: The graphic depiction of animal cruelty and psychological torment highlights the inhumanity Midori faces. Tragedy and Grief

Directed by the reclusive animator Hiroshi Harada, this 56-minute feature film is an adaptation of Suehiro Maruo’s notorious 1984 ero-guro (erotic-grotesque) manga, which itself was inspired by traditional pre-war Japanese paper theater ( kamishibai ). Decades after its limited, underground debut, the film continues to capture the fascination of dark-anime enthusiasts, film historians, and internet subcultures worldwide due to its extreme themes, tragic lore, and harrowing production history. ⚠️ Content Warning

In the pantheon of Japanese animation, there are Studio Ghibli films that warm the heart, Shonen epics that inspire courage, and Seinen dramas that explore the human condition. And then, there is Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki .

The final ten minutes of Midori descend into pure psychedelic chaos. Surrealist imagery floods the screen—eyes on hands, raining fish, a sexual encounter with a demonic puppet. It is unclear if Midori finds salvation, madness, or death.

Despite the "vile" subject matter, reviewers often praise the striking, traditional visual style

This adaptation of a classic Japanese story remains one of the most infamous underground anime ever created. Censored, banned, and nearly lost to time, Midori stands as a monument to independent animation and the limits of transgressive art. The Origins: From Folk Tale to Ero-Guro Manga

Because the content violated standards for mainstream distributors, Harada was forced to self-finance the screening of the film. It was shown in a limited capacity in arthouse theaters in Japan, but a mass release was impossible. For years, the only way to see Midori was through grainy, third-generation VHS rips passed between collectors. The film became a "lost media" legend, with many questioning if a proper version even existed.

Harada famously animated almost the entire film by himself, utilizing a painstaking technique of tracing thousands of individual cels by hand. The art style mirrors Maruo’s manga perfectly: lush, detailed, and filled with Taisho-era romanticism. The flowers are vibrant. The eyes of the characters are enormous and expressive.