is a Japanese manga series by Karakara-Kemuri. The manga was serialized by Mag Garden on Monthly Comic Avarus magazine. The series has been adapted into an anime television series by Doga Kobo. The story follows Tenka Kumō, Soramaru Kumō and Chūtarō Kumō, three well-known samurai brothers who send criminals to the secluded prison Gokumonjo in the middle of Lake Biwa. However, the Kumō brothers soon learn how they are tied to the Orochi's vessel, a human host possessed by a demon serpent from ancient times, and how they are destined to destroy it once and for all. The anime has been licensed for North American release by Funimation.
A sequel manga series entitled Laughing Under the Clouds Gaiden (Donten ni Warau Gaiden) premiered in 2014 and ended on 2017. A prequel manga series titled Laughing in Limbo (Rengoku ni Warau) which is set 300 years before the original series premiered in 2014. An anime theatrical film trilogy adaptation of Laughing Under the Clouds Gaiden by Wit Studio was announced, with each part running for 60 minutes and the first part scheduled for release on December 2, 2017. A live-action film adaptation was scheduled for release on March 21, 2018.
Story
In 1868, the Meiji Restoration occurred. Because of this, the country faced many criminals, such as samurai rebelling against their fallen positions. Many were arrested, but they soon broke out of their jail cells and rampaged across Japan. Therefore, the government did their best to prevent this by building a giant prison in the middle of Lake Biwa. However, to get these criminals to the prison, they needed a form of transport. In this way, the Kumō brothers were given the responsibility to take these criminals to their final resting place.
Characters
Main characters
Played by: Sota Fukushi
Tenka is the eldest of the three Kumō brothers, as well as the 14th head of the shrine. He is both the father and mother figure to his younger brothers after the death of their parents. When in combat, Tenka is known to be strong enough to defeat dozens of prisoners in an instant with nothing but a fan, as well as being quick on his feet. He refuses to let his siblings take part in any battles, always rescuing them from dangerous situations. He shows symptoms of being the Orochi's vessel, and is promptly prosecuted without a trial, but is later revealed to be alive under the protection of the police. After fighting against the Orochi and Fuma ninjas (including Shirasu and his younger brother), he sustained wounds that left him requiring a wheelchair, unable to walk again.
Played by: Yuma Nakayama
Soramaru is the second eldest of the Kumō family. His elder brother, Tenka, entrusted him with the family's twin swords, which he practices with every day. Even throughout combat and practice, the swords remained in their sheath. Soramaru also struggles with the fact that he is weaker than Tenka, not being able to be recognized as a strong man who is worthy of protecting his household. He suffers from memory loss due to the childhood trauma of witnessing his parents' murder and nearly being strangled to death. This experience also causes him to develop an extreme aversion to having his neck touched. After Tenka's alleged death, Chūtarō's disappearance and Shirasu's betrayal, Soramaru's negative feelings causes his mental state to deteriorate and he eventually turns into the real vessel of the Orochi. Later, with Nishiki, Chūtarō and Tenka's help, Orochi is separated from Soramaru, with Abe no Sōsei's katana, and Chūtarō and Takeda's help, kills the Orochi once for all.
Played by: Kirato Wakayama
The youngest of the family, Chūtarō is the fastest of the brothers when it comes to speed. He also has a friendly relationship with the shrine's tanuki named Gerokichi. After learning that Tenka was actually not the real Orochi's vessel and has died for nothing, he decides to seek revenge and leaves the Kumō Shrine with Naoto Kagami. Later, he discovers that Tenka is still alive, and reforms his way. He cooperates with Soramaru and Takeda in the finishing blow to kill Orochi.