Alice in Borderland (TV series)
Alice in Borderland (Japanese: 今際の国のアリス, Hepburn: Imawa no Kuni no Arisu) is a Japanese science fiction thriller drama television series based on the manga by Haro Aso. The series was directed by Shinsuke Sato. It stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as allies trapped in an abandoned Tokyo forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, to extend "visas" that, if expired, result in the player's execution by lasers being shot from the sky.
Alice in Borderland | |
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Promotional release poster | |
Japanese | 今際の国のアリス |
Genre |
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Based on | The original graphic novel "Alice in Borderland" by Haro Aso published by Shogakukan |
Written by |
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Directed by | Shinsuke Sato |
Starring |
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Composers |
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Country of origin | Japan |
Original language | Japanese |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 16 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Kaata Sakamoto |
Producer | Akira Morii |
Cinematography | Taro Kawazu |
Editors |
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Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 41–80 minutes |
Production company | Robot Communications Inc. |
Original release | |
Network | Netflix |
Release | December 10, 2020 – present |
The series' first season was announced in July 2019 and filmed from August to December 2019. Set locations included Shibuya districts and a green screen studio replica of Shibuya Crossing. The show's visual effects were produced in an international collaboration between Japan's Digital Frontier and teams from Singapore, the United States, and India. The musical score was composed by Yutaka Yamada, who had collaborated with Sato.
The first season premiered on the Netflix streaming service on December 10, 2020, and received positive reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences, direction, and acting. They compared the show to many entries in the survival genre, including the films Battle Royale (2000) and Cube (1997). The first season's strong performance and high viewership in many countries resulted in Netflix renewing the series two weeks after its premiere; the second season was released on December 22, 2022. On September 27, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.