Karneval is a mysterious series. By mysterious, I don't entirely mean it being filled with clues to be solved by some detective. What I mean is how the series comes together through its plot, theme, and most importantly the characters of the mysterious 'Circus'. It spells out mystery in a variety of ways through fantasy and its elegant atmosphere. However, Karneval is one of those series that can be a hit or miss for potential viewers.
The anime series Karneval is based off the manga of the same named written by Touya Mikanagi. With 10 volumes and counting, the manga has received some attention, enough for
...
an anime adaptation. So here we are, spring 2013 and the series makes it on to the screen for the very first time.
To me, Karneval is one of those shows where a variety of things happen, some at the same time. The series has that fantasy background with majestic themes. The series focuses on a mysterious group known as the “Circus”. The way they dress seems to fit within this theme but their actions are a bit different. For a variety of reasons, this organization serves a protection force. In other words, they work to ensure that the safety of its people are guaranteed. To do things, it seems that its members relies on teamwork, magic, strategies, and even acrobat movements. It enforces the fact that its members are skilled enough for the task. Of course though, these tasks often puts its members of Circus' lives at risks. There is danger ranging from armed kidnappers to mysterious creatures. Among other factors, the members themselves sometimes has internal factors that prevents them from accomplishing tasks at their best. But at any rate, this mysterious group known as Circus is the drive force behind the series.
Two of the most prominent members associated Circus are Nai and Gareki. There is a lot of mystery going on between these two characters. For one, we learn that Nai is searching for something important. After a dangerous incident, he meets Gareki who saves his life. And here becomes their little adventure as Nai and Gareki becomes friends. On the surface, the two seems to get along but their characters' basis contrasts greatly in comparisons. Nai is portrayed as a boy who is often feels like he is a loner along with feelings of cowardliness around certain situations. We can tell by his face expressions that he is quite nervous throughout each episode. On the opposite of the coin, there's Gareki. His expressions gives off a confident, rough, and sometimes arrogant atmosphere. He is also seen as fearless in many situations and doesn't hesitant to speak his mind to make the first move. Although they seem so different, the two becomes a compatible duo; in a rather peculiar fashion.
The majority of the supporting characters makes up the 'Carneval'. All of them seems to have specialized skills to handle various situations. For example, there is the beautiful and well respected girl Tsukumo who is skilled in acrobatics and is able to take down foes with a calm mind. There's also Yogi, a cheerful young man who is able to evoke fear through his magic. Then, there's the Hirato, the Second Ships' captain with a mind of intellect capable of managing the team through various tasks. The point is that Carneval takes on challenges fearlessly and with precision to ensure its success. They work for the government and takes out the most dangerous individuals out of their world to ensure a place without fear. On the other hand exists another organization, one that opposes Carneval for their actions known as Kafka. They are even more mysterious as we know nearly nothing about them besides that they oppose the government and conducts in illegal activities. Yup, here it is again, mystery...
The story of this anime adapted series is a bit difficult to comprehend. In fact, some fans may be confused to what's going on that may lead to a scratch on their heads. I'll say it out straight: the story is a bit blend and requires a bit of focus to enjoy Karneval at its fullest. Apparently, Nai used to be an acquittance or possible friend of a mysterious young man named Karoku. The accessory (bracelet) is a proof of his past relationship with him. Throughout the series, we also see Karoku make screen appearances but have little clue to his true origin or identity. Speaking of which, Nai's own identity is a puzzle throughout the series as well. His name literally means 'nothing' in English. The way he looks also makes the boy seems quite feminine and his nervousness doesn't help him shape into a more masculine image. He often has to rely on others whether it's the tough bad boy Gareki or members of Circus. This makes the main male protagonist Nai a bit hard to appreciate or respect. He hardly develops throughout the series and becomes more frustrating to watch each episode as the only way he can achieve tasks is with the help of others. There's an old saying that goes 'if you want something done right, do it yourself'. Nai is nowhere near that philosophy yet and becomes a pain to watch.
There's also some confusion related to the other characters as the atmosphere of the show seems to be quite slow paced. Furthermore, it's even sometimes difficult to tell who the real antagonists are. Needless to say, the construction of the characters along with the plot are blend and hard to appreciate. On the bright side though, the action of this series flows quite well with the movements of its characters. Speaking of which, the characters' designs are elegant and beautiful. Tsukumo can be seen as a mascot for this series by the way she is dressed. Then, there are the guys like Gareki and Yogi who gives off an impression with their good looks.
The action of the series remains consistent enough. We can see that some of the adversaries throughout the series are truly dangerous and malevolent enough that only an organization such as Carneval itself can take them on directly. But even so, they sometimes struggle against them whether mentally or physically. In regards to the action, it is fluid and portrays the fantasy theme well. From the first episode, the acrobatic like movements of Tsukumo shows how capable she is. Then, there are the magic that gives off the fantasy vibes and more full throttle action with Gareki and his handy guns. The action is impressive enough to give the series a more serious mood when dealing with cases at least.
Perhaps the beauty of Karneval makes up a large proportion through its visuals. The majestic feeling Karenval left me an impression of the show. The way the architectures are made in this series has that gothic feeling. The way the characters are dressed are also flamboyant especially Tsukumo and Gareki with their outfits. In my stances, the guys of this series are all dressed with a fancy style. Tsukmo is admired for her beauty, Gareki is dressed in a noticeable way, and Eva has that revealing style of fashion along with her straightforward personality. It's fan service in a way but in a more fancy style rather than the typical panty shots, up-skirts, etc.
As for the soundtrack of this show, Karneval stands out only at average here for me. I'm not exactly sure how the studios handled the OST but it's only noticeable during tense moments or when performances are out in the open. In other words, they only seem to stand out during prominent moments in the show rather than flowing properly. The OP song "Henai no Rondo "by GRANRODEO mixes in way with its fancy displays. Along with its ED song, "REASON" by KamiYU, both of these pieces of music works for the series. However, it's nothing special really, at least for me.
In all, Karneval is an example of a show that can be a hit or miss for fans. Its mystical atmosphere might not be something for avid fans of shounen action or other other genres to get used to. However, its beauty is expressed through its artwork and themes. Despite this though, I still find the story a bit blend and out of place. It lacks the way to make an impact by the construction of its narrative, its poorly made main male protagonist, and weak development. For me, this series is more of a poor dark horse that exceed some expectations but other times drops the ball. Well, that's just me but if you have some patience, Karneval sometimes does have its moments.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Karneval (2013)
Japanese: カーニヴァル
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
13
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Apr 4, 2013 to Jun 27, 2013
Premiered:
Spring 2013
Broadcast:
Unknown
Licensors:
Funimation
Studios:
Manglobe
Source:
Manga
Demographic:
Josei
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#41012
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#1196
Members:
221,863
Favorites:
1,179
Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 10 / 66
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Your Feelings Categories Jun 30, 2013
Karneval is a mysterious series. By mysterious, I don't entirely mean it being filled with clues to be solved by some detective. What I mean is how the series comes together through its plot, theme, and most importantly the characters of the mysterious 'Circus'. It spells out mystery in a variety of ways through fantasy and its elegant atmosphere. However, Karneval is one of those series that can be a hit or miss for potential viewers.
The anime series Karneval is based off the manga of the same named written by Touya Mikanagi. With 10 volumes and counting, the manga has received some attention, enough for ... Aug 19, 2020
One of the most annoying trends established over the last decade or two is how some studios will opt to adapt a publishing manga/novel partially. We've seen this happen with shows like Black Butler, Fruits Basket, and Attack on Titan, but they're the lucky ones in this regard. Their source material sells quite well, so there's always going to be a vested interest in making a continuation or indeed, a full-on reboot. Some shows, unfortunately, aren't so lucky. There's a whole host of shows that got one 13-episode season before fading away into obscurity because the BD sales were poor. For every Black Butler or
...
Jul 12, 2014
I was immediately attracted to this anime because of the gorgeous character designs. The intricacy of the details and the unique appearances...so, very confused by the lack of information on the plot, I began Karneval, expecting a lot of beautiful characters and an equally wonderful story. However, I have to say that Karneval is one of those animes that begins with a great premise and then fails to fulfill the expectations that it builds.
Story :: 6 Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the story. It started out interesting, albeit not that unique, and became even more fascinating when Circus showed up on the scene. As the ... May 4, 2016
Karneval is an anime that has beautiful art, great music, intriguing characters, talented seiyuus, and... a bunch of bad ratings. So what went wrong?
From the beginning, it became apparent that this show's most appealing and irresistible factor was the eye candy, but it seemed like there could be something more. The first two episodes were promising and seemed to set up the right amount of quirky mysteries to make this anime intriguing and addicting. The problem, however, was that instead of slowly resolving these so-called mysteries, the writers just kept adding in more and more with every episode. As a result, way too ... Sep 22, 2015
The task or purpose of a circus is to keep the audience entertained throughout the show they deliver; sparkling lights, well costumed actors and cute, yet dangerous animals are either helpful and seek your attention. None would dare to blink more than absolutely necessary. Once you leave, it is the greatest reward for a circus if you would not forget what you just have experienced. A reward which Karneval struggles to achieve.
The anime opens with two of the main character, Nai and Gareki. Nai - a simple minded boy who clearly cannot survive in such a harsh world – is looking for a guy ... Jan 3, 2014
I really enjoyed watching Karneval for a few reasons. One of the main reasons was because my favorite Japanese voice actor (Hiroshi Kamiya) voiced Gareki who is one of the main characters. I also really loved the colours and art, it was so pretty and very unique and the character's eyes were beautiful. Overall, it was enjoyable to watch and there were some cute characters who I really liked ( especially Yogi.)
However, the show lacked plot and I didn't really understand the main concept of the anime. I understand that Nai was searching for Karoku but there were many missions that had no relevance ... Aug 4, 2018
The story needed some more work, it was too short.
I didn't feel excited when I watched the episodes, so I would've loved to see some more action and drama. The art was pretty nice, but it could use some more work when it came to the powers of the characters. The lady whose powers were jewels, needed some better work. The characters were alright, I enjoyed the few hints we got from the two main characters and I would like to know more about them. Gareki picked my interest so it would've been cool to know him a bit better. The story lacked action and drama and the last ... Oct 22, 2019
I feel like this anime didn't even know what this anime was. There was a lot going on, and not a whole hell of a lot came out of it, so I'm not sure how I'm gonna review this one; let's just go with why it wasn't a hit for me.
The story and plot was nonexistent, to me. There was one thing the story had going for it in a consistent manner, and that was the idea of finding this person that the main character had lost touch with, and nothing was done with that plot point for 97% of the anime. I guess another ... Feb 20, 2019
So the all-star cast and the nice art drew me in.
I was not impressed. A small heads-up: I've only watched 5 eps of this show. If what I say below doesn't hold true for those who have watched the entire show, my apologies. The first episode seemed like the overture for a HUGE plot and some serious worldbuilding. However it soon became clear that the show had no intention of tying up its knots. Some things were just left hanging, and I got more and more confused. As I moved on to the later episodes, it was clear that the scope of the world had narrowed, ... Jul 30, 2020
Karneval is that one series that could be a hit or a miss.This was somewhere in between for me.I cannot deny that I had a fun time watching this series.There wasn't a moment where I felt bored.But Karneval failed to deliver what it initially promised.If you are looking for anime with hot characters then you are in for a treat because the character designs are stunning.
The atmosphere and setting of this series can be best described as mysterious.The visually stunning and colourful animation creates a very whimsical and fun vibe and factoring in the opening and ending of the anime , it makes it ... |


