The Teaser trailer for "Dive in Wonderland," the first animated feature film in Japan based on Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland, was released on March 14th. The story is about a modern-day girl named Rise who one day gets lost in Wonderland and meets Alice, and the trailer revealed a "new world of Wonderland." A teaser visual depicting Rise and Alice traveling through Wonderland was also released.
The film is also attracting attention for the fact that actor Nanoka Hara will voice the main character Rise, and Maika Pugh , who has been in the spotlight for her role as a platelet in the film " Cells at Work ", will voice Alice. Additional cast members who will play the characters surrounding Rise and Wonderland have also been announced. Mamiya Shotaro will play Urai Kou, the butler who invites Rise to Wonderland, Toda Keiko will play Azumino Fumiko, Rise's grandmother, Matsuoka Mayu will play the Queen of Hearts, Koji Yamamoto will play the Mad Hatter, and Yashima Norito will play the March Hare.
Ryuichi Kosugi of the comedy duo "Black Mayonnaise" will appear as Kappei Yamaguchi as the White Rabbit, Toshiyuki Morikawa as the Cheshire Cat, and Takahiro Yamamoto as the Caterpillar.
The movie anime will be directed by Toshiya Shinohara, known for "Nagi no Asukara," "Irozuku Sekai no Aquatope," and written by Yuko Kakihara, known for "The Apothecary Diaries" and "Blue Box." It will be produced by PAWORKS, known for "True Tears" and "SHIROBAKO." It will be released on August 29th.
Comments from the voice actors are as follows:
◇Comment from Mayu Matsuoka, who plays the Queen of Hearts
I'm Mayu Matsuoka, who plays the Queen of Hearts. Since I was a child, I've enjoyed the various approaches to "Alice in Wonderland." Even as an adult, I've often wondered what I would do if I were in that situation. Director Shinohara's new Alice seamlessly connects us living in the modern age with Wonderland. I hope you'll enjoy immersing yourself in the world.
◇Comment from Koji Yamamoto, who plays the Mad Hatter
It's a fantasy, a parallel world, a story like a dream you had as a child, a world you wanted to go to, but it also has a mysterious strangeness and a little lesson. I really love the world of "Alice in Wonderland," and when I read the script, I thought that this world view and the current era were able to collaborate well. This world can be enjoyed by anyone, from any era or angle. I think that this is a work that will make everyone, regardless of age or gender, think about something and find answers, so please look forward to it.
◇Comment from Norito Yashima, who plays the March Hare
If everyone, children and adults alike, went on a journey with "Rise and Alice," it would be very tough, but I think it would be a lot of fun. We'll cause you a lot of trouble, but please take it all in and join us on the journey. That way, each viewer's own version of "Alice in Wonderland" will be completed. It's strange, isn't it? Ah, but maybe that's what "life" is all about. Please come and experience it at the wonderland that is the theater. I've wanted to experience it myself ever since I recorded my voice.
◇Comment from Ryuichi Kosugi, who plays Humpty Dumpty
When I told my family, who love Alice, that I would be participating in "Alice in Wonderland," they were overjoyed and said, "I'm looking forward to it!" I hope everyone across the country feels the same way. I want to shout "Alice Hee-Hah!" at the stage greeting soon. If any of the stage greeting members say it, I'll say it at home!
◇Comment from Kappei Yamaguchi, who plays the White Rabbit
When I heard about the role, my imagination ran wild and I got really excited thinking about how I should portray this character with this slightly strange picture. Using a smartphone and tablet, carrying a PC backpack, and kicking his big legs as he moves around busily, I thought it was comical and cute, and I was hoping that this side of him could be conveyed through his voice too. In the story, the White Rabbit keeps talking without a break, and in one scene he plays two roles, so to me he is a very talented character. As an aside, the tablet he uses is apparently called a T (tea)-Pad, and it has a cute teacup logo on it. I wonder if they'll release stickers or other merchandise for it.
◇Comment from Toshiyuki Morikawa, who plays the Cheshire Cat
I'm Toshiyuki Morikawa, who will be playing the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland." Since the original work is a timeless masterpiece, I felt quite a bit of pressure playing the Cheshire Cat. However, I was very happy to be able to work with fresh cast members, and it was an asset to my voice acting career. The character has a very handsome voice, which is quite different from the Cheshire Cat I had in mind, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Please come to the theater!
◇Comment from Takahiro Yamamoto, who plays the caterpillar
I was really surprised that I was offered a role in such a wonderful production as "Alice in Wonderland". Why me? It was so strange (laughs). And the character I played was an interesting character with a mysterious atmosphere, so I hope everyone will pay attention to that and enjoy the show at the theater! To be able to experience the world of Wonderland... I'm glad I was born on Earth!
◇Comment from Shotaro Mamiya, who plays Kou Urai
I voiced the character Urai in "Alice in Wonderland." At first, I thought I could help out a little since Nanoka Hara, who is in the same agency as me, was playing the main character, but Nanoka's voice acting was so wonderful that I was overwhelmed and intimidated, and in the end I felt sorry for bothering her. I'm looking forward to seeing how this timeless classic, beloved all over the world, will turn out in a new production.
◇Comment from Keiko Toda, who plays Azumino Fumiko (Rise's grandmother)
The soft colors and the story are very soothing. It teaches us what is important. My role is Rise's "grandmother." She is a wonderful grandmother who says many good things. I want to be a grandmother like her. She is a very memorable presence for Rise. And anyway, Alice in Wonderland is so cute. She's so positive. I love the scene where Rise and Alice talk about what they like. I hope many people will watch it and have their hearts filled.
