Mikanagi Touya | Karneval

Japanese: カーニヴァル
English: Karneval
Type: Manga
Volumes: 17 +
Chapters: 90 +
Status: Publishing
Published: Aug 28, 2007 to ?
Genres: Action, Mystery, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Josei
Mangaka: Mikanagi Touya (Story & Art)
Serialization: Comic ZERO-SUM

Synopsis: Nai–a young man who travels in search of another by the name of Karoku, a lone bracelet his only lead. Gareki–a willful young man who earns his daily bread by thieving and picking pockets. Thrown together at an eerie mansion, where they are entrapped and framed, Nai and Gareki are soon hunted down as criminals by national security forces. As they are driven into a corner, before them appears the most powerful defense agency in the country, “Circus”–!!

Related Manga

Adaptation: Karneval, Karneval (TV)

Side story: Karneval Bangai-hen: Ashita no Yakusoku

Other: Karneval Anthology

Groups Scanlating

Karnoodle

Kiheitai

L.O.V.E.

Scarlet Carnival

Licensed in English

Yen Press (4 volumes, ongoing)

Source: MAL Manga info, Baka updates

Side notes: This is today's extra although it's part of my original plan and selection for mangas of today. But I somehow slipped a bit towards the direction of Alice so I had to move this manga also a bit.^-^ I ended up picking this manga 'cause it's kinda close to the theme and it was also listed on recommendations more than once when I's moving around and selecting mangas for today. And ofc... it's also an Anime that  I liked.XDDD And I can't say no for ikemen.... or a good story.>.<


Main characters

Gareki (花礫)
Birthday: May 21
Age: 15
Height: 170 cm (5'6")
Blood Type: O
Likes: Meddling with machines and mechanisms
Dislikes: Associating with other people
Food he Likes: All kinds of meat
Food he Dislikes: Oatmeal (because it reminds him of the poverty he used to live in as a child)

A young boy who gets by robbing rich people's mansions. He's very intelligent and sharp. His strong point is his vast knowledge about mechanisms. Distrusts people and isn't very sociable. Despite his arrogant attitude, he's gentle and caring, but he doesn't want other people to know that side of him. Likes to carry a gun with him. Skilled shooter.

Before going to bed, he reads books about practical knowledge he's interested in, so he has a habit of falling asleep in the position he reads. Because of the environment he grew up in, he didn't have a chance to receive a formal education, but you can see many scenes where he shows a high level of intelligence. While he's only 15 years old, his knowledge in a particular field is at the same level as a specialist's.

At present he secretly enjoys observing the original machinery structure and systems inside of a Circus Ship. He also thinks of investigating the sheep sooner or later.


In Gareki's name, "Ga" means "flower" and "reki" means "gravel, small stones."

Yogi (與儀)

Birthday: February 11

Age: 21

Height: 181 cm ( 5'11 )

Blood type: B

Likes: Working as nyanperona

Dislikes: battles, Akari-sensei

Food he Likes: chocolate, candy bars

Food he dislikes: green peppers, carrots

Hair color: blonde

Eye color: purple

Circus Second Ship's Fighter. Hirato's subordinate. A 21-year-old man who's always bright and cheerful. Despite his age, he acts like a child. He wears a white patch under his left eye. Battles make him nervous, so he's relieved when he doesn't have to fight. His weapons are two thorn-like épées and the name of his special attack is Dornkiste (German for "thorn chest").

Being a fighter, he wonders if working as nyanperona is a suitable occupation for him... and is a bit worried. By the way, the "self-introduction" he always does before a fight (soaring male's spirit and so on...) is Hirato's idea. It is essential that every person who applies for a fighter position submits one personally, but since Yogi himself hadn't thought about it until the application period came, he left it to his superior Hirato, who with a gentle, smiling face submitted some outrageous things. But it is well received by the Children, so he quite likes it now. Yogi comes from a small, remote country. He apparently has a younger sister.

The "yo" in Yogi's name means "participate in, give, award, impart, provide, cause" and "gi" is "ceremony, rule, affair, case, a matter."

Nai (无)
Birthday: unknown; however, judging by when the Niji breed, you can imagine he was born in spring.
Age: unknown
Height: 157 cm (5'1")
Blood type: unknown
Likes: playing hide and seek with the sheep, basking in the sun
Dislikes: Sstudying and lessons with Tsukumo
Liked foods: Mochi Onigiri
Dislike foods: lamb (because of the Circus sheep...)
Hair color: white and purple
Eye color: red

Compared to before, his vocabulary has increased, but because he still uses it the wrong way, he is scolded by Gareki very often. He appears to be timid at first glance, but surprisingly his actions are often bold.


Nai's name means "nothing, not existing."

Tsukumo (ツクモ)

Birthday: March 2

Age: 16

Height: 159 cm (5'2")

Blood Type: A

Likes: Reading, Studying

Dislikes: Cooking (though she's not bad at it), Sewing

Favorite Food: Fruits (except madoradora)

Hates: Bugs (particularly those with fur and those with many legs)

Hair Color: Light Blonde

Eye Color: Purple

A beautiful girl who is the star of Circus' acrobatic opening performance. Because she has such a serious personality and doesn't flatter men, women love her too. She comes from one of the five strongest countries. She seems to have known Hirato before she entered Circus, when she was very little. She has a senpai-kouhai relationship with Kiichi, with whom she went to a training school before joining Circus. Has a secret complex about her clumsy fingers (Example: Snow bunnies in Rinoll)

Circus Second Ship's Fighter. She's known Hirato since she was a little girl, and now she's his subordinate. Always wears a serious expression on her face. She's down to earth and very dedicated. A skilled acrobat. Despite her frail appearance, she's pretty strong. Her beauty is complimented by both men and women. 

Supporting

Hirato (平門)

Birthday: October 22

Age: 27

Height: 185 cm

Blood Type: AB

Likes: Meddling with people

Dislikes: Unknown

Food he Likes: Wine, Kirine fruits

Food he Dislikes: Unknown

Hair Color: Dark Purple

Eye Color: Dark Purple

A very polite man who doesn't take his work too seriously, but does his job well. His smile can be deceiving. Entrusts Nai and Gareki to Yogi and Tsukumo. His weapon is a cane and the name of his special attack is Vakuum (German for "vacuum").

He's the Captain of the Second Ship. Doesn't show his true feelings, so no one really knows what he's thinking. He often tends to be teased by other supervisors from the administration tower, because he looks suspicious. However, he himself appears unaffected. He apparently has an older brother. Is often absent from the ship, because he does some work outside, but... First Ship's Captain Tsukitachi is the same age as him.

The "hira" kanji in Hirato's name means "even, flat, peace" and "to" is "gates."

Akari Dezart (燭 デザルト)

Birthday: December 23

Age: 33

Height: 185cm (6'1")

Blood Type: O

Llikes: Research, Exploring undeveloped areas, Board games

Dislikes: People who try to appeal to others using clever words, when they think there is merit in doing so; Hirato, too, but for completely different reasons.

Food he Likes: Black tea, Brown sugar from corals

Food he Dislikes: Smoked tarunero (fish)

Hair Color: Pink

Eye Color: Peach

A dominating person. There are times when he is insensitive, saying things like "What's wrong with telling the truth? If you don't like it, then improve things!". He repeatedly makes enemies among the nurses. He hasn't got any evil intentions. Among the nurses there is also a faction which wants to aid him. When the doctor who was his former tutor was still on active duty, he studied hard under his guidance and demonstrated his intelligence.

Akari's name means "light, candlepower."

Karoku Arumerita (嘉禄)

Birthday: January 9

Age: 18

Height: 175 cm (5'9")

Blood Type: Unknown

Likes: Passing the time, Enjoying the nature

Dislikes: Unknown

Food he Likes: Unknown

Food he Dislikes: Unknown

Hair color: Light Blue

Eye color: Blue

According to Nai, he appears to be a gentle person. For some reason he was living in Niji Forest, a place people don't approach and where it is difficult to see through refracted light and mirages. The fact that Nai is an animal is related to him somehow, but...?

The "Ka" in his name means "applaud, praise, esteem" and "roku" means "fief, allowance, pension, grant, happiness."

According to Nai, he left the bracelet by the sea covered in blood and disappeared. At present, information about him is unknown. He seems to have a deep connection with Nai.

Others

Azana (糺)
Akari's assistant,
works in research center.

Kagiri (夏切)
Works under Uro with
 his Partner Kiharu.

Kiharu (麒春)
Member of Kafka
with Kagiri.

Parunedo (パルネド)
CEO of Gardo Corporation
Erisyuka's grandfather
member of Kafka

Erisyuka (エリシュカ)

Birthday: July 16

Age: 14

Height: 153cm

Blood Type: B

Likes: Going on dates with Karoku

Dislikes: When she can't be with Karoku

Favourite Food: Prawns and ginruru (a fruit that grows on a tree) cream salad

Least Favourite Food: Snails

Hair Colour: Peach

Eye colour: Peach

A selfish person who is straightforward about her feelings and what she wants. As she grew up surrounded by people employed by her grandfather, she was naturally treated like a princess. Because she was in an environment where she didn't have to consider other people, she didn't learn how to communicate, so she doesn't have much experience at building good relationships with others. Even though she is selfish, she seems to rely on Uro. Her relationship with Karoku is still uncertain.

Her name is spelled as "Eleska" in the english translation. Member of Kafka.

Iva (イヴァ)

Birthday: August 7

Age: 25

Height: 175 cm (5'7")

Blood Type: B

Likes: Collecting jewels, Appreciating fine arts

Dislikes: Conferences

Food she Likes: Alcohol, Cheese

Food she Dislikes: Anchovies

Hair Color: Greenish-Blue

Eye Color: Green

A voluptuous, beautiful woman with a masculine character. Yogi decided to trust her and has called her "nee-san" since their very first encounter. She acts feminine around girls, but is quite rough when around men. Always looks forward to dressing Tsukumo up. Has three sisters and is the eldest one of them.

Comes from an area where jewels are mined.

Jiki (喰)

Birthday: October 3

Age: 20

Height: 176 cm

Blood Type: A

Things he likes: growing and brewing medicinal plants

Things he dislikes: Iva

Food he likes: Landmarl meuniere (a fish)

Food he dislikes: junk food

Hair Color: Dark grey

Eye Color: gold

Voiced by: Nakamura Yuuichi (Drama CD)

When with people who are unfamiliar or are ordinary, he appears soft-spoken and good-natured. However, when with people who are familiar or strange, he would accidentally make snide remarks. Rather, his making these comments seem more truthful then accidental.

He collects many different medicinal plants because he enjoys cultivating them. He may seem cold, but can be quite sociable. Though, that too may have been just a facade.

Kiichi (キイチ)

Birthday: November 25

Age: 15

Height: 151 cm

Blood Type: O

Things she Likes: Shopping, Eating

Things she Dislikes: Children

Food she Likes: desserts (especially those with cream)

Food she Dislikes: the medicines made by Jiki (that has to be consumed orally)

Hair Color: Light Blue

Eye Color: Light Blue

She is a proud perfectionist, but there seems to be occasions when she is inattentive. She is hostile towards Tsukumo who was her senior in training academy, but this feeling is one-sided.

Being strong-willed and hating to lose enables her to do battle. She deals with situations in a calm and composed manner, and is seen to have much potential as a Circus member.

Ranji

The student representative of the School that belongs to Circus, her gender is still unclear, although she dresses like a girl, she behaves herself like a boy. She becomes friends with Gareki. 

It's revealed on 6th Drama CD that Ranji is a boy.

Ryoushi (療師)

A doctor who works for Circus. He doesn't take things seriously like Akari does, and enjoys prancing around laughing happily. However, when he sees Yogi, he sometimes throws him out of the room, quite literally.

Shishi

He's Gareki's roommate and he takes the Technology creation course. 

He's 18.

Tsubame

Yotaka´s twin sister raised by her older sister, Tsubaki. Tsubaki brought Gareki to live with them and she became his childhood friend. She can easily cry and is very emotional, such as when a girl made fun of her clothes, and said she smelled. However, she can be very kind and usually wears a smile on her face.

After joining Kuronomei, she became determined to not be upset and to be happy, to cheer up her friends and to protect them. She didn't like it when Gareki was at Kuronomei because she wanted to be the one to protect him. She is also shown to be quite competative with Gareki, not wanting to lose to him.

Tsubaki (ツバキ)

Tsubaki was a young woman who saved and raised Gareki for some time. 

Yotaka (ヨタカ)

Tsubame's twin brother and Tsubaki's younger brother.
Yotaka is much more serious and cautious than his twin sister, Tsubame. He is also shown to have a strong will, resisting being turned into a Varuga, although not successful in the end.

Tsukitachi (朔)
Birthday: April 18
Age: 27
Height: 186 cm (6'1")
Blood Type: O
Likes: Parties, Flying through the skies at high speeds
Dislikes: Meetings
Food he Likes: Alcohol
Food he Dislikes: Lilitta sea slug (a species of sea slug that can be caught in Lilitta)
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Dull Gold

An optimist who does not worry about the little things. Though he seems easygoing, he has a deep understanding of his surroundings. He often speaks to Hirato, saying "How about we go out together for once!" but always gets turned down.


Other group members think that the reason for this is probably because Hirato is unable to keep up with Tsukitachi's high spirits.

Uro (黒白)

Uro is a tall, fair-skinned man who wears a black suit. He has long mocha hair, some of which he keeps in a mid-height ponytail (not high and not at the base of his neck). He also has relatively thin, red orange eyes.

Uro is a enigmatic man with a very duplicitous personality. He appears very polite and gentlemanly towards regular people and his superiors. However, he is cold and ruthless towards subordinates, as shown in episode nine. He is also willing to kill underlings in the event they fail an assignment. He is easily able to switch between his heartless, cruel personality and his convivial, kind personality. Member of Kafka.

Karoku

He is identical to Karoku Arumerita with exception of a scar on his cheek that he received when Gareki shot him in self-defense. He's also recognizable for the bloodied bandages he wears around his head and torso. Another difference is that he wears a blue diamond shape ring on his middle finger. He is member of Kafka.

Tokitatsu
Member of Circus

Source: MAL, Wikia

Anime promotional video

English dub version (xp)