Shoujo Tsubaki Anime

Shoujo Tsubaki (少女椿, “The Camellia Girl”) is a stock protagonist of kamishibai during its revival in early Shōwa period Japan. The character and her story is traditionally attributed to a creator known as Seiun, though the plagiarism and retelling in sundry variants that was the norm for popular-proving tales make its true origin uncertain. Generally speaking, the character is a stereotypical adolescent or preadolescent ingénue, a daughter of a penniless family who goes from selling camellias on the streets to being sold or forced to perform in a revue show.

Synopsis

Behind the colorful curtains and extravagant performances, there lies the dark side of a circus life, hidden away from the smiles and praises of the audience. Set in early 20th century Japan, Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki highlights the misdeeds that occur in circus camps. Midori was an innocent young girl who enjoyed her life as an elementary student to the fullest. However, everything changed after her mother fell ill. Eventually, Midori is forced to stop going to school and, instead, sells flowers in the city. When her mother dies tragically, Midori meets a stranger who leads her towards the circus. What awaits her will change her life forever… In a life where nothing seems to go right, will Midori lose faith and give up? Or will she manage to stay strong in hopes of a better future.

Background

It took 5 years for Hiroshi Harada to single-handily compose, draw, and animate Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki, which required over 5000 sheets to complete. The film was single-handedly created by Hiroshi Harada. Given the subject matter, Harada had found it impossible to gain sponsors. He then used all of his life savings to make the film over a five-year period. Over 5,000 separate sheets of animation were hand-drawn by Harada. This has been considered one of the most controversial pieces of Anime due to its themes of child sexual assault and extreme amounts of gore. Thus it was banned in Japan and some of the parts are currently lost. Because of the demented themes, both PhantomStrider and guest star, Robyn from “Anime America”, consider this to be not only the absolute worst Anime of all time, but the absolute worst cartoon in general of all time, even surpassing “Ren Seeks Help.

Character

Hanamura Midori, the Camellia Girl, was an innocent 12-year-old girl with a bob haircut who thoroughly liked her classroom life. However, after her father left and her mother died, everything changed. Midori is compelled to abandon her education to sell flowers in the city. Midori is then introduced to a stranger who leads her to the circus. What lies ahead will forever alter her existence.

Midori’s father mysteriously left the family and ran away, while Midori’s mother was bedridden due to illness. Her demise is horrifying because rats and mice devour her.
Mr. Arashi is the proprietor of the Incredible Freak Show and the shady stranger who lured Midori into his horrifying circus. He appears to be a benevolent and dependable manager, but he is actually a selfish and manipulative con artist. He will do anything to become wealthy, including holding Midori hostage for his show. He has no reservations about sleeping with young boys, and he has a predilection for eyeball licking.

Tokkuriji Muchisute the Mummy Man is the first circus performer, a disfigured young pervert with missing arms and a bandaged face resembling a mummy’s. He is one of Japan’s leprosy victims (though in other adaptations he is a burn victim). Although he lacks arms, he is able to perform archery in the circus using his feet as if they were hands. He is a stalker who has repeatedly raped Midori.

The second circus performer is Akaza the Giant, the sword-swallowing, one-eyed, shaved-headed strongman with tattoos. He is a relaxed “tough guy” who enjoys eating, making money, and having sexual relations with Benitsu. He participates in the sadism and fetishes of the other circus members.
Benitsu the Snake Woman is the third act in the circus; she is a middle-aged, sensual, long-haired woman who charms snakes. She is sadistic and sexually active. Due to Mr. Arashi’s homosexuality and pedophilia, she once attempted to seek sex from him but was rebuffed. Benitsu would eventually defend Midori, despite having participated in her physical and sexual assault.

The fourth circus performance, Kanabun the Boy-Girl, is the fire-eating maniac marked by overt brutality and bloodlust. This lone youngster of the circus is one of the individuals that prompted Midori’s attempt to flee the camp, as Kanabun hinted by teasing her, by slaughtering her adopted puppies without her knowledge and presenting them to their peers for dinner. Kanabun is intersex, despite the fact that they are dressed as a girly doll. They once urinated in front of Midori, then flashed their male genitalia at her while wiggling and masturbating in her face to terrify her before raping her. However, the other circus members and Mr. Arashi’s sadomasochistic sex slave regard Kanabun as a boy.

Masamitsu the Bottled Wonder is the fifth circus performer, a charismatic, middle-aged, rotund dwarf illusionist. He is a great illusionist who uses Western magic skills and can fit within a little bottle. He controls the circus as well. Masamitsu, like Mr. Arashi, is a pedophile, as he chooses Midori as his assistant and behaves as her “guardian.”

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