Anime "Karakuri Circus" to air in October 2018! Comments from Chihiro Ueda, Rikiya Koyama, Megumi Hayashibara, Takahiro Sakurai, and Nozomu Sasaki have arrived!

The TV anime broadcast of Kazuhiro Fujita's popular manga "Karakuri Circus" has been set for October 2018, and the five main cast members, the first key visual, and the first PV have been released. In addition, comments from the main cast and staff have arrived.

Karakuri Circus" is a popular manga series by Kazuhiro Fujita that was serialized in "Shukan Shōnen Sunday" (published by Shogakukan) from 1997 to 2006, with a total circulation of 15 million copies. It depicts the strange fates of Narumi Kato, a young kenpoist who fights to protect Masaru Saiga, a boy targeted by his relatives after inheriting a huge inheritance, and Shirogane, a female puppeteer.
⇒Autumn 2018 Anime

The TV anime will be broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11 from October 2018, and its splendid main staff and cast members have been revealed.

The main character "Masaru Saiga" will be played by Chihiro Ueda, a promising new star, as a result of an audition of over 2,500 people!
Rikiya Koyama will play "Narumi Kato" and Megumi Hayashibara will play "Shirogane.

The production staff includes Satoshi Nishimura as director, Takahiro Yoshimatsu as character designer, and Yuki Hayashi as music composer.
It was also announced that Toshiki Inoue and Kazuhiro Fujita, the author of the original story, will be in charge of the series composition.

In addition, the first key visual, which opens the stage play by Katsu, Narumi, and Shirogane, has been unveiled, and the first PV, which is full of powerful action scenes using animation produced by Studio Volun, has been released. The first PV is full of powerful action scenes, including Shirogane flying in the air, Arurukan moving dynamically, and Narumi's Chinese martial arts.

In addition, to commemorate the renewal of the official anime website, a campaign to win a poster autographed by the cast is currently underway on the official Twitter page.
Five winners will be chosen by lottery from among those who participate in the campaign, and will receive a poster signed by Chihiro Ueda, Rikiya Koyama, and Megumi Hayashibara, who are the main cast members announced this time.
To participate, simply follow the official Twitter and retweet the corresponding tweet.
Don't forget that the campaign ends at 23:59 on August 8!

Lastly, here are the character introductions and comments from the cast and staff.

Main Characters】 ※Titles omitted
Masaru Saiga (CV. Chihiro Ueda)

A fifth grader. He is timid and whiny, but kind and considerate of others.
He inherited a huge amount of money from his father, who was the president of a major company, Saiga Co.
He inherited a huge inheritance from his father, who was the president of a major company, Saiga, and is now being hunted for his life.

Narumi Kato (CV. Rikiya Koyama)

He is 18 years old. He is a spirited young man who cannot leave anyone in need.
He is a master of Chinese kenpo and an expert in the art of bodybuilding.
He suffers from "Zonaha Disease," which causes him to have difficulty breathing unless he makes people laugh.

Saiga Shirogane (CV. Hayashibara Megumi)

Saiga Shirogane is a girl who manipulates a marionette puppet called "Arurukan.
She has a promise to Masaru's grandfather, and her first priority is to protect him.
She is indifferent and never smiles, but she treats Katsu with love.

Eira Ashika (CV. Takahiro Sakurai)
He is an assassin from Kuroga Village, which thrived in the old days as a puppet manipulator.
He is loyal to his paymasters, and will accept any kind of money offered to him.

Guy Christophe Lesch (CV. Nozomu Sasaki)
Legendary Shirogane, nicknamed "The 200 Doll Destroyer.
At first glance, he appears to have a cool personality, but he has an anger and passionate heart that "burns quietly like a blue flame.

Main Cast and Staff Comments】 ※Titles omitted
Chihiro Ueda as Masaru Saiga

Please tell us your impression of the character you play.
At first, when I saw Masaru's character, who is introverted, crybaby, and always looks at other people's faces, I thought, "Is he really the main character? But as the story progresses, he overcomes various ordeals and grows as a person, which is so cool that it gives me goosebumps!

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
I myself am looking forward to seeing the powerful action scenes and many famous scenes being animated!
I am also looking forward to seeing the animation of the action scenes and the importance of life. It is a work in which you can feel a lot of "feelings".
I hope you will enjoy the "Karakuri Circus" anime!

Rikiya Koyama as Narumi Kato

Please tell us your impression of the character you play.
Life is a path of truth. I can't just leave it at that. I have no other choice but to fly fat and hot. I will definitely protect him. I will protect him. I understand people's pain. I understand people's suffering. That's why their joy is my joy. It's for me. It's for my own sake. That's why I will never lose.
I have a purpose. I have a purpose in life. That's why I'm going to protect it!

─ Do you have a message for everyone who is looking forward to the broadcast?
Are you all looking forward to it? Mr. Fujita is really looking forward to it. He came to the first post recording. He gave me a strong handshake. Staff and co-stars, the best team! In 2018, we will not give up our supremacy in the Japanimation Champions League!　We will defend it!

Megumi Hayashibara as Saiga Shirogane

─ ─ Please tell us your impression of the character you play.
I can't say much because I don't want to spoil the story for those who haven't read the original story, but "Shirogane" goes to school as a high school girl in some scenes.
As the story progressed, I understood the meaning of your request to me at this time of the year. I look like a child, but I have the brains of an adult, and this and that is still a secret!　By the way, I have silver hair on the jacket of my own album released in March this year. I wonder if this is a coincidence.

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
I am very proud to hear that Mr. Kazuhiro Fujita, the author of the original work, has asked me to do this.
I think it is because of my role as the white-faced one in "Ushiooto Tora".
I was told that he "felt something was missing in my voice that could not be filled in.
I hope that the part that is not filled in will be used well in "Shirogane". Also, during the recording of the first episode, he encouraged everyone to think of it as different from the original story and to stretch out and act it out. Team Karakuri" will work as one to create a world that will resonate in the minds of the creators, readers, and newcomers to the anime. You can count on us. If you don't take it to heart, it will eat your soul!

Takahiro Sakurai as Eira Ashika

─ What is your impression of the character you are playing?
I started out thinking, "I wonder how to read his name.
I like characters with this kind of style. His slender reptilian figure, his curvy expression, and his unique way of speaking...... are irresistible.

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
I have been given a wonderful role. It is a challenging character for me. I will do my best, so please give me your support.

Nozomu Sasaki as Guy Christophe Lesch

─ What is your impression of the character you are playing?
I admire Guy because he is a unique and cool character with a very important role.
I am looking forward to seeing how he will be portrayed in the anime and how I will play the role.

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
I am very happy and honored to be able to appear in Mr. Fujita's work again.
I am also looking forward to seeing how the movements of the karakuri dolls will be directed and visualized.
I am looking forward to seeing how the movements of the karakuri dolls will be staged and visualized!

Director: Satoshi Nishimura
Please tell us your first impression of "Karakuri Circus".
It is a fascinating work with a mixture of royal road and challenge.

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
I am pleased to be directing a series of Kazuhiro Fujita's works.
Like "Ushio-Tora," I will continue to throw a fastball to the heart of the crowd every time.

Series Composition: Toshiki Inoue
Please tell us your first impression of "Karakuri Circus".
It is an intense work that depicts the beauty and ugliness of human beings to the utmost limit. And the fact that it ends up being a hymn to humanity is wonderful.

─ ─ Do you have a message for those who are looking forward to the broadcast?
Please pay attention to the way we have arranged the story for TV without losing Mr. Fujita's world view.

Character Design: Takahiro Yoshimatsu
─ What was your first impression of the work "Karakuri Circus"?
When I first read it, I was completely taken by Eleonor's beauty.
Every time I turn the page, I get a thrill from Eleonor's expressions and gestures.
Thank you, Mr. Fujita, for giving birth to her.

─ What is your first impression of the work "Karakuri Circus"?
The pictures that Mr. Fujita draws are very original, so I was worried that I would not be able to handle it.
But now, I can't help but enjoy drawing the characters of Karakuri Circus.
I can't wait to see them in action on film.

Music: Yuki Hayashi
─ What was your first impression of "Karakuri Circus"?
When I was in elementary school, I encountered "Ushio-Tora" and was fascinated by Mr. Fujita's world view.
When "Karakuri Circus" started, Iwas excited before my trip,wondering what kind of world it would take me to.
I was always looking forward to going to the bookstore to buy comics.
As I grew up, I became a composer. My job was to compose music for movies, dramas, and animations.
I was asked to do the music for "Karakuri Circus.
What... what a... ooooooh! Ya, yay~~~！！！！！！

─ ─ Do you have a message for everyone who is looking forward to the broadcast?
Your dreams will surely come true someday!

Original work information

The original comic "Karakuri Circus Complete Edition"
Volume 1 and 2 will be released around September 18 (Tuesday)!
Volume 1 and 2 will be released around September 18 (Tue.) and will be released around the 18th of every month thereafter.

Information on works】 ※Honorific titles are omitted.
TV animation "Karakuri Circus

<Story
Three encounters set the wheels of fate in motion.
Fifth-grader Masaru Saigais being hunted for his life after inheriting a huge inheritancedue to the accidental death of his father.
Then a young man, Narumi Kato, happens to meet Masaru and decides to lend a helping hand.
However, the two are pursued not by humans, but by highly skilled puppeteers.
The two are in a tight spot, andare saved by Shirogane, a silver-haired girl whosuddenly appears andmanipulatesa marionette.
Thus, the three meet in Japan andare caught up in a strange twist of fate...

<Broadcast Information
Scheduled to air on TOKYO MX, BS11, etc. from October 2018.
Exclusive distribution in Japan and overseas on Amazon Prime Video

<Staff> Original Story
Original Story: Fujita Kazuhiro (Shogakukan Shonen Sunday Comics)
Director: Satoshi Nishimura
Series Structure: Toshiki Inoue/Kazuhiro Fujita
Character Designer: Takahiro Yoshimatsu
Music: Yuuki Hayashi
Animation Production: Studio Volun
Production: Twin Engine

<Cast
Saiga Masaru: Ueda Chihiro
Narumi Kato : Rikiya Koyama
Saiga Shirogane : Megumi Hayashibara
Ashika Eira: Sakurai Takahiro
Guy Christophe Resch: Nozomu Sasaki

(C) Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan/Twin Engine