The Controversial Ban on the Circus of Nightmare Anime Film: Unveiling the Enigmatic Reasons!

The Circus of Nightmare anime film, directed by Hiroshi Harada, known for his works such as the Humanoid Monster Bem series and Folktales from Japan, emerged as a prominent standout of the 1990s, eventually gaining a devoted following as a cult classic. Set in 20th-century Japan, the film uncovers the disturbing acts carried out behind the vibrant curtains and extravagant spectacles of a local freak show, revealing the dark secrets concealed away from the cheering crowds. Though the storyline may seem straightforward, there remains a mystery surrounding the global ban imposed on this film.

Due to physical and child abuse, the Circus of Nightmare anime film was outlawed

Why did the Circus of Nightmare anime film get banned worldwide? (Image via Mippei Eiga Kiryukan/ Hiroshi Harada)

Based on Shojo Tsubaki's manga, the Circus of Nightmare anime film was released on May 2, 1992, with a runtime of 47–50 minutes. However, its reception was far from positive, receiving a meager rating of 4.7 on MyAnimeList and a slightly higher rating of 6.5 on IMDB. This raises the question of why the film performed so poorly and faced widespread bans.

Multiple factors contributed to this ban, but the primary criticisms surrounding the Circus of Nightmare anime film were centered around its excessive portrayal of physical and psychological harm, as well as instances of se*ual abuse involving children, adults, and small animals. For instance, one particularly disturbing scene shows Midori coming home after selling flowers to discover her mother being devoured by rats and mice.

This is just one of the many unsettling scenes found in the Circus of Nightmare anime movie. Despite muting the offensive language in the audio track, the film still employed visual censorship to obscure instances of violence, sexual assault, and nudity.

Due to the inclusion of all these elements, the anime movie failed to attract any potential sponsors or studios for funding. As a result, Hiroshi Harada had to undertake the majority of the work himself, spending five years writing the screenplay and creating the storyboards.

However, despite all his efforts, the release of the movie turned out to be in vain. Apart from the aforementioned reasons, there were further factors contributing to its international ban. The prevalence of child abuse and strict laws against anime abuse worldwide made it even more challenging for the film to have its world premiere.

In summation

The Circus of Nightmare anime film (Image via Mippei Eiga Kiryukan/ Hiroshi Harada)

The Circus of Nightmare anime film is notorious for being the most brutal and graphic production in the history of anime. However, what sets this movie apart is its unflinching portrayal of the dark truths that hide behind the seemingly enchanting world of a circus.

With no sponsors backing the project, the production of this film proved to be an arduous task. Nonetheless, Director Harada's personal experience of being bullied in school fueled his determination to shed light on this prevalent issue of child abuse and stand in solidarity with its victims.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga updates as 2023 progresses.