Top Circus Anime Recommendations

Cowboy Bebop

Also known as Cowboy Bebop.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi

Enter a world in the distant future, where Bounty Hunters roam the solar system. Spike and Jet, bounty hunting partners, set out on journeys in an ever struggling effort to win bounty rewards to survive.

While traveling, they meet up with other very interesting people. Could Faye, the beautiful and ridiculously poor gambler, Edward, the computer genius, and Ein, the engineered dog be a good addition to the group?

Tags: Space , Crime , Episodic , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Noir , Travel , Anti-Hero , Philosophy , Guns , Cyberpunk , Male Protagonist , Found Family , Terrorism , Female Protagonist , Cowboys , Martial Arts , Cyborg , Tomboy , Amnesia , Gambling , Heterosexual , Yakuza , Drugs , Police , Nudity , Tanned Skin , Cult , Circus , CGI , Work

Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara

Also known as Food Wars! The Fifth Plate.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Ecchi

The fifth and the final season of Shokugeki no Souma.

Yukihira Souma has been helping out his family diner, honing his skills. With his father's recommendation, he decides to enroll into "Totsuki Saryo Culinary Institute", a school for the most elites of the culinary world. During his time there, he has grown so much as a chef through studying hard with friends and competing against rivals in shokugeki battles.

Souma has now moved up a grade and he has finally grasped what he has always hoped for; the first seat at the Totsuki Ten Masters Council.

In the meantime, an invitation to a world-class cooking competition known as "BLUE" arrives to Totsuki. "BLUE" is one of the most authentic gastronomic tournaments for young chefs seeking fame. However, there's been a change to this year's system and themes are all out of ordinary!



Tags: Food , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Nudity , Primarily Teen Cast , Crime , Super Power , Circus , Incest , Anti-Hero , Tanned Skin , Assassins , Educational

Paprika

Also known as Paprika.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Thriller

Prepare to enter the realm of fantasy and imagination where reality and dreams collide in a kaleidoscopic mindscape of sheer visual genius. The magical tale centers on a revolutionary machine that allows scientists to enter and record a subject's dream. After being stolen, a fearless detective and brilliant therapist join forces to recover the device before it falls into the hands of a dream terrorist.



Note: The film received an early premiere at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2006.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Body Horror , Denpa , Philosophy , Conspiracy , Crime , Meta , Mythology , Detective , Software Development , Terrorism , Heterosexual , Cyberpunk , Circus , Police , Nudity , Unrequited Love , Primarily Male Cast , 4-koma

Kore wa Zombie desu ka?

Also known as Is this a Zombie?.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Supernatural

Aikawa Ayumu is a normal high school boy. One day he is killed by a serial killer and revived as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe. He starts to serve Eu as her guard but he happens to deprive the mahou shoujo Haruna of her magic power. Haruna orders Ayumu to fight against the anti-mahou shoujo system "Megalo" in her place.

Tags: Zombie , Female Harem , Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Magic , Crossdressing , Kuudere , Monster Girl , School , Primarily Female Cast , Surreal Comedy , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Yandere , Vampire , Ninja , Reincarnation , Gore , Memory Manipulation , Nudity , Circus , Assassins

Lazarus

Also known as LAZARUS.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sci-Fi

The year is 2052 — an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity prevails across the globe. The reason for this: mankind has been freed from sickness and pain. Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has developed a miracle cure-all drug with no apparent drawbacks called Hapuna. Hapuna soon becomes ubiquitous… and essential. However, soon after Hapuna is officially introduced, Dr. Skinner vanishes.

Three years later, the world has moved on. But Dr. Skinner has returned — this time, as a harbinger of doom. Skinner announces that Hapuna has a short half-life. Everyone who has taken it will die approximately three years later. Death is coming for this sinful world — and coming soon.

As a response to this threat, a special task force of 5 agents is gathered from across the world to save humanity from Skinner’s plan. This group is called “Lazarus.” Can they find Skinner and develop a vaccine before time runs out?



Tags: Ensemble Cast , Crime , Medicine , Urban , Fugitive , Environmental , Drugs , Anti-Hero , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Philosophy , Parkour , Cyberpunk , Espionage , Seinen , Guns , Foreign , Homeless , Assassins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Military , Rescue , Death Game , Prison , Cult , Artificial Intelligence , Circus , Dissociative Identities , Transgender , Bisexual , Gore , Crossdressing

Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus

Also known as Black Butler: Book of Circus.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In late-nineteenth-century England, the Noah's Ark Circus enlivens the city of London with their grandeur and spectacular stunts. However, children are mysteriously disappearing from the town in a manner correlating to the troupe's movement. The Queen, then, sends her notorious Watchdog, Ciel Phantomhive, on an investigative mission to retrieve the missing children. Ciel and his demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, infiltrate the circus, disguised as team members, to study and possibly unearth its ulterior motive.

This arc immediately follows the Curry Contest Arc in the manga, which ended at episode 15 in the first season of the anime.

Tags: Demons , Tragedy , Circus , Butler , Anti-Hero , Foreign , Gender Bending , Urban Fantasy , Historical , Shounen , Gore , Kuudere , Food , Transgender , Primarily Male Cast , Crossdressing

Handa-kun

Also known as Handa-kun.

Studio: diomedéa
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Hated by everyone around him, Sei Handa goes about his high school life regarded as an outcast—or at least that's what he believes. In reality, Sei is the most popular student on campus, revered by all for his incomparable calligraphy skills, good looks, and cool personality. However, due an endless series of misunderstandings, Handa perceives the worship he receives from his legions of fans as bullying, leading the school's idol to shut himself off from the rest of his classmates.

But distancing himself from his peers doesn't deter them from adoring him; in fact, his attempts at drawing attention away from himself often end up unintentionally converting even the most skeptical of students into believers. Fashion models, shut-in delinquents, obsessive fangirls, and more—none can stand against the brilliance that is Sei Handa.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Episodic , Calligraphy , Shounen , Satire , Delinquents , Yandere , Meta , Circus

Jigoku Shoujo

Also known as Hell Girl.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Somewhere in the vast sea of the Internet, there's a website that can only be accessed at the stroke of midnight. Known as the Jigoku Tsushin, rumor has it that if you post a grudge there, the Jigoku Shoujo will appear and drag whoever torments you into the inferno. Very little is known about the girl - all we know for sure is that she lives with her equally enigmatic grandmother, that three magical straw dolls accompany and serve her, and that whenever a posting on the Jigoku Tsushin moves her, she becomes the Jigoku Shoujo.


Tags: Revenge , Episodic , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Bullying , Afterlife , Curses , Ghost , Urban , Oiran , Detective , Gore , Crime , Conspiracy , Cosmic Horror , School , Blackmail , Rural , Torture , Aliens , Circus , Twins , Veterinarian , Kuudere ,

Michiko to Hatchin

Also known as Michiko & Hatchin.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure

After escaping from prison, the criminal Michiko rescues an abused girl known as Hatchin. The two are about as opposite as they come, but their fates become intertwined through the connection of a man from both their pasts. On the run from the police and Hatchin's abusive foster parents, the unlikely duo set out to find this man and ultimately discover their freedom.



Tags: Crime , Fugitive , Tanned Skin , Female Protagonist , Gangs , Foreign , Travel , Anti-Hero , Urban , Primarily Female Cast , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Guns , Police , Tomboy , Mopeds , Parenthood , Coming of Age , Episodic , Drugs , Nudity , Martial Arts , Tragedy , Unrequited Love , Circus , Crossdressing , Time Skip , Femboy , LGBTQ+ Themes

Itou Junji: Collection

Also known as Junji Ito Collection.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Anime adaptation of stories from both the 11-volume Ito Junji Kessaku-shuu series and the Fragments of Horror book.

Tags: Anthology , Episodic , Gore , Body Horror , Tragedy , Ghost , Demons , School , Super Power , Cosmic Horror , Crime , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Curses , Monster Girl , Suicide , Alternate Universe , Circus , Filmmaking , Family Life , Nudity , Unrequited Love , Urban Fantasy , Kaiju , Josei , Male Protagonist

Golden Kamuy 3rd Season

Also known as Golden Kamuy Season 3.

Studio: Geno Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Separated from Sugimoto, Asirpa now travels toward the Russian border, focused on discovering more about her and her father’s involvement with the coded tattoos. But Sugimoto is determined to find and protect Asirpa! Along the way, he’ll discover new people, new cultures rich with history, and an unforgiving terrain. Will Sugimoto and Asirpa survive their journeys and reunite?



Tags: Historical , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Ensemble Cast , Outdoor Activities , Foreign , Educational , Guns , Military , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Revenge , Food , Language Barrier , Anti-Hero , Politics , Animals , Survival , Gore , Crime , Archery , Prison , Swordplay , Samurai , Gender Bending , Circus , Travel , Indigenous Cultures , Snowscape

Karneval (TV)

Also known as Karneval (TV).

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Mystery , Sci-Fi

Armed with only an abandoned bracelet as a clue, Nai searches for a missing loved one. After a run-in with a pick-pocket named Gareki, the two find themselves snagged in a government set-up that leaves them both wanted criminals. Desperate and on the run, Nai and Gareki turn to the country’s most powerful defense organization—“Circus”—for help.



Tags: Amnesia , Circus , Josei , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Magic , Guns , Kemonomimi

NARUTO: Dai Koufun! Mikazukijima no Animal Panic Dattebayo!

Also known as Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure

Led by Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Rock Lee are tasked to escort the extravagant Prince Michiru Tsuki and his spoiled son Hikaru to the prosperous Land of Moon when the two return from a long trip around the world. As if guarding two whimsical high-ranked individuals was not challenging enough, the prince's reckless decision to acquire an entire circus during their journey—mainly to entertain Hikaru's wish of owning the saber-toothed tiger featured in the show—further propels the mission into disarray.

Just as things are finally settling down, the arrival of Michiru's convoy at the Land of Moon is met with an unforeseen crisis—the greedy Chief Minister Shabadaba has taken over the country with the assistance of mysterious, powerful ninjas. While Kakashi's team relentlessly fights the enemy by any means necessary, the two princes are forced to confront a new outlook on life through adversity.



Tags: Ninja , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Circus , Animals , Primarily Child Cast , Shounen , Super Power , Archery , Kuudere , Orphan , Anachronism

Gyakuten Saiban: Sono "Shinjitsu", Igi Ari!

Also known as Ace Attorney.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

Adapted from the popular video game franchise, Ace Attorney follows rookie lawyer Naruhodo Ryuuichi (Phoenix Wright) and his assistant Mayoi (Maya) as he defends his clients in a court of law. With limited evidence and logic as his only weapon, can Naruhodo turn the case around when all the odds are stacked against him?



Tags: Crime , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Police , Slapstick , Male Protagonist , Detective , Ghost , Assassins , Shrine Maiden , Fugitive , Circus , CGI

Karakuri Circus

Also known as Karakuri Circus.

Studio: Studio VOLN
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Mystery

The protagonist, Masaru, has just inherited a big fortune after the death of his father. However, people are trying to get their hands on it by any means necessary, even if it means killing him. Narumi helped Masaru from being kidnapped after fighting some weird guys. He found out that they're not humans but wooden puppets with amazing strength. After a hard fight, Narumi was forced to admit that he's no opponent for them; and just when he started to think that Masaru would be captured, Shirogane, Masaru's watcher arrives from France with a weapon, the puppet Arlequin. Here, begins the story of Karakuri Circus.

Tags: Shounen , Circus , Conspiracy , Robots , Memory Manipulation , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , Tragedy , Foreign , Trains , CGI , Love Triangle

D.Gray-man HALLOW

Also known as D.Gray-man HALLOW.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Despite the recent Akuma attack, the members of the Black Order are in high spirits as they set about moving to a new base. Immediately upon his arrival, however, Allen Walker is suddenly called by the Central Agency and has his arm forcefully sealed by the Order. He is then led to a surprising meeting with his master, General Cross Marian, who reveals staggering secrets surrounding the enigmatic 14th Noah.

A phantom thief incident, the arrival of a mysterious group of Exorcists, the death of an important comrade, and an all-out battle against the Noah Family—just what does this mean for Allen, Yuu Kanda, and the rest of the Order? This is but the beginning of a series of strange, seemingly unconnected events that lead to something far greater.



Tags: Shounen , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Circus , Foreign , Demons , Primarily Male Cast , Steampunk , Gore , Exorcism , Kuudere

Shin Kidou Senki Gundam Wing

Also known as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Mankind has moved into space. Thousands of people live on giant orbiting space colonies called "Sides." However, the Earth Government, which rules the colonies, is unjust and cruel. A group of revolutionaries build five robotic weapons called Gundams and plan to send them to Earth to begin their fight for independence. Piloted by five young men, these Gundams carry the colonists' hopes and dreams of freedom with them as they descend to Earth to begin Operation Meteor!



Tags: Politics , Space , Military , Real Robot , War , Ensemble Cast , Terrorism , Primarily Male Cast , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Foreign , Circus , Amnesia , Suicide , Espionage

Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid 2nd Season

Also known as The Duke of Death and His Maid Season 2.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

The second season of Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid.

The duke, full of love and kindness, treads carefully around every living being, be it a tender flower or his seductive maid, Alice Lendrott. Were it not for the devotion Alice shows him and the fondness that grows ever stronger between them, the duke would have barely paid heed to his mother's demand: to either lift the dreadful curse placed upon him or lose his family inheritance. Although the duke has no greed for riches, he yearns to be rid of his frightful powers—which cause all he touches to die—for the sake of those closest to him.

As the duke, Alice, and their friends enjoy spirited days filled with the ridiculous affairs of the supernatural, the spring deadline looms heavily over them. Nonetheless, the duke refuses to take any shortcuts in this endeavor if it means betraying the trust of his cherished friends.



Tags: Maids , Magic , Heterosexual , Full CGI , CGI , Witch , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Circus , Shounen , Musical Theater , Butler , Nun , Twins , Time Manipulation , LGBTQ+ Themes , Crossdressing , Ghost , Curses , Nudity

Nekojiru-sou

Also known as Cat Soup.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Horror , Psychological

Cat Soup is an extremely difficult film to describe, due to its awesome surrealism and almost nonexistant dialogue. It is more a work of art than an anime. There are many underlying themes, such as the transcience of man's existence, but it can be enjoyed without understanding any of them. The plot, though simple, isn't necessarily understandable without being explained. The main character, a cat named Nyatto, embarks upon a journey to save his sister's soul, which was ripped in two when Nyatto tried to save her from Death. She trails after him, brain-dead. They encounter many brilliant, mind-bending situations, beginning with a disturbing magic show.



Tags: Animals , Surreal Comedy , No Dialogue , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , Afterlife , Body Horror , Urban , Survival , Primarily Animal Cast , Seinen , Anthropomorphism , Gods , Male Protagonist , Circus , Time Manipulation , Cannibalism , Outdoor Activities , Rural , Ships , Religion , Nudity , Gore , Revenge

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS

Also known as Sailor Moon SuperS.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

SuperS centers heavily on Chibi-usa and the Sailor Team. A new enemy, the Dead Moon Circus, has now appeared. Their motive is to find the Golden Dream Mirror that would be used to rule the world. To do this, the enemy attacks innocent victims for their Dream Mirrors and test their energy. Chibi-usa also has a new ally on her side, Pegasus. This season also sees the Sailor Senshi obtaining new powers.

Tags: Shoujo , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Magic , Henshin , Revenge , Found Family , Coming of Age , Superhero , Super Power , Slapstick , Tragedy , Circus , Crime , Fairy Tale , Ensemble Cast , Mythology , Philosophy , Urban Fantasy , Heterosexual , Demons , Aliens , Rehabilitation , Femboy , Bar , Space , Crossdressing , Animals , Body Swapping , Age Gap , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Tokusatsu , Kuudere , LGBTQ+ Themes , Shrine Maiden , Age Regression , Body Horror , Educational , Episodic , Writing , Acrobatics