It has been announced that Lewis Carroll's masterpiece "Alice in Wonderland" will be made into an animated feature film titled "Dive in Wonderland" and will be released on August 29th. Although the TV anime version of the work was broadcast in 1983-84, this will be the first time it will be made into an animated feature film in Japan. The main character of the anime is a modern-day girl named Rise, who one day gets lost in Wonderland and meets Alice, which is when the story begins to unfold. It has also been announced that actor Nanoka Hara will voice the main character Rise, and Maika Pugh , who has been the talk of the town for her role as a platelet in the film " Cells at Work ", will voice Alice.
The animated film will be directed by Shinohara Toshiya, known for "Nagi no Asukara," "Irozuku Sekai no Aquatope," and written by Kakihara Yuko, known for " The Apothecary Diaries" and "Blue Box." It will be produced by PAWORKS, known for "True Tears" and "SHIROBAKO." This will be the first co-managed production between Shochiku and TBS Holdings since they agreed to a capital and business alliance. A super teaser visual featuring Rise and Alice and a super trailer have also been released.
Hara's performance as the lead character in Makoto Shinkai's animated feature film "Suzume" drew much attention, and he commented, "I never thought I'd be asked to be a voice actor for an animation again, so I was very happy. It's been a while since I've done dubbing, so I was very nervous, but I was very happy to be involved in the set of my favorite anime, and it was such an enjoyable dubbing period that I wanted to stand in front of the microphone forever."
"I think the main character, Rise, is a character that many people, including myself, can relate to. The work has a mysterious charm that makes you feel as if everything the characters say is being spoken to you. You will be soothed by the enchantingly beautiful images of Wonderland, but you will also be surprised at what you will discover, and I believe it is a work that will reach the hearts of many people, from children to adults. I hope everyone will look forward to the film's release."
Maika Pugh said, "I love voice work, so when I heard I would be playing the role of Alice, I jumped for joy. Alice has a lively and cheerful personality, and when I was acting, I tried to express things in different ways depending on the scene, such as the amount of effort I put into it and the volume of my voice. I would like all my family and friends to see this movie. I hope that people who are familiar with the story of Alice in Wonderland and those who aren't will enjoy watching the adventures of the two characters."
Director Shinohara commented, "If you can walk through your favorite world with your favorite characters, it will surely be an unforgettable journey. Perhaps you will encounter something earth-shattering and something will change dramatically. I hope that this movie will be that kind of thing for you...that's the wish I have."
Kakihara, who wrote the screenplay, said, "Why is Alice loved throughout all generations? As I searched for the answer while writing the script, I got lost in Wonderland many times. I would be happy if people would come and visit this simple, carefree world, just like having a quick cup of tea with a friend when they are tired of something invisible. I hope that people who watch the movie will have a little smile on their face when they leave the cinema."
Producer Tasaka Hidemasa of Shochiku and Saito Tomoyuki of TBS Television commented, "With its charming yet quirky characters, the beautiful and eccentric worldview, and the awareness it gives us for life...'Alice in Wonderland' is a story that has remained a classic fantasy story in any era. Working with director Shinohara Toshiya, screenwriter Kakihara Yuko, and PAWORKS, we wanted to express this worldview in a straightforward way in a way that is unique to Japanese animation. First of all, we would be happy if viewers could experience the joy of Alice's world, or Wonderland, without having to think too hard about it as an entertainment piece. I am sure that each viewer will find something important in the process."
Regarding the casting, she said, "The most important thing for us in casting the role of Rise was how to make the character of Rise, who lives in this modern era, relatable and relatable. We wanted Nanoka Hara to play the main character, Rise, because she has the acting ability to play both comical and serious roles, and also has a life-sized charm that makes her feel relatable. Maika Pugh is free-spirited, carefree and strong-willed, and her demeanor is the very image of Alice. At the recording site, the adults around us were being pushed around by Maika, but they were convinced, saying, 'That's right! This is what Alice is like!'"
