Chika Gentou Gekiga: Shoujo Tsubaki

In the 1920s, a poverty-stricken 12-year-old girl named Midori resorts to selling camellias in the slums of Tokyo. Midori finds little success until, one day, she is approached by a gentleman who offers his sympathy and aid. When her bedridden mother succumbs to an illness, and with no one else to turn to, Midori visits the man's address. To her horror, she discovers that she has been conned into joining his circus troupe, Aka Neko Za—a traveling freak show consisting of vulgar and deformed performers. Midori compares her new fairground lifestyle to hell. Not only is she responsible for caring for her colleagues and cleaning up after them, but she also is frequently belittled and cruelly abused. Suffering and uncertain of what will become of her, she finally begins to feel at ease when Wonder Masamitsu, a master illusionist, joins the lineup. Smitten by Midori's beauty and innocence, Masamitsu takes her under his wing; but even as their love grows, dark times loom ahead for Midori and her fellow freaks. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Recommended anime

Nido to Mezamenu Komoriuta

Umezu Kazuo no Noroi

A Kite

Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko

Violence Jack: Jigoku Gai-hen

Ongaku

Nekojiru-sou

Mononoke

Corpse Party: Tortured Souls - Bougyakusareta Tamashii no Jukyou

Kanashimi no Belladonna

Satsuriku no Tenshi

Teito Monogatari

Dokushin Apartment Dokudami-sou