The Dark Woods Circus is a series of multiple songs that was produced by Machigerita-P. It was originally mostly sung by Hatsune Miku, but with the release of the novel adaptation, the majority of the original canon was scraped.
The songs tell the story of a freak show called "Dark Woods Circus" and its performers who were lured in one by one.
The Songs
Amendments may have been made to the original translation.
This subject has a mistranslated title in English. While known as "Steel Cage Princess" in the Western fandom, "Steel Queen, Caged Princess" is the more suitable translation. This tradition comes from a mistranslation by SakeBliss. More subjects categorized here.
The first song in the series. The literal translation is Steel Queen, Caged Princess. The song is about a young being held captive and being put in a "cage" by a "Queen" in a "castle." It is revealed that girl was actually going insane, and the insanity is locking up her sanity in a "cage".
The second and most well known song in the series. In this song, the girl and others are in a circus where they are ridiculed by the visitors. The girl is known as the "Deformed Diva". A pair of siamese twins have also been taken in. A beast is part of it as well. They all hate the circus and though they act as if it's fun, they wish they could die to get away from it.
The third song in the series. It reveals that the diva was married and taken away to the circus, then later commits suicide by cutting off her left arm, which is represented by the blue ice on her limbs.
This subject has a mistranslated title in English. While known as "Red Swamp Bottom" in the Western fandom, "On the Bottom of Red Swamp" is the more suitable translation. This tradition comes from a mistranslation by SakeBliss. More subjects categorized here.
The fourth song in the series. After the diva commits suicide, she is sent to hell, which is known as the "Red Swamp". She states that she is in pain, her skin burning to dust, her eyes melted beyond recognition, and her intestines being dragged on the floor. She says that she doesn't want to hear people begging God to let them leave, saying they deserved it for their selfish desires.
The final song in the series. The Diva becomes the Grim Reaper to atone for her sins (Suicide) and wields a scythe. At one point, she must judge her husband, and, with tears in her eyes, beheads him.
In this song, Anna and others are in a circus where they are ridiculed by the visitors. Anna is known as the "Deformed Diva". Adam and Doris, a pair of siamese twins have also been taken in. A nameless werewolf that ran away from home was taken in as well. They all hate the circus and though they act as if it's fun, they wish they could die to get away from it.
In the PV, it shows an insane girl being interned in a sanatorium where people are deformed. Machigerita-P later stated on his blog that even though the PV was related to the series, the song itself was not a part of the series.
Novel
The novel adaption was released on July 27, 2012. It is avaliable for purchase in Amazon and Tsutaya for ¥ 1,260.
"マチゲリータ、小説「暗い森のサーカス」特報。 Novel "Darkwoods Circus" Trailer" by MachigeritaJP YouTube