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Karakuri Circus

TV·2018–2019·1 season, 36 episodes·Tokyo MX·Action & Adventure, Mystery, Crime·24m·8.2·Created by Kazuhiro Fujita

Streaming on (US) Amazon Prime VideoHidive Amazon ChannelSee all

Narumi Katou is a middle-aged man who suffers from the bizarre ZONAPHA Syndrome: a rare and inexplicable disease that causes its victims to endure severe seizures at random, with the only cure being to watch someone laugh. One day, during Narumi's part time job, a young boy with a giant suitcase fleeing from three adults runs into him. The boy introduces himself as Masaru Saiga, the new owner of the famous Saiga Enterprises following his father's recent death. However, other members of his family are trying to assassinate him and claim the fortune for themselves.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Karakuri Circus S01E04Swirling TigerS01E04 · 10.0Ashihana declines Masaru’s offer until a diary reveals the Slaughter Team’s exploitation by the Saiga. Using Grimaldi, Ashihana re-enters the villa. Yamanaka traps Narumi and Shirogane, and Masaru agrees to be Zenji’s son, but attacks him when Zenji plans to kill them. Shirogane shares her tragic childhood with Narumi. Masaru and Ashihana use Grimaldi to free them, but Yamanaka attacks again. Masaru controls Harlequin, shifting the battle until explosives destroy the villa. Masaru, Narumi, and Shirogane survive, but only Narumi’s left arm remains.
  2. 02Karakuri Circus S01E05Circus - DepartureS01E05 · 10.0Two months later, Masaru recovers and lives with Shirogane, who enrolls in a nearby high school to protect him from bullies. Masaru shrugs off their taunts, showing his scars. Shinobu Nakamachi faces eviction while rebuilding a circus. At school, Masaru gains acceptance, and Shirogane’s acrobatic talents make her popular. Masaru takes Shirogane to meet Nakamachi, convincing her to join his circus with Nori, Hiro, and animal handler Liselotte. Meanwhile, Narumi lies unconscious in intensive care, missing his left arm.
  3. 03Karakuri Circus S01E06HellS01E06 · 10.0Narumi awakens in an Illinois hospital with amnesia and a prosthetic arm, saved by Guy Christophe Resh. The hospital, run by Dr. Banhart, houses 2,000 children with Zonapha syndrome, where staff smile to prevent attacks. Narumi learns terminal Zonapha patients linger between life and death. Resh reveals the Midnight Circus uses automata to spread Zonapha and asks Narumi to become a Shirogane. The last Aqua Vitae healed Narumi. When Paulmann and Anselmus attack the school, Resh uses his Karakuri Olympia, and Narumi helps defeat them.

Castfull cast & details

Chihiro UedaChihiro UedaMasaru SaigaRikiya KoyamaRikiya KoyamaNarumi KatouMegumi HayashibaraMegumi HayashibaraShirogane SaigazakiRomi ParkRomi ParkLucille BerneuilMasahiko TanakaMasahiko TanakaShōji SaigaAkio OtsukaAkio OtsukaZenji SaigaTakahiro SakuraiTakahiro SakuraiAkira AshikaNozomu SasakiNozomu SasakiChristophe Guy Lesch

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode36Episodes2018–19Aired 9.7Season avg
  1. S01E01Karakuri Circus S01E01The Curtain RisesOctober 11, 2018 8.0Narumi Katou, in a bear costume promoting the Straw Circus, encounters Masaru Saiga, who accidentally triggers Narumi’s Zonapha attack. Masa
  2. S01E02Karakuri Circus S01E02PromiseOctober 19, 2018 9.0Ashihana sends Pulcinella to attack, but Shirogane’s Harlequin easily defeats it. Ashihana’s gang captures Masaru, but Narumi rescues him, s
  3. S01E03Karakuri Circus S01E03AbyssOctober 26, 2018 9.0Masaru’s uncle, Zenji Saiga, claims to protect him but raises suspicions. Narumi and Shirogane storm the Saiga villa, clashing with the Kidn
  4. S01E04Karakuri Circus S01E04Season's bestSwirling TigerNovember 1, 2018 10.0Ashihana declines Masaru’s offer until a diary reveals the Slaughter Team’s exploitation by the Saiga. Using Grimaldi, Ashihana re-enters th
  5. S01E05Karakuri Circus S01E05Circus - DepartureNovember 8, 2018 10.0Two months later, Masaru recovers and lives with Shirogane, who enrolls in a nearby high school to protect him from bullies. Masaru shrugs o
  6. S01E06Karakuri Circus S01E06HellNovember 15, 2018 10.0Narumi awakens in an Illinois hospital with amnesia and a prosthetic arm, saved by Guy Christophe Resh. The hospital, run by Dr. Banhart, ho
  7. S01E07Karakuri Circus S01E07DemonicNovember 22, 2018 10.0Paulmann and Anselmus injure Narumi, but his Aqua Vitae-enhanced healing allows him to destroy them. Narumi agrees to become a Shirogane to
  8. S01E08Karakuri Circus S01E08Moment's beginning, moment's endNovember 29, 2018 10.0Shirogane enters a beauty contest for the Nakamachi Circus’s publicity. Masaru convinces Lise to perform, while Shirogane recalls Narumi. In
  9. S01E09Karakuri Circus S01E09MemoriesDecember 6, 2018 10.0After the crash, Shirogane rescues Guy and shares her past with him and Narumi. Masaru, haunted by dreams, searches for Narumi. In China’s m
  10. S01E10Karakuri Circus S01E10FrancineDecember 13, 2018 10.0Narumi recounts Yin’s memories: Jin abducted Francine after she chose Yin. Years later, Yin found Francine imprisoned in Quiberon, dying fro
  11. S01E11Karakuri Circus S01E11FanfareDecember 20, 2018 10.0In Maine, Shirogane-Os prepare to attack the Midnight Circus in the Sahara. Narumi, Lucille, and Ming-Xia join them, meeting George Laroche
  12. S01E12Karakuri Circus S01E12The faceless commanderDecember 27, 2018 10.0Fatima and Ming-Xia receive treatment, while Narumi, Rockenfield, Malina, and Tor face deadly traps in the Midnight Circus. They split into
  13. S01E13Karakuri Circus S01E13LucilleJanuary 10, 2019 9.0Tor, Timbavati, Rockenfield, and Malina battle the Quatre Pionniers. A weakened Narumi struggles to reach Doll Francine. Lucille arrives wit
  14. S01E14Karakuri Circus S01E14By the Sea, in the Dead of NightJanuary 17, 2019 9.0Pantalone and Arlecchino destroy the Francine marionette and George. A Shirogane doctor dies saving Narumi. Fatima’s Spinettina fails agains
  15. S01E15Karakuri Circus S01E15Back to the Starting PointJanuary 24, 2019 10.0At the Saiga ruins, Masaru receives a letter and keys from Sadayoshi, revealing he’s his father reborn. Kuroga puppeteers attack with Shoget
  16. S01E16Karakuri Circus S01E16EncounterFebruary 7, 2019 10.0Shōji forces Masaru to drink his blood, triggering memories of Shōji’s past at Miura Dojo and meeting Angelina (Tohno-dayu), who wielded Arl
  17. S01E17Karakuri Circus S01E17VisitorFebruary 14, 2019 10.0Shōji reveals Sadayoshi was adopted, not his biological son. Guy shares his Zonapha infection and transformation into a Shirogane. Angelina
  18. S01E18Karakuri Circus S01E18A SmileFebruary 21, 2019 10.0Shōji names his daughter Éléonore. Her birth affects Guy and Francine, who feels incomplete without a vital gear. Automata attack for the So
  19. S01E19Karakuri Circus S01E19The Truth Behind the ShadowFebruary 28, 2019 10.0Guy insists Masaru is Sadayoshi. Masaru denies it, encountering Éléonore but falling unconscious after Guy’s attack. Shōji’s memories reveal
  20. S01E20Karakuri Circus S01E20Black SunMarch 7, 2019 10.0Masaru recalls Sadayoshi downloading memories into him during a car crash, where Shōji and Guy intervened. At Karuizawa, Daiki, the Faceless
  21. S01E21Karakuri Circus S01E21Silver GoddessMarch 14, 2019 9.0Masaru mourns Shōji as villagers succumb to Zonapha. The Faceless Commander, Deus, unleashes Artemis, composed of Apollyon bugs. Masaru and
  22. S01E22Karakuri Circus S01E22Head to Harry!!March 21, 2019 10.0Ming-Xia defeats Gambler Jones to save Tom. George calms children with music but faces Bola Misteriosa. Ashihana challenges Pantalone, who s
  23. S01E23Karakuri Circus S01E23The Demon's ReturnMarch 28, 2019 10.0Ashihana uses George’s Shirogane blood to fight Pantalone, who spares him. George defeats Bola Misteriosa but dies. Narumi destroys automata
  24. S01E24Karakuri Circus S01E24EscapeApril 4, 2019—Narumi and Ming-Xia defeat Blom Blom Low and Drill September. Ashihana spares Pantalone, who helps Guy. The Long-legged Clown Express rescue
  25. S01E25Karakuri Circus S01E25At Mont Saint-MichelApril 11, 2019—Masaru and Lise crash on Mont Saint-Michel. Aboard Faceless’s airship, Éléonore meets automata like Captain Graziano. On the island, Dr. Lao
  26. S01E26Karakuri Circus S01E26Animal ShowApril 18, 2019—Lise tames Dr. Lao’s beasts, killing him. Faceless beats Éléonore to possess Masaru. Colombine shows Masaru the Shirogane-O’s bodies. Naya a
  27. S01E27Karakuri Circus S01E27DownloadApril 25, 2019—Masaru fights Faceless’s automata with Harlequin. Lise and Colombine battle to stop Faceless’s rocket. Faceless tries to transfer his consci
  28. S01E28Karakuri Circus S01E28Pig-chan Was GoneMay 2, 2019—Masaru resists Faceless’s control, using Éléonore’s blood. Colombine fights Diamantina’s teddy bears. Masaru frees Éléonore, leaving Faceles
  29. S01E29Karakuri Circus S01E29What Shirogane DidMay 9, 2019—Éléonore proves her loyalty by sharing Aqua Vitae with Zonapha sufferers. Faceless threatens to kill humanity with Apollyon. Fou plans to se
  30. S01E30Karakuri Circus S01E30PietaMay 16, 2019—Guy challenges Narumi over Éléonore but is dying. Masaru learns Narumi is alive and searches for him. The Nakamachi Circus heads to the laun
  31. S01E31Karakuri Circus S01E31Black MeteorMay 23, 2019—Vilma equips the Nakamachi Circus with Éléonore’s blood-tinted knives. Automata attack the train, and Vilma dies fighting Wild West Jane. Ma
  32. S01E32Karakuri Circus S01E32ValedictionMay 30, 2019—Shinobu consoles Masaru, revealing Éléonore’s sacrifices. The Nakamachi Trio prepares to fight Lady Spider and Captain Graziano. Arlequino a
  33. S01E33Karakuri Circus S01E33The Nakamachi Trio vs Lady SpiderJune 6, 2019—The Nakamachi Trio distracts Lady Spider with circus tricks, killing her with Vilma’s knife. Arlequino and Pantalone fight Bringhella and Ha
  34. S01E34Karakuri Circus S01E34RearguardJune 13, 2019—Éléonore fights Harlequin to protect Narumi. Narumi defeats Bringhella. Masaru beats Captain Graziano. At the launch pad, Narumi and Masaru
  35. S01E35Karakuri Circus S01E35EmbraceJune 20, 2019—Masaru blinds Narumi to take his place in the shuttle. Narumi and Éléonore defeat Harlequin and declare their love. Ashihana dies stopping P
  36. S01E36Karakuri Circus S01E36The Curtain FallsJune 27, 2019—Faceless refuses Masaru’s plea for the Zonapha cure. Diamantina destroys Francine automata but is dismantled. Faceless helps redirect the cr

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