Alice to Zouroku

Story: 8 That 8 is at least for the premise. It starts off quite interesting. It could have gone a more serious route like in the first arc where it was about keeping Sana/Red Queen contained or obtaining her powers, but it quickly changed into a slice of life show after that, only returning to the supernatural stuff in the last arc. Characters: 7 They all build to some degree or another. Sana becomes more and more like a human child as time goes on. Zouroku and Sanae also grow closer as a family with Sana. Ayumu and Hattori towards the end also sort of grow up. Originally the latter was a rather angsty child. Art: 7 It's simplistic and tends toward a younger audience but is not unique. The backgrounds are decent. Sound: 7 Not much to say. The soundtracks did its job but that's it.. Enjoyment: 8 Although this show has seinen in its tags, it felt rather lighthearted and is really more or less a growing up story of sorts. There really weren't that many adult themes in this show, nor is anything here really mature. Who's this for: -If you want an unusual slice of life show -Moe fans -Loli fans -If you like supernatural stuff/superpowers Who's this not for: -If you really want something serious as implied by the seinen tag. -If you don't like slice of life -If you were looking for something deeper than a growing up story

I really did not enjoy Alice to Zouroku. The plot of this anime had me completely lost and after the third episode I could already see I was not going to enjoy the rest of the series. But... ofc I powered through it and I just feel really disappointed after completing it. The story changed halfway. This is not even a long series! So either they wanted it to seem super eventful or they just gave up on the initial idea? The story itself is very confusing... Why was there an antagonist type character that seems to vanish mid series without much explanation? I would have enjoyed it more if they focused on one idea and went with it till the end. It also jumps from one event to another without proper explanation and you're left to imagine what happened in between. :/ I enjoyed the artstyle but that's about it. Not my cup of tea.

I didn’t expect that I would enjoy this anime last winter. It had a unique premise, and the main characters were consists of 1 kid and 1 old man. Totally different from the norm. The storytelling was done really well, even the pacing flowed smoothly through out the series. It had a nice blend of action, comedy, drama and slice-of-life. The animation was rather unique compared to other anime released last winter, but it fits well with the story. The characters were well fleshed out. You’ll even like the suppose antagonists of the story. Indeed, a must watch if you want to relax and enjoy a good anime with a solid story.

(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!) It’s my hope to be a grandfather someday. My own Grandpa turned 85 years old this week. I called him up on the phone to tell him happy birthday and to see how he has been doing. We talked about my job, his thoughts, and just life in general. To him, he’s most grateful for a simple yet important thing: his family. From his wife to his siblings, from his kids to his grandkids and great grandkids, he is proud to know that his legacy is one filled with amazing people. Good people. And I’m lucky enough to be a part of the love that he shares. Alice to Zouroku isn’t about birthdays and legacies, but it is about a relationship that spans a couple of generations. Sadly, whatever love it does have to share is lost along the way. STORY It takes watching all of Alice to Zouroku to realize that its narrative construction isn’t exactly linear. Not in the one-event-after-another sense but in the how-it-coalesces sense. Because, at first, it seems as though the show will follow a strict, singular plotline. Instead, it goes for separate arcs and episodic content, jumbling together both approaches to achieve its story. If this content were half-arc-half-episodic or fully one or the other, then the anime would have had some merit, following through on a foundation or keeping consistent in its plot. Instead, this jumbling comes off as the anime having little to no focus. Many of the people in the first half do not carry over: Minnie C., the director dude, that one kid who can draw items into existence. Much of what goes on in the second half doesn’t tie back too well: Hatori’s dilemma, the explanation of her powers, the newfound government watch program. And sandwiched in-between are the show’s episodic morsels. Not that the two slices of bread on either side of the season are completely inedible. Sanae and Sana’s interactions in the second episode make for a fun, lively sequence of events that push the plot along while building the cast. And the exploration of Wonderland in the final couple of episodes, after it had been alluded to here and there for quite some time, demonstrates a follow through on Alice to Zouroku’s part. Still, the breads’ moldy focus heavily curtails the show’s most important aspect: Sana and Zouroku’s relationship. With the initial outing worried mostly about a research facility and the evil people chasing Sana, and with the last outing putting a ridiculous amount of emphasis on a couple of last-minute characters, there just isn’t enough time given to what the anime literally titles itself around. That’s why, when these moments between the old grandpa and the young granddaughter do pop up, they immediately capture the audience’s attention. It can be something as small as him pulling open a wrapper around some candy for her to eat or as big as her clinging onto and refusing to let go of him when he gets back home safe and sound. No matter the scale, their grounded moments together represent Alice to Zouroku at its absolute best. Indeed, all of episode six – with her tagging along during his job, their intermittent conversations, and her eventual adoption – make this aforementioned morsel the tastiest of the bunch. It can even be argued that the very, very last scene also deserves such praise. An older Sana fondly reminisces about Zouroku in a future timeline while clutching a set of beautiful flowers that no doubt remind her of him. The thematic implications alone here make this snippet infinitely more interesting than whatever the first and second halves of the show dished out. If for no other reason than it actually relates to the anime’s main goal. Besides the strange lack of focus, the anime contains even stranger decisions. Sana’s kidnapping isn’t so much shocking in an entertaining sense as it is downright uncomfortable to watch given how over-the-top the anime goes with it (when she soils herself, the potential drugging, literally shooting her in the leg with subsequent muffled screams and cries). Moreover, one of the story’s themes on humanizing remains restricted to the Dreams of Alice users as opposed to explored and contrasted through regular people as well. And, speaking of the Dreams of Alice, the premise never truly takes hold, acting more as a caveat to the narrative rather than a vital piece worth extra attention. A lot of the comedy does work in the anime’s favor thanks mostly to Sana’s inquisitiveness. Plus, to reiterate, her moments with Zouroku demonstrate that this story has heart. But, without tangible storytelling focus and with those few speedbumps along the way, the show’s total execution rots more than it would prefer. ART & ANIMATION Alice to Zouroku’s first episode spells doom for the series when it trips up with error after error in its artistry. Asynchronous audiovisual production when a character sounds like he sits down and sighs but not really. Low-quality CG all over. Moving backgrounds when the characters themselves have stopped. Improper detail locations. While none of these specific issues exist for any longer than a few seconds at most, their frequency raises a red flag immediately for the rest of the show’s artistic integrity. Thankfully, the flag lowers quite a bit once moved beyond the first episode. Yes, the CG is still not ideal when it does appear, but it isn’t around as much or at least as prominently. And yea, the rare weird cut can rear its ugly head, like when Zouroku moves to attack Minnie C. for harming Sana. But, in general, the anime doesn’t wave that flag around with vigor anymore afterwards. Instead, Alice to Zouroku likes to draw one’s attention to the effort put into the designs of its characters. Their blocky nature adds some much needed charm to this story, and their looks capture their personalities well. For example, Zouroku’s furrowed gaze, white beard, and red sweater paint him as a stern yet likable grandpa. Sana switches from a princess dress and crown to a hoodie and short hair without ever losing her blonde strands and pink coloring, giving her a childish, cute appearance with ease. And Shizuku’s business attire contrasts with her magical maid outfit to complement work with “play” and to help accentuate her doubly helpful behavior. Sana’s Wonderland and the background artistry also deserve some praise. Her world away from the world contains all manner of depicted oddities: flying seals, giant turtles, crazy technology, piano bridges, shoe plants, ducky boats on a tea river. All it’s missing is a loony (read: mad) guy with a hat and some cards. The background art in Wonderland wows with its blue skies, pink clouds, and levitating isles. But the local city, Zouroku’s pretty floral shop, and the smaller locations visited (his house, the alley restaurant) also do their part in building the show’s appeal. By comparison, Alice to Zouroku’s actual animation does not reach as high as the designs and the background art, but it does not reach as low as the first episode’s wary mistakes either. Instead, it treads a middle ground. The characters’ imaginative summons, like Shizuku’s array of “weapons”, up movement for the duration of their stay, and the everyday actions of the characters don’t scream fluidity but get the job done regardless. That red flag never leaves the mind of the audience because of the stark nature of the errors committed. However, with the nice designs, pretty backgrounds, and passable animation, the show at least tries to hide that flag as best as it can. CHARACTERS Of the two main characters in Alice to Zouroku, Sana evidently earns the most screen time. Without knowing anything about her, Sana seems like any other child. She pines after tasty food she cannot afford. She isn’t afraid to state her honest opinion despite the situation. She loves to have fun without worrying about the consequences. Yes, she has her own personal quirks, like commenting on the smells around h…

A so/so anime (mildly spoiler-y). Overall it was a cute little anime, but there were a few things that I feel bring down its rating from a truly "good" anime. 1. It left us with many, many questions and very few answers. 2. The tone was all over the place. The beginning has some dark (and VERY dark) scenes, and a clear main story line, but these are funneled out as the anime continues. Eventually the anime feels like any typical cutesy anime with a little girl lead where problems are solved by a down-to-earth adult scolding the thing that is doing wrong. It felt like they didn't really know what kind of anime they were making, and some scenes feel very disjointed from others. Would I recommend it? Sure! ...just don't expect a masterpiece or to feel fulfilled after this season. All in all I'd say if you're looking for a decent anime that deals with relationships, finding yourself, and questions why each of us exist, and don't mind that the main story leaves a lot to be desired and that there is a serious disconnect in tone between the first third and the last two thirds, then this anime is for you! Enjoy.

STORY: Sana escaped from a research facility where she was subjected to take part of various experiments that were deemed dangerous and abusive. Her plan consists of vengeance for the pain that she had to endure. The first few episode was full of intense moments and fighting scenes. Halfway through the series, it died down a bit and all was calm. Then, the last few final episodes became intense again. CHARACTERS: Sana: The Red Queen, magical and powerful, funny, weird, caring, still a child (especially at heart), anxious and impulsive. Zoroku: Guardian of Sana, grandfather, has old-school mindset, and florist. OVERALL: This anime has caught my eye. Expect a lot of references to Alice and Wonderland. The flow of the storyline was really weird and a bit unconventional. Halfway through the series, it felt that it was the finale of the anime. The anime is very cute, funny and full of wonder and weirdness.

First of all let me tell you, Alice to Zouroku is not your usual anime. It's quite a strange one and the story is kinda intriguing too. The anime revolves around people who posses a strange power called 'Alice's Dream'. They can materialize anything they imagine and our MC, Sana happens to be the most powerful of them all. She was bound in a research facility but then escapes and ends up with a grumpy florist called Zouroku. How they bond and become a family is what the story is all about. First, the story is a new one. It is being adapted from a manga of the same name, which I have to read at some point of time. The development of characters and strengthening of family bonds play a strong part in this anime, and honestly you'll love it. As for the art, it was just horrible in the first episode. That awful CGI made me wash my eyes with bleach and I had planned to drop it. But thankfully, they amped up the animation from the second episode and has improved a LOT. The sound is pretty good. The ED is so calm and peaceful that I'm already in love with it. The OP is kinda quirky but it's enjoyable nonetheless. Character development plays a strong part in Alice to Zouroko. We see Sana becoming more adaptive to human emotions and feelings. Zouroku's grumpy but lovable Grandpa is enjoying. There are also some dark characters like Minnie C, who gives of an air of a complete psychotic killer. Alice to Zouroku ended on a positive note and for once I can say, that I'm happy with the ending. No cliffhangers and no abruptness, the ending was real beautiful. Overall the enjoyment is pretty good in Alice to Zouroku. While not as good as many other shows this season, Alice to Zouroku manages to hold out on its own and create a place for itself. Watch this show just to see Sana and Zouroku's bonding, trust me, it's really heart warming and enjoyable.

Alice to Zouroku is like Madoka Magica, but with a half-baked story. I don't know if I'm being too kind grading this anime 7, but... It wasn't all that bad (Umaru-chan is worst). There's no spoilers, so don't worry. --Story (6/10)-- The first episode was 46 minutes long, which means that the story was going to be complex, with much to explain. What I think that ruined the story, was because of that. The 11th (next-to-last) episode ended suddenly, with nothing really happening, and then I thought that the final episode was going to have 46 minutes long too to end the story with a thrilling sensation, with a good climax to finally end the anime. But I was wrong. The 12th episode was only 23 minutes. Regardless of that, I still felt hope that it would happen something really thrilling, and then the climax. But the end was really superficial, like if the staff of this anime ran out of creativity. The story of Alice to Zouroku presented something interesting in the beginning, but in the end, it ended too cliché and too happy. I'm not opposed to happy endings, but it's because some characters were having hard problems to resolve. And it ended as if the problems didn't ever existed. --Art (9/10)-- The art remembered me of Madoka Magica, and it was beautiful. --Sound (9/10)-- The opening song of this anime is catchy, but the thing is that the song was a little strange to put in the animation. --Character (7/10)-- The characters are charismatic, but during some episodes, the title started to lose sense. The name of the anime means "Alice & Zouroku", meaning that Zouroku and the main character have a strong connection with each other (I know that the main character isn't called Alice). The thing is: Zouroku isn't that present in the anime. He appears sometimes, but most of the time is only Sana (main character) and the other "Alice's Dream Girls". So I think it fits best as "Alice & Sana". --Enjoyment (8/10)-- The anime was dark and filled with mystery, like Madoka Magica. The first episode was longer than the others, but I didn't realized it much, it was very interesting and I couldn't stop watching it. The thing that ruined was that ending. --Overall (7/10)-- Alice to Zouroku is a good anime, I spent a good time keeping up with it on crunchyroll. If you want to watch an anime that makes you curious, watch Alice to Zouroku.

I usually don’t write reviews but this time I wanted to share my thoughts *May Contain Spoilers* Story 5/10 This was definitely one of the weak points of this anime. We first see Sana (the main character) running away from the research facility. So the people working there are trying to find her. As the episodes go by we meet the twins and some white haired kid Who also have similar powers. Eventually things happen, she gets caught, she gets freed and that’s it. After that the research facility no longer follows her, and besides the twins, we never see those characters ever again in the anime. This is my problem, after that she’s just living a normal life. What happened To the facility? Why didn’t they pursue her anymore? None of these questions Are answered to my knowledge. After that she does normal stuff, then she gets into a conflict, then gets out of it, then the anime ends. Nothing else. I was hoping they would give us more flashbacks and context, but it rarely happened. Art: 6/10 Standard anime art Sound: 7/10 Good op and Ed Characters: 7/10 Nice characters but Pretty standard characters Enjoyment: 6/10 It was fine Overall: 6/10 Not bad but not particularly amazing.

This anime honestly took hold of me way quicker and harder than I expected. I was expecting some cute slice-of-life, but was totally surprised to find out it had a lot of depth and character development. The way you bond with the characters watching the series has you really feeling for their emotional moments. At some points i really truly felt sad and wanted to cry for them, and at others I truly felt happy seeing their happiness on screen. I have a bias based on resonating with Sana and the way she feels about the world, but I think that anyone who had a rough time growing up could find comfort in relating here. It took a fun "Alice in Wonderland" theme and gave it a deeper underlying meaning and I truly think that people who dislike the show just were hoping for an easy-to-follow slice of life. So if you arent looking for character depth and an interesting plot, and moreso want a cute bonding slice of life this might throw you for a loop!