Karakuri Circus (からくりサーカス ,Karakuri Sākasu?) is a manga by Kazuhiro Fujita, also the mangaka 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, but many themes inherits 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 intend. Drinker 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 original creator’s unfinished works.
Plot Synopsis.The story centers around three main characters, Masaru Saiga (才賀 勝), Narumi Kato (加藤 鳴海), and Shirogane (Eleanor) (しろがね (エレオノール) ?) and combines the settings of a circus, alchemy, and karakuri 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 auto-mannequins to cure the world of Zonapha syndrome. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Masaru Saigao join the circus and attempt to live a normal life but their fate are still heavily linked to their pre-destined destiny.
The events triggered by either Narumi Kato or Eleanor side of the story were mentioned on each other's story, sometimes directly effect 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.
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Unfortunately the malay translated manga discontinued at volume 26..
Online manga still ongoing..
Currently at chapter 79..(FAR AWAY from volume 26!!)
(above image is the cover of the bilingual version)
