History Manga / MrArashisAmazingFreakShow

* KickTheDog: Literally: not only kicked, but stepped on and [[EatTheDog cooked]].

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: If taken at face value, the live-action film's conclusion is the most positive outcome for Midori. Even though Masamitsu dies, and undergoes a brief moment of despair by hallucinating the freaks laughing at her (like in the manga) and loses her memories in the process, she ''does'' immediately get her bearings back and as implied by the last shot of the film, successfully receives the dwarf's powers after she grows tired of the celebrity lifestyle she once dreamed of. All in all, Midori ends up getting everything she wants.]]

* AdaptationalAngstDowngrade: How [[spoiler:Masamitsu]] dies in the manga and anime is different to how it happens in live action. In the manga and anime, [[spoiler:he is stabbed by a mugger]]. In the live action movie, [[spoiler:he dies from exhaustion after giving all his magic power to Midori]]. Both deaths are painful, but at least in the latter version [[spoiler:Minamitsu]] dies on his own terms.

* AdaptationalAngstDowngrade: How [[spoiler:Minamitsu]] dies in the manga and anime is different to how it happens in live action. In the manga and anime, [[spoiler:he is stabbed by a mugger]]. In the live action movie, [[spoiler:he dies from exhaustion after giving all his magic power to Midori]]. Both deaths are painful, but at least in the latter version [[spoiler:Minamitsu]] dies on his own terms.

* AdaptationalAngstDowngrade: How [[spoiler:Minamitsu]] died in the manga and anime is different to how it happens in live action. In the manga and anime, [[spoiler:he is stabbed by a mugger]]. In the live action movie, [[spoiler:he dies from exhaustion after giving all his magic power to Midori]]. Both deaths are painful, but at least in the latter version [[spoiler:Minamitsu]] dies on his own terms.

Based on the iconic 1930s ''Kamishibai'' story of the same name, ''Shōjo Tsubaki'' (少女椿), also known as ''Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show'', is Creator/SuehiroMaruo's most famous manga. First published in 1984, it is the work that has cemented his reputation in the west. A crude but very faithful animated adaptation was released in 1992, made over the course of five years through the efforts of one single person: Hiroshi Harada. The film was a heavy subject of censorship in Japan as a result of its graphic content and explicit depictions of child molestation and animal abuse, to the point where the master reels were outright confiscated by the Japanese government. They were eventually recovered in 2013, and a new print and digital transfer was made for new screenings, with a Blu-ray release of this transfer being planned for 2020. A second film adaption of the story was released in 2016, combining live-action footage with the grotesque and surreal designs of the original manga and cartoon.

* TwentiesBobHaircut: Midori has one typical of schoolgirls at the time.

* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: The manga version story ends with [[spoiler:Midori crying all alone in a void of pure white with no one to help her]]. While it is already depressing enough, the OVA adaptation takes it to the next level by adding an ending poetry which heavily implies that [[spoiler:Midori commits suicide by hanging herself and breaking her own neck]].

* HateSink: Muchisute, was very hatable since of his rapist on Midori. He has no redeeming qualities except for his tragic past.

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes to earn enough money, so she can join her classmates in the school picnic. Late one night, she returns home to find her ailing mother dead -- what's more, [[{{Squick}} rats are gnawing at her private parts.]] With no one to turn to, she tries the address one customer gave her -- and comes to a seedy [[TheFreakshow freak show]] run by a money-hungry Mr. Arashi. Midori is degraded, brutalized, and forced to perform fetishistic acts on stage, until a midget illusionist named Wonder Matsumitsu comes along and takes Midori under his wings. Will Midori at last find true love and happiness? [[{{Beat}} ...]] Nope, not in this kind of story.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Justified, since the original was meant to look grotesque while the live-action film is meant for a more mainstream audience. Special mention to Matsumitsu (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and Muchisute the Mummy Man, played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Daichi_Saeki Daichi Saeki]], whose attractiveness wasn't hidden by the makeup job and bandages.

** Matsumitsu's reasons for police being after him are changed too.

* BenevolentBoss: Mr. Arashi is this on a good day. He did let Midori have a day off when she was sick, and does pay the freaks well when they actually make money, though it does take goading from Matsumitsu. [[spoiler:Which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, Matsumitsu takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper camellias.]]
* BerserkButton: Matsumitsu goes berserk when the audience calls him small, leading directly to the most visceral and horrifying scene of the movie.

** Also, Matsumitsu getting angry and [[MindScrew causing everyone to hallucinate themselves being deformed]], several of them [[YourHeadAsplode exploded with blood]].

* DefiledForever: Midori herself believes this when she tells Matsumitsu, "I'd marry you, but I'm not a virgin anymore." For all things considered, Matsumitsu doesn't seem to mind this. This is omitted in the live-action film.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Midori and Matsumitsu leave the freak show for good. But he is later stabbed to death by some street punk when he goes looking for food. An anguished Midori searches for Matsumitsu, but when she cannot find him, she believes he has abandoned her. She then has a vision of the members of the freak show and Matsumitsu laughing at her. This proves to be the last straw for her and she has a vision of herself killing them. She is then left in despair, crying all alone. The song over the end credits imply that [[DrivenToSuicide Midori committed suicide afterwards.]]]]

* GainaxEnding: [[spoiler:The 2016 film ends with Midori asking Matsumitsu to give her his powers, which he agrees, but he drops dead in front of her before this can happen. She begins to hallucinate about the freaks laughing at her and her attacking them like the source material, but the stick phases through them and memories leave her body in bubbles before she exclaims alone in a white room. Midori then uses her new powers, apparently from the midget, to end the movie.]]

* HopeSpot: There are two: the first is when a talent scout seeks out Midori, but Masamitsu's possessive behavior and jealousy precludes her from going along after tearing the business card; the second when she and Matsumitsu leave the freak show for good, [[spoiler: only for the dwarf to be stabbed by a street punk after buying food.]]

* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler: After Mr. Arashi abandons the freak show, Kanabun cuts his hair so short that Matsumitsu doesn't recognize him. In the live action film, he only cuts of the ponytail, leaving the front intact.]]

* LaserGuidedKarma: Muchisute gets this in the live-action film, since he [[spoiler:is the only one who raped Midori in this version, and he is killed by Matsumitsu like in the manga]].

* MasterOfIllusion: Matsumitsu is this. He can use it for awesome tricks, or for [[MindScrew making people pay for making him angry]].

* RapeAsDrama: Midori was raped several times by Muchisute before Matsumitsu showed up.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:After Matsumitsu makes everyone hallucinate about becoming deformed, Mr. Arashi decides the freak show isn't worth it and takes the money and runs off. In the live-action film, Matsumitsu catches on and replaces the money in the bag with paper camellias.]]

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Justified, since the original was meant to look grotesque while the live-action film is meant for a more mainstream audience. Special mention to Matsumitsu (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and Muchisuke the Mummy Man, played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Daichi_Saeki Daichi Saeki]], whose attractiveness wasn't hidden by the makeup job and bandages.
* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: In the live-action film, Muchisuke was burned and lost his arms in a fire, whereas in the original manga he has leprosy. Assumingly, this is due to Japan's uncomfortable history with victims of leprosy.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Muchisuke gets this in the live-action film, since he [[spoiler:is the only one who raped Midori in this version, and he is killed by Matsumitsu like in the manga]].

* RapeAsDrama: Midori was raped several times by Muchisuke before Matsumitsu showed up.

* LovingBully: Muchisute is a ''really'' dark variation. He later admits to Midori that he violated her because he's in love with her.

* StraightGay: Implied with Mr. Arashi when he rejects Benitsu's advances, and the only person he's interacted with is Kanabun, the boy-girl. This is heavily confirmed in the live action film.

%%ZCE* EyeScream: This is by Creator/SuehiroMaruo, after all. (Describe the scene involving the Eye Scream.)

%%ZCE* YankTheDogsChain: The reason for the DownerEnding.

%%ZCE* CircusOfFear: Especially when the Matsumitsu is angry... (Explain what about this circus is scary.)

%%* HappierHomeMovie: One that Midori can actually enter and interact with.

%%* HopeSpot: There are two: the first is when a talent scout seeks out Midori; the second when she and Matsumitsu leave the freak show for good. (What ruins the moment?)

* {{AdaptionalJerkass}} : The whole group sans Kanabun towards Midori in the OVA after the infamous puppy scene. In the original they were unaware that the [[spoiler: dog meat they were eating was Midori's puppies and assumed she was crying because she was finally eating meat. In the OVA they weren't only aware, but also mocked her for feeding her well enough to be tasty.]]

Based on the iconic 1930's ''Kamishibai'' story of the same name, ''Shōjo Tsubaki'' (少女椿), also known as ''Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show'', is Creator/SuehiroMaruo's most famous manga. First published in 1984, it is the work that has cemented his reputation in the west. A crude but very faithful animated adaptation was released in 1992, made over the course of five years through the efforts of one single person: Hiroshi Harada. The film was a heavy subject of censorship in Japan as a result of its graphic content and explicit depictions of child molestation and animal abuse, to the point where the master reels were outright confiscated by the Japanese government. They were eventually recovered in 2013, and a new print and digital transfer was made for new screenings, with a Blu-ray release of this transfer being planned for 2020. A second film adaption of the story was released in 2016, combining live-action footage with the grotesque and surreal designs of the original manga and cartoon.