In Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to: Dive in Wonderland, the world of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story gets a fresh and heartfelt twist. Instead of focusing solely on Alice, this 2025 anime film introduces a second protagonist with Rise Azumino, a disoriented college student dealing with the pressures of adulthood. Guided by a mysterious letter from her late grandmother, Rise stumbles into Wonderland and meets Alice, though not the version fans know from Disney’s 1951 animated classic, but a companion on an emotional journey of growth and self-discovery.

The film, animated by P.A. Works and directed by Toshiya Shinohara, is visually rich, narratively introspective, and deeply rooted in Japanese storytelling sensibilities, according to @alice_movie2025 on X. Where Disney’s Alice floated through a surreal dreamscape, Rise and Alice’s shared journey dives into questions of idenтιтy, purpose, and human connection.

A Wonderland With More Emotional Stakes

Why Rise’s Journey Feels More Real Than Disney’s Dreamlike Detour

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Disney’s 1951 Alice in Wonderland was whimsical, nonsensical, and unapologetically detached from reality. Its Alice did not change much from beginning to end, and her journey was more of a curiosity-fueled romp than a transformative experience. In contrast, Dive in Wonderland grounds its story in a coming-of-age narrative, with Rise’s emotional confusion acting as the gateway to Wonderland.

From the beginning, Rise is overwhelmed by expectations: to read social cues, to do what others do, to achieve something undefined. Her sense of helplessness and frustration makes her far more relatable to modern audiences, especially older teens and young adults, than Disney’s prim and curious Alice. Wonderland is not just strange for the sake of being strange here; it acts as a mirror for Rise’s inner struggles.

The addition of a second character named Alice gives Rise a companion, and the viewers a new kind of dynamic. The friendship between Rise and Alice provides emotional support that contrasts sharply with Disney’s lonely protagonist. This Alice is not just a figure moving through madness, she is an anchor, a co-explorer, and a reflection of Rise’s own need to connect and be understood.

Familiar Faces and Reimagined Encounters in Dive in Wonderland

Classic Characters Return from Disney’s Original Alice in Wonderland, but With New Meaning and Purpose

Both films pull from the same literary source, but the tone and impact of each character vary widely in the Alice in Wonderland anime. Disney’s White Rabbit is a frantic time-keeper who sends Alice spiraling into Wonderland. In the anime, the White Rabbit still serves as a guide, but he introduces Rise to a more layered version of the fantasy world that is less a cartoon maze, and more a living, breathing metaphor.

P.A. Works’ interpretations of the Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter trade slapstick for symbolism. Each character Rise encounters has something to teach her, not just about Wonderland, but about herself. For example, instead of being a mere eccentric, the Mad Hatter challenges Rise’s notions of order and expectations. The Queen of Hearts remains terrifying, but her tyranny now represents the crushing weight of conformity that Rise has been battling in the real world.

Visually, the anime leans into atmospheric storytelling. Soft pastels contrast with vivid surreality. Wonderland is strange, but beautiful and filled with both warmth and chaos. Compared to the bright, almost harsh Technicolor world of Disney’s version, Dive in Wonderland feels like a dream fans will not want to wake up from, where every detail is imbued with emotional resonance.

Dive in Wonderland is About Finding Oneself in the Madness

Wonderland Becomes a Mirror for Idenтιтy and Growth in this New Anime Film

If Disney’s Alice was content to wake up and leave Wonderland behind, Rise’s journey is about integration and bringing the insights of Wonderland back into real life. Dive in Wonderland centers on the theme of self-discovery, a concept that’s explicitly woven into the script and visual motifs. Rise is not escaping reality but confronting it through the lens of fantasy.

The film culminates not with a hasty escape, but with a choice. Rise must decide what kind of future she wants. It is a deliberate break from the circular structure of Disney’s adaptation, where nothing really changes. Instead, this Wonderland offers transformation. The тιтle song, “Zukan” by SEKAI NO OWARI, reinforces this theme with its blend of hope, melancholy, and determination, which is a tone far removed from the chipper tunes of Disney’s original.

Ultimately, Dive in Wonderland respects the surreal tradition of Lewis Carroll’s story but repurposes it for a different generation. It is less about the absurdity of Wonderland and more about the emotional journey within it. It asks its characters, and by extension, its viewers, not just to wander through fantasy, but to grow through it.

Dive in Wonderland is a Classic Tale Retold for a New Generation

This Emotional Adventure Anime Reframes Fantasy as a Path to Self-Discovery

While Disney’s version remains a timeless classic for children, Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to: Dive in Wonderland speaks more directly to young adults facing crossroads in their lives. It offers a thoughtful, emotionally deep and relatable version of Wonderland, one where confusion, fear, and frustration are validated and explored.

This anime is not trying to replace the Disney film, it is expanding the universe, offering a parallel story where Wonderland is both fantasy and therapy. For longtime fans of the tale, it is a rewarding reinterpretation. For new viewers, it is a reminder that stories evolve just like the people who watch them. In the end, Dive in Wonderland may not have talking flowers that sing, but it gives fans something even more valuable in its characters who grow, connect, and help viewers feel a little less alone in the world.