Karakuri Circus (Japanese: からくりサーカス, Hepburn: Karakuri Sākasu) is a sprawling dark fantasy and action masterpiece written and illustrated by Kazuhiro Fujita, the legendary creator of Ushio and Tora. Known for its extreme emotional peaks, intricate plotting, and a unique art style that vibrates with energy, it is considered one of the most ambitious shōnen epics of the 90s and early 2000s.

The story follows three interconnected lives: Masaru Saiga, a young boy who inherits a massive fortune and is hunted by his own family; Narumi Kato, a martial artist suffering from a rare disease that requires him to make others laugh to breathe; and Shirogane (Eleonore), a mysterious silver-haired woman who controls a powerful mechanical puppet (automaton) named Arlequin. Their fates collide in a centuries-old war involving the Zonapha Syndrome—a terrifying disease—and the Midnight Circus, a troupe of sentient, murderous puppets.

Alternative Names and Titles

からくりサーカス / Mechanical Circus / Le Cirque de Karakuri