Arlecchino to pieces. Lady Francine reveals she is a copy, and the real Francine, source of Zonapha syndrome, is elsewhere. Narumi tracks down Shirogane, accusing her of being Francine. He claims a survivor from Clogue village in Quiberon, now head of Fou Industries, told him Shirogane was created from Aqua Vitae made by Francine. As Narumi prepares to kill Shirogane, he recalls his early time with her and Masaru, and walks away.
- 15EP 15
Masaru discovers his father's secret room and battles Kuroga village marionettes.
Jan 31, 2019Masaru visits the ruins of his family home in Karuizawa, recalling his mother’s death and early encounters with Shirogane and Narumi. A caretaker provides a letter and keys to an underground room left by Sadayoshi Saiga 30 years ago. Inside, a recording reveals Masaru is his father reborn, intended as a backup for memory transfer. Upon exiting, Masaru is attacked by Kuroga village puppeteers using the ninja marionette Shogetsu, who mistake him for Sadayoshi. With Guri-pon’s help, Masaru activates the massive marionette Goyellemes to defeat Shogetsu. He then uses the lighter Captain Nemo to slice apart a second attacking marionette. Attempting to escape with a third marionette, Masaru is captured by the Kuroga and brought before the seemingly conscious remains of his grandfather Shōji.
- 16EP 16
Shoji confronts Masaru about Sadayoshi's influence while Masaru consumes Shoji's blood to access his memories.
Feb 7, 2019Masaru drinks Shoji's blood, triggering memories of his past at Miura Dojo in Nagasaki. He recalls studying medicine under Dr. Bai Yin and creating a Shirogane marionette. While treating Mr. Nakayama, Shoji met Angelina, known as Tohno-dayu, who saved him from a fire using Bai Yin's Arlequin marionette. She later revealed her history and a vial of Aqua Vitae. Shoji, realizing his love for her, drank the liquid to ensure they could remain together for eternity. This flashback explains the depth of Shoji's connection to Angelina and the origins of his supernatural abilities and motivations, providing context for his current actions and relationships within the narrative.
- 17EP 17
Shoji reveals his past with Angelina and Guy's history with Lucille and Zonapha
Feb 14, 2019Shoji informs Masaru that Sadayoshi was not his biological son, explaining that he and Angelina originally created marionettes. They adopted Dean Maistre, a shirogane sent by Lucille, and named him Sadayoshi. Later, Angelina became pregnant. In the present, Guy recounts his past to Masaru, detailing how he contracted Zonapha, was abandoned by his mother, and was transformed into a shirogane by Lucille. Lucille later tasked Guy with retrieving Angelina's Soft Stone from Kuroga village to convert Zonapha sufferers. Angelina refused and used Arlequin to defeat Guy's Olympia, yet subsequently welcomed him into her home. A final memory shows Shoji finding the Francine automaton, which had been abandoned for being unable to laugh. He reduced her power and brought her to Angelina, who accepted her. Shortly after, Angelina gave birth to a baby girl.
- 18EP 18
Shoji recalls the past as Francine faces automata while Angelina sacrifices herself to protect the baby.
Feb 21, 2019Shoji remembers naming his daughter Éléonore, a birth that conflicted Guy regarding the Soft Stone in Angelina. Francine, feeling useless without the ability to smile, sought dismantling but was instead targeted by automata searching for the stone. When they attacked despite her orders, Angelina revealed the stone was inside Éléonore and entrusted the baby to Francine. Francine escaped but was pursued and damaged, falling into a well with Éléonore. The water turned to Aqua Vitae, consuming Francine as she sacrificed herself to save the child. Meanwhile, Angelina fought automata with Shoji and Guy, pretending to hold the stone. She was mortally wounded and crystallized upon death. Guy arrived at the well to find Francine had died protecting Éléonore.
- 19EP 19
Guy confronts Masaru about his identity while Masaru recalls Shoji's past and memories.
Feb 28, 2019Guy insists Masaru is Sadayoshi, prompting Masaru to flee and meet Éléonore Shirogane before being attacked and falling unconscious. He recalls Shōji’s memories, including saving Éléonore and her upbringing at the Quiberon orphanage under Lucille. The flashback reveals Sadayoshi’s betrayal, using Masaru as a vessel for immortality, but Shōji had already destroyed the memory data in Karuizawa. This led Sadayoshi to attempt killing Shōji, who survived but was publicly declared dead to ensure his safety. Meanwhile, Sadayoshi had previously sent Éléonore to join a circus to keep her separated from Masaru.
- 20EP 20
Masaru confronts his past as the Faceless Commander attacks Guy and takes Éléonore.
Mar 7, 2019Masaru recalls collapsing after drinking cocoa on the night his father died. Sadayoshi drove from Karuizawa, transferring memories to unconscious Masaru, while Shōji attacked them. Guy and the Shirogane rescued Masaru, but the crash killed Sadayoshi and severely injured Shōji in acid. In the present, Daiki reveals himself as the Faceless Commander and Masaru’s father, claiming to be the reincarnation of Bai Jin and Sadayoshi Saiga. He attacks Guy and Shōji, appearing as a dark sun before attempting to take Masaru. Éléonore intervenes, taking a blow meant for Masaru. The Faceless Commander escapes to an airship with Éléonore and Arleqiuin, challenging Masaru to follow. Shōji’s body crystallizes as he dies in Masaru’s arms. In the afterlife, Shōji reunites with Angelina, keeping their promise to spend eternity together.
- 21EP 21
Masaru confronts the Faceless Commander and his silver goddess Artemis while allies seek a cure.
Mar 14, 2019Masaru grieves Shōji as the Nakamachi Circus arrives, but villagers succumb to Zonapha syndrome. The Faceless Commander declares himself Deus, announcing the distribution of the silver goddess Artemis to destroy humanity. Masaru attacks Artemis using a flying Jack-O-Lantern puppet, discovering it consists of Apollyon, dust-sized automata. Guy pursues with Lise but is halted by the Cupidia automaton. Narumi destroys Cupidia before Guy uses Olympus to transport her to the Zonapha Syndrome Research Institute. There, Fou has finished Harry, a machine to expel Apollyon bugs. Meanwhile, the Faceless reconstructs Arlecchino, Pantalone, and Colombine. Narumi and Guy reach the Institute, meeting Ming-Xia, Tom, George, and Eiryo, only to face an automaton attack. Gambler Jones kills the staff and captures Tom. Elsewhere, Arlecchino, Pantalone, and Colombine remain loyal to Francine, but find Éléonore resembles her creator.
- 22EP 22
Ming-Xia Defeats Gambler Jones to Save Tom Jones While George Plays for Children
Mar 21, 2019Ming-Xia is forced to gamble against the automaton Gambler Jones to save Tom Jones, losing repeatedly until she destroys the machine mid-coin toss. Narumi and Guy arrive to help her search for Harry. Separately, George and Eiryo meet frightened children, with George calming them by playing a piano melody. Outside, George encounters the powerful shirogane Bola Misteriosa, while Eiryo meets Pantalone. Although Pantalone allows Eiryo to pass, Eiryo chooses to challenge him instead.
- 23EP 23
Eiryo confronts Pantalone while George battles Bola Misteriosa in a desperate struggle for survival.
Mar 28, 2019Eiryo engages Pantalone while Bola Misteriosa defeats George, revealing his motive to purge Earth of humanity. Eiryo recalls Ashihana’s insight regarding automata speed limits, yet Pantalone impales him with Polichinelle’s sword. Using George’s shirogane blood, Eiryo launches a final attack, but Pantalone intentionally misses, remembering Francine’s warning. George destroys Bola Misteriosa’s Wunderkugel in a last stand but dies as Eiryo arrives. Inside, Narumi fights like a demon to protect children, then joins Ming-Xia to reach Dr. Banhart and the scientists working on Harry, encountering automata Blom Blom Low and Drill September. Outside, numerous automata descend to feed on humans inside but are confronted by Guy and Olympia.
- 24EP 24
Ming-Xia and Narumi battle automata leaders while Eiryo rescues survivors with a train
Apr 4, 2019Ming-Xia fights Blom Blom Low, leader of the assault team, while Narumi engages Drill September. Narumi wins his duel, but Blom severely injures Ming-Xia. Narumi then confronts Blom, relying on internal components from Timbavati, Tor, and Rockenfield to defeat the automaton. Eiryo spares Pantalone, instructing him to obey Francine and avoid harming humans. Guy struggles against automata as Eiryo pilots the Long-legged Clown Express train into the complex to rescue Harry, Narumi, other humans, and children. The train emerges to find Guy besieged and Pantalone defending him. Pantalone offers to stay behind to allow the group to escape, but Narumi intervenes, saving Pantalone so they can both board the departing train. Meanwhile, Masaru, Lise, and the bird Guri-pon continue pursuing Faceless's airship.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Karakuri Circus have?
- Karakuri Circus has 36 episodes.
- When did Karakuri Circus come out?
- Karakuri Circus came out in 2018.
- Which studio made Karakuri Circus?
- Karakuri Circus was produced by Studio VOLN.
- Who directed Karakuri Circus?
- Karakuri Circus was directed by Tomoyuki Shimizu.
- Is Karakuri Circus finished?
- Current status of Karakuri Circus: Finished.