Karakuri Circus

[Nivek von Beldo]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Wow, everyone's an asshole. Even if all you care about is Shirogane, for some reason, haven't they seen in her memories that Masaru is also important to her? That she worried about him and would appreciate knowing he's alive. And that he's brought her puppet. That also matters, even if not as much.

(But speaking of her memories, couldn't they see how important Narumi was to Masaru? Can't they give him a few minutes to say hello?)

Then again, maybe not seeing the asshole Narumi became was a kindness.

Seriously, what the hell the mangaka was thinking at times? even in old style shonen Masaru would be the one to snap the EMO from narumi, seriously, i think the mangaka trying to play drama just induced apathy. Example the Harlequino and Pantalone moment was so well done made the rest of chapter look even worse.

Seriously this series suffer of being too long for herself.


that is the reason was never adapted before, was always a mess

[Kanon]

Yeah, delaying Masaru and Narumi's reunion with that kind of reasoning was idiotic. And it turns out Narumi got his memory back, but we don't know when.

[FlareKnight]

It is kind of remarkable how long they have been dragging out the moment of Masaru reuniting with Narumi. Just imagine all the nonexistent conversations that he'd be getting in the way of if he simply walked in. You might as well have Masaru meet with Narumi. He'd either knock some sense into him or it'd create some drama in seeing his hero fall so far from where he started. These two are the main characters and have gotten the majority of the story focus.

I swear the story is trying to make the audience care intensely about this 'romance' when it has really sabotaged that itself. It has made Narumi way too unlikable while criminally under-utilizing Shirogane for the vast majority of the show. It is getting the focus above all else. You have people risking their lives fighting automata just so these two can get more alone time. Like Shirogane said, they are days away from reaching the launch site. There is no good reason for Narumi/Shirogane to not be fighting some of these automata. I do think Narumi took way too much of the focus of the story, but he's right there. You might as well keep using him now.

Guess we'll see how many of the circus members survive this fight.

[FlareKnight]

Spoiler for Ep33:

Well this was an interesting episode. I suppose you could say it was emotional. If only for the tragedy of characters throwing their lives away for little reason. Also Masaru disappeared after his fight started. I do get the idea, but I just don't empathize. 4 people are dead for no reason! They have hours if not days to reach their launch site. Narumi can afford a fight here and there. And frankly all this dying bought time for Shirogane and Narumi...to sit in silence.

Maybe the circus guys aren't dead. Maybe they are just horribly injured. It isn't like with Vilma where we saw a knife in her head. I do salute their efforts to fight a battle they weren't exactly suited for. They did their best and did bring down the automata. Also apparently that automata had nothing to do with their mother and it was a total coincidence that there was any visual similarity?

At least the sacrifice play by Pantalone and Arlequino was kind of fun. They were bad guys originally so no real tragedy if they perish. And their efforts were fun to watch. It was particularly fun having Pantalone troll Harlequin like that. Although when thinking about it...might have been better if they stuck around to create a numbers advantage when those two reached the train. Oh well. At least they both gave a nice effort. Even if it was totally in vain.

[Magewolf]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Spoiler for Ep33:

Well this was an interesting episode. I suppose you could say it was emotional. If only for the tragedy of characters throwing their lives away for little reason. Also Masaru disappeared after his fight started. I do get the idea, but I just don't empathize. 4 people are dead for no reason! They have hours if not days to reach their launch site. Narumi can afford a fight here and there. And frankly all this dying bought time for Shirogane and Narumi...to sit in silence.

Maybe the circus guys aren't dead. Maybe they are just horribly injured. It isn't like with Vilma where we saw a knife in her head. I do salute their efforts to fight a battle they weren't exactly suited for. They did their best and did bring down the automata. Also apparently that automata had nothing to do with their mother and it was a total coincidence that there was any visual similarity?

At least the sacrifice play by Pantalone and Arlequino was kind of fun. They were bad guys originally so no real tragedy if they perish. And their efforts were fun to watch. It was particularly fun having Pantalone troll Harlequin like that. Although when thinking about it...might have been better if they stuck around to create a numbers advantage when those two reached the train. Oh well. At least they both gave a nice effort. Even if it was totally in vain.

That is one of my problems with the manga(and even worse in the adaption) compared to Ushio and Tora lots of things happen that are completely pointless to the story. So many of them that it actually overwhelms the plot and grinds it to a halt at times.

[Kanon]

We didn't really spend any time on the Nakamichi family, so I couldn't really care about their sacrifice. I'm not really sure they're dead anyway. Feels like they could have just cut that entirely.

Pantalone was the star of the episode. I noticed he called Eleonore by her name rather than "Francine" last week, and it was confirmed he started seeing her as her own person and eventually came to terms with Doll Francine's death. He went out in a cool way. He couldn't even scratch his enemy but he sure pissed him off.

[akumaten]

Pantalone: Why So Serious, Harlequin?

If Jin/Faceless couldn't get Eleonore, how could you have a chance Harlequine? Truly the greatest joke

[serenade_beta]

I do have to point out I love Pantalone's voice. While there are plenty of forced deaths that... fell forced in this anime, his was one that at least made it fun to watch, with him hitting that bulls-eye with a Gatling gun of laughter.

[FlareKnight]

Spoiler for Ep34:

Ok the Masaru and Narumi thing is kind of reaching hilarious levels. Masaru living the dream. He got to fight side by side with Narumi without ever finding out what a jerk he's been. And rather than knock Narumi around for his stupidity he just blinds him to keep his identity a secret. Because he's really buying into this whole "it's better for Narumi and Shirogane that third wheels stay out of the picture."

At least Masaru and Narumi (as usual) get their chance to shine. They sort of tried to do that with Shirogane. Sure the best she could do was not fight side by side with Narumi or win, but to throw her and her opponent off the train. They are bound to pick up with her soon enough to finish off her fight (and hopefully win for once). But this was again the Masaru and Narumi show and they need to have their glorious wins.

I've got to say as well that the creator of this story is terrible at time management. Right before these last few fights they were 60 hours away from the launch site. And now they arrived to the launch site while Narumi was fighting. So the events of the past two episodes happened over the course of over 2 days! I mean yeah there was an evening scene and then an attack in what seemed to be the next day. But apparently that was 2 days later...ok.

Also thank goodness all those people died to keep Narumi from fighting. Look how rested and healthy he is before going into space...Ok I need to find a positive here. It was kind of fun watching Masaru chop that weirdo automata in half. And...kind of funny that Arlequino kind of won in the end. He would have won if that automata had stuck to his close range combat focus. Because he didn't Arlequino may have lost, but he directly set that guy up to being beaten by Narumi. So....win!

[Anh_Minh]

Now what? Has Masaru decided that he's going into space instead of Narumi?

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Now what? Has Masaru decided that he's going into space instead of Narumi?

Probably. Even though Narumi has far better chances against Faceless.

[FlareKnight]

This episode was interesting. Rarely have I had to spend so much of one trying to read subtitles during a facepalm. Just wow...the start of this episode was so incredibly dumb. Masaru is going to risk all life on Earth so he can try to make sure that Narumi and Eleonore hook up. I'm sure you've got this Masaru. You totally aren't throwing all lives away for a stupid reason. I mean let's look at his brilliant plan to save the world. Just ask really nicely!

Beast tamer girl can just shut it. This is the idiot who's idea of "I've got this" is to run away for her life because she totally didn't have it! Maybe she figures there's an automata up where Faceless is that will inexplicably change sides to save Masaru. No one in that room should gamble billions of lives on her personal gut call. Also apparently Masaru is moving on from a crush on Shirogane, to a weird relationship with an automata, to...now Lise. Sure, why not. They are both idiots so they'll mesh up well despite the massive age gap and out of nowhere ship.

I suppose Narumi had the free time anyways. But it really is sad that out of the three main characters, Eleonore is the one that can't win her own fight. Masaru with a busted flying puppet won his fight. But Eleonore needs rescue because she never has any good tactics and her puppet is basically useless.

[Kanon]

Well, they did point out that Masaru has/had Faceless' memories and he proved he was about as strong as Narumi, so I don't think it was such a bad idea to send him. The way he started off is dumb but we'll see how he does next week. It might be part of a strategy. Masaru surprised us more than once.

I think it sucks that Eleonore couldn't win her own fight too, and had to be rescued by her knight in shining armor. Then again, past the first arc she never really fought. She really was shafted. At least she'll be happy now.

If Masaru really doesn't come back from space, then man, his reunion with Narumi, which we've been waiting for for ages and had been teased multiple times is the biggest blueball. I liked the parallel with Jin and Yin though. Masaru was in the same position as Jin a long time ago, and he decided to give Eleonore and Narumi his blessing instead of becoming consumed by jealousy.

Ashihana dying felt pretty random. I guess I should have seen this coming, since he had a thing going with Vilma and she already died.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

This episode was interesting. Rarely have I had to spend so much of one trying to read subtitles during a facepalm. Just wow...the start of this episode was so incredibly dumb. Masaru is going to risk all life on Earth so he can try to make sure that Narumi and Eleonore hook up. I'm sure you've got this Masaru. You totally aren't throwing all lives away for a stupid reason.

I get what you're trying to say, but I wouldn't want to trust it to Narumi either. Of all the things that went on in this ep, it's maybe the one that bothered me the least. Especially considering the fights where Masaru has come out on top.

I mean let's look at his brilliant plan to save the world. Just ask really nicely!

Hopefully he has a plan B for when that doesn't work. And what would have Narumi's plan been anyway? Punch Faceless, and then what?

Beast tamer girl can just shut it. This is the idiot who's idea of "I've got this" is to run away for her life because she totally didn't have it!

It wasn't a terrible idea. It allowed Masaru to get there in time to save Eleonore.

Maybe she figures there's an automata up where Faceless is that will inexplicably change sides to save Masaru.

Maybe there will! Plenty of Francine automatas up there, and they wouldn't be the first female automata to fall for Masaru's boyish good looks.

No one in that room should gamble billions of lives on her personal gut call. Also apparently Masaru is moving on from a crush on Shirogane, to a weird relationship with an automata, to...now Lise. Sure, why not. They are both idiots so they'll mesh up well despite the massive age gap and out of nowhere ship.

Of the three girls you cited, she's by far the closest in age to him.

I suppose Narumi had the free time anyways. But it really is sad that out of the three main characters, Eleonore is the one that can't win her own fight.

Yes, and with all the effort that was spent getting her damn puppet to her, too.



Things that did bother me:
- Ashihara's death. Why did he, the "pro", warn his target instead of just shooting? He knows how dangerous automatas are.
- the Francines inside Eleonore. Especially Doll Francine - she may have been, briefly, like a second mother to Eleonore, but she never fell in love.
- the love story between Narumi and Eleonore. It was mostly fine until he recovered his memory and continued acting like a giant asshole to her out of, what, survivor's guilt? It just really soured me on it then.

[AntonKutovoi]

You know, as much as I love Toshio Furukawa as a voice actor, I think GeGeGe no Kitaro has ruined a particular voice he uses for some of his characters for me. When young Faceless appeared in this episode, all I could think is "You’re just a Nezumi-Otoko. Stop acting so high and mighty"

[akumaten]

Originally Posted by AntonKutovoi

You know, as much as I love Toshio Furukawa as a voice actor, I think GeGeGe no Kitaro has ruined a particular voice he uses for some of his characters for me. When young Faceless appeared in this episode, all I could think is "You’re just a Nezumi-Otoko. Stop acting so high and mighty"

So befitting for Jin/Faceless. He is a high and mighty asshole.

[AntonKutovoi]

Originally Posted by akumaten

So befitting for Jin/Faceless. He is a high and mighty asshole.

I mean, I know it's fitting. But I'm so used to this particular voice coming out from Nezumi-Otoko's mouth in the past year, that I'm semi-expecting Faceless to try some quick cash scheme

[Kanon]

WTF was that ending?

Masaru really had no plans at all. It only worked out because Faceless suddenly had a change of heart, which wasn't believable in the least. And if not for that dog that coming out of nowhere (we've seen it like once in the entire series) to save him, Masaru would have died. Why would Faceless' dog even save Masaru?

Oh well. I had some fun with the series, but overall it was extremely average. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody. They shouldn't bother with adaptations if they're going to cut 3/4th of the story.

[FlareKnight]

His plan really was to just beg Faceless to tell him the answer . It wasn't even a tactical approach to make him lower his guard. It was just begging and then fighting when Faceless was ready to go. It was even more hilarious that the person who gets an upgraded Arlequin in this show isn't the main character who has been using a half-broken puppet the whole time...but the villain !

So many random things were needed for this to work out. That psycho automata showing up and blowing up the facility/stabbing Faceless changed the dynamics of things. The Shirogane dog that Faceless was using saved Masaru for some reason. And Faceless suddenly developed this brotherly relationship with Masaru.

It wasn't all bad I suppose. Did get some laughs that Masaru really did share Faceless' approach to romance to a small degree. He also believed in 'first come, first serve.' Although certainly he did respect the concept of Shirogane having her own interests. And hey...the world was saved which was nice.

Honestly, I think the show kind of started to tumble as soon as Narumi lost his arm (which was hilariously preserved for no reason) and separated from the group. The pacing, story focus, treatment of main characters (particularly Shirogane), all just went into a messed up state. I'm sure if it was a better adaptation that didn't cut so much it would have been better. But I think the core story has so many flaws that it wasn't ever going to be a great show.

I'd second on not recommending this one to anyone.

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for final thoughts:

You know, just for the ending alone, I'm willing to give it a 9/10.
So was it symbolic or was the entire show truly just a circus show?
So yeah, that was cool. Also the only time you get to see everyone happy and holding hands with each other.
You can't get this type of emotional scene with those anime adaptions of incomplete material, that's for sure.


That said, there were a number of problems with the anime.
For one, it was, again, just like with Ushio and Tora, rushed. They clearly needed more episodes, yet they only got 3-cour. As a result, they skipped stuff... yet seemed to animate other parts that rely on the skipped part. I haven't read the manga and can still tell.
Also, another problem were a number of "Let's kill the character, surely that will make the story more emotional". Of course, there were some deaths that were really well done. But it isn't easy to ignore the ones that felt pointlessly added in.

Still, I can tell that the original manga must have been awesome.
In summary, this anime had the same problems as Ushio and Tora, fundamentally.


Oh, and BUMP's OP is very awesome. So awesome that there was no way any other OP afterwards could beat it.