History Manga / MrArashisAmazingFreakShow

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes that if she makes enough money, she can perhaps 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.

Based on the iconic ''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.

''Shōjo Tsubaki'' (少女椿), also known as ''Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show'', is Creator/SuehiroMaruo's most famous manga, and 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.

''Shōjo Tsubaki'' (少女椿), also known as ''Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show'', is Creator/SuehiroMaruo's most famous manga, and the work that has cemented his reputation in the west. A crude but very faithful animated adaptation has been made through the effort of one single person: Hiroshi Harada. 2016 saw to a live-action movie adaption of the story, combining real-life footage with the grotesque and surreal designs of the original manga and cartoon.

* FlowerMotifs: The original Japanese title "Carmelia Girl" comes from a Japanese kamishibai play, where a young flower seller ends up singing in a revue show to pay her father's debt.

* PublicDomainCharacter: The story is actually just one of many variations of the stock character of "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shojo_tsubaki The Carmelia Girl]]". This version happens to be the most famous one outside of Japan.

* TwentiesBobHaircut: Midori has one typical of school girls at the time

* AdaptationNameChange: More like, addition of names. In the 2016 live action film, Midori says her last name is Hanamura.
** Also, the snake woman is revealed to be named Benitsu, and the strong man is called Akaza.
* 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.

* BerserkButton: Matsumitsu goes berserk when the audience calls him small [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist (remind you of anyone?)]], leading directly to the most visceral and horrifying scene of the movie.
* BloodSplatteredInnocents: The notorious chicken scene.

* CircusOfFear: Especially when the Matsumitsu is angry...
* DarkerAndEdgier: The original kamishibai play is nowhere near this dark and depressing. For example, this Midori is sexually abused on stage, while in the original story, she sings kitschy sentimental songs.

* 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.]]
** [[spoiler: The song over the end credits imply that [[DrivenToSuicide Midori committed suicide afterwards.]]]]
* EyeScream: This is by Creator/SuehiroMaruo, after all.

* 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.]] Um... the end? I guess?

* GossipyHens: A particularly cruel version in Midori's old neighborhood, [[SlutShaming who have nothing nice to say about Midori's mother,]] and generally not caring her child is an orphan now.
* 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.

* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler: After Mr. Arashi abandons the freak show, Kanabun cuts his hair short. So short in fact that Matsumitsu doesn't recognize him. In the live action film, he only cuts of the ponytail, leaving the front intact.]]
* InnocentFlowerGirl: Midori sold paper flowers (the titular camellias) so she and her sick mother can get by. That being said, she is implied to give sexual favors in the original manga, but these hints were removed in the anime and live action films.

* KickTheDog: Literally: not only kicked, but stepped on and [[EatTheDog cooked]]. Eww.
* 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]].
* LighterAndSofter: The 2016 movie; justified as it is meant for a more mainstream audience than the source material. Midori isn't fetishised on stage, seems to be just their chore girl and is (mostly) left alone or ignored, the puppy stomping isn't shown on camera, and [[spoiler: Midori gets to be an actress like she wanted.]]

* 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.]]
* SocialServicesDoesNotExist: Not in the 1930s, they didn't, otherwise the plot wouldn't have happened.

* YankTheDogsChain: The reason for the DownerEnding.

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes that if she makes enough money, she can perhaps 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}} ...]] Well, what kind of story you think you're reading, my friend?

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

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes that if she makes enough money, she can perhaps 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 Matsumitsu comes along and takes Midori under his wings. Will Midori at last find true love and happiness? [[{{Beat}} ...]] Well, what kind of story you think you're reading, my friend?

* AdaptationNameChange: In the 2016 live action film, Midori says her last name is Hanamura.
** Also, two of the freaks, the snake woman and the strong man, are named Benitsu and Akaza.

** Special mention to Matsumitsu (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and 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, the mummy man 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.

* BerserkButton: Matsumitsu goes berserk when the audience calls him small [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist (remind you of anyone?)]], leading directly to the most visceral and horrifying scenes of the movie.

** Also, Matsumitsu getting angry and deforming everyone, several of them [[YourHeadAsplode exploded with blood]].

** [[spoiler: The song over the end credits imply that Midori commits suicide afterwards.]]

* EthicalSlut: The snake woman, Benitsu, ReallyGetsAround, but she draws the line at involving Midori, who is 12 (14 in the live-action film).

* 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.]] Um... The end? I guess?

* TheIngenue: Midori fills this role, still being kind and idealistic after all the freaks abuse.
* ImportantHaircut: After [[spoiler:Mr. Arashi abandons the freak show, Kanabun cuts his hair short. So short infact the midget doesn't recognize him. In the live action film, he only cuts of the ponytail, leaving the front in tact.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Snake Woman, Benitsu, is cruel to Midori, but when other members want to lay hands on Midori, she makes sure they keep their hands off. Indeed, most people in the troupe are not irredeemably evil; their hearts are merely hardened by the harsh circumstances.
* KickTheDog: Literally: not only kicked, but stepped on and [[EatTheDog cooked]].
* LaserGuidedKarma: The mummy man in the live-action film, since he [[spoiler: is the only one who rapes Midori in this version, and he is killed by Matsumitsu like in the manga]].

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Midori and Benitsu the Snake Woman. While Midori is timid, idealistic and her sexual experiences were [[RapeAsDrama forced upon her]], Benitsu ReallyGetsAround, is often topless, and generally has a cynical bitchy attitude.
* MasterOfIllusion: Matsumitsu is this. He can use it for awesome things, or for a gigantic MindScrew.

* RapeAsDrama: Midori was raped several times by the mummy man before Matsumitsu showed up.

* RetroUniverse: The live action film. One example, despite being set in the Showa era (1926-1989), the freaks main mode of transportation is a modern van instead of a cart like in the original manga, among other things.

* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: Benitsu the snake woman tries this with Mr. Arashi to get more money out of him... [[IncompatibleOrientation but it doesn't work]].

* VomitIndiscretionShot

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes that if she makes enough money, she can perhaps 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 comes along and takes Midori under his wings. Will Midori at last find true love and happiness? ... Well, what kind of story you think you're reading, my friend?

** Special mention to the midget (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and the mummy man, played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Daichi_Saeki Daichi Saeki]], who's attractiveness wasn't hidden by the makeup job and bandages.

** The midget'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 the midget. [[spoiler:Which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, the midget takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper camellias.]]
* BerserkButton: The midget illusionist goes berserk when the audience calls him small, leading directly to one of the most violent and horrific scenes of the movie.

** Also the midget getting angry and deforming everyone, several of them [[YourHeadAsplode exploded with blood]].

* CircusOfFear: Especially when the midget illusionist is angry...

* DefiledForever: Midori herself believes this when she tells the midget, "I'd marry you, but I'm not a virgin anymore." For all things considered, the midget doesn't seem to mind this. This is omitted in the live-action film.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Midori and the midget 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 the midget, but when she cannot find him, believing he abandoned her. She then has a vision of the members of the freak show and the midget 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 End.]]

* EthicalSlut: The snake woman ReallyGetsAround, but she draws the line at involving Midori, who is 12 (14 in the live-action film).

* GainaxEnding: [[spoiler:The 2016 film ends with Midori asking the midget to give her his powers, which he agrees, but he drops dead in front of her before this can happen. She begins to hallucinate 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.]] Um... The end? I guess?

* HopeSpot: There are two: the first is when a talent scout seeks out Midori; the second when she and the midget leave the freak show for good.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Snake Woman is cruel to Midori, but when other members want to lay hands on Midori, she makes sure they keep their hands off. Indeed, most people in the troupe are not irredeemably evil; their hearts are merely hardened by the harsh circumstances.

* LaserGuidedKarma: The mummy man in the live-action film, since he [[spoiler: is the only one who rapes Midori in this version, and he is killed by the midget like in the manga]].

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Midori and the snake woman. While Midori is timid, idealistic and her sexual experiences were [[RapeAsDrama forced upon her]], the snake woman ReallyGetsAround, is often topless, and generally has a cynical bitchy attitude.
* MasterOfIllusion: Masamitsu the midget.

* PetTheDog: Everyone has their kinder moments in the 2016 film

* RapeAsDrama

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

* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: The snake woman tries this with Mr. Arashi to get more money out of him... [[IncompatibleOrientation It doesn't work]]...

* 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 the midget. [[spoiler: which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, the midget takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper camellias.]]

* DefiledForever: Midori herself believes this when she tells the midget "I'd marry you, but I'm not a virgin anymore." For all things considered, the midget doesn't seem to mind this. This is omitted in the live-action film.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Midori and the midget leave the freak show for good. But he is later stabbed to death by some street punk when he went looking for food. An anguished Midori searches for the midget, but when she cannot find him, she believes he abandoned her. She then has a vision of the members of the freak show and the midget 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 completely alone and despairing, crying all alone. The End.]]
** [[spoiler: The lyrics of the credits song imply that Midori commits suicide afterwards.]]

* GainaxEnding: [[spoiler: the 2016 film ends with Midori asking the midget to give her his powers, which he agrees, but he drops dead in front of her before this can happen. She begins to hallucinate 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.]] Um... The end? I guess?

* ImportantHaircut: After [[spoiler: Mr. Arashi abandons the freak show, Kanabun cuts his hair short. So short infact the midget doesn't recognize him. In the live action film, he only cuts of the ponytail, leaving the front in tact.]]

* 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 the midget. [[spoiler: which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, the midget takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper camellias.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: The original kamishibai play is nowhere near this dark and depressing. For example, this Midori is sexually abused on stage, while in the original story, she sings kitschy sentimental songs. On top of that, the ending is much happier.

* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: The snake woman tries this with Mr. Arashi to get more money... [[IncompatibleOrientation It doesn't work]]...

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In Japan, the manga is known as ''Shojo Tsubaki'', roughly translated as "The Camellia Girl". When the manga was translated for US markets, it was changed to ''Mr Arashi's Amazing Freak Show''.

* 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. [[spoiler: which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, the midget takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper camellias.]]

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Midori ''almost'' qualifies, if not for the thing she does to Mr. Arashi, though she still has the motifs down.

* SocialServicesDoesNotExist: Not in the 1920s, they didn't, otherwise the plot wouldn't have happened.

* LighterAndSofter: The 2016 movie; justified as it is meant for a more mainstream audience than the source material. Midori isn't abused constantly (or fetishised on stage) and seems to be just their chore girl and is (mostly) left alone, the puppy stomping isn't shown on camera, and [[spoiler: Midori gets to be an actress like she wanted.]]

* TwentiesBobHaircut: Midori has one typical of school girls at the time

* BreakTheCutie

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Midori and the midget leave the freak show for good. But he is later stabbed to death by the hermaphrodite (who had walked away from the troupe while the other members were waving Midori goodbye) when he went looking for food. An anguished Midori searches for the midget, but when she cannot find him, she believes he abandoned her. She then has a vision of the members of the freak show and the midget 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 completely alone and despairing, crying all alone. The End.]]

* ImportantHaircut: After [[Mr. Arashi abandons the freak show, Kanabun cuts his hair short. So short infarct the midget doesn't recognize him. In the live action film, her only cuts of the ponytail, leaving the front in tact.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Snake Woman is cruel to Midori, but when other members want to lay hands on Midori, she stands out for her. Indeed, most people in the troupe are not irredeemably evil; their hearts are merely hardened by the harsh circumstances.

Midori, a little girl from a run-down family, sells paper flowers in the streets. She wishes that if she makes enough money, she can perhaps 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, brutalised, and forced to perform fetishistic acts on stage, until a midget illusionist comes along and takes Midori under his wings. Will Midori at last find true love and happiness? ... Well, what kind of story you think you're reading, my friend?

** Special mention to the midget (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and the mummy man, played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Daichi_Saeki Daichi Saeki]], who's attractiveness wasn't hidden by the makeup job.
* 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. [[spoiler: which makes him running off at the end with all the money all the more shocking. In the live-action version, the midget takes the money when he isn't looking, replacing them with paper carmelias.]]

* LighterAndSofter: The 2016 movie; justified as it is meant for a more mainstream audience than the source material. Midori isn't abused constantly (or fetishised on stage) and seems to be just their chore girl and is mostly left alone, the puppy stomping isn't shown on camera, and [[spoiler: Midori gets to be an actress like she wanted.]]

* RetroUniverse: The live action film. One example, despite being set in the Showa era (1926-1989), the freaks main mode of transportation is a modern van, among other things.

* StraightGay: Mr. Arashi himself. He is in a relationship with Kanabun, the hermaphrodite, but other than this, his sexuality is never brought up.
** While he does fetishise Midori on stage, he leaves her alone off stage, more than likely this is for the show.

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Midori ''almost'' qualifies, if not for the thing she does to Mr. Arashi, though she still has the motifs.

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Midori and the snake woman. While Midori is timid and her sexual experiences were [[RapeAsDrama forced upon her]], the snake woman ReallyGetsAround, and is often topless, on top of having a bitchier attitude.

** He does fetishise Midori on stage, but leaves her alone off stage. Assumingly, this is for the show.

* EthicalSlut: The snake woman ReallyGetsAround, but she draws the line at involving children.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Justified, since the original was meant to look grotesque, with special mention to the midget (who is played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Shunsuke_Kazama Shunsuke Kazama]]) and the mummy man, played by [[http://asianwiki.com/Daichi_Saeki Daichi Saeki]], who's attractiveness wasn't hidden by the makeup job.
* 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.

* GainaxEnding: [[spoiler: the 2016 film ends with Midori asking the midget to give her his powers, which he agrees, but he drops dead in front of her before this can happen. She begins to hallucinate 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 "Weird!" alone in a white room. Midori then uses her new powers, apparently from the midget, to end the movie.]] Um... The end? I guess?

* {{Hermaphrodite}}: The boy-girl,Kanbun, one of the members of the troupe.

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Midori ''almost'' qualifies, if not for the thing she does to Mr. Arashi.

* PetTheDog: Everyone has their kinder moments in the 2016 film, especially the Snake Woman,[[spoiler: even going so far as to say Midori is beautiful near the end of the film.]]

* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: The snake woman tries this with Mr. Arashi to get more money... [[StraightGay It doesn't work]].

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Justified, since the original was meant to look grotesque, with special mention to the midget (who is played by Shunsuke Kazama) and the mummy man, who, while still covered in bandages and burns, is still pretty sexy.