Anime Film & Television

Alice & Zoroku, Episode 1 Review

Alice & Zoroku, Episode 1

Produced by: Bandai Visuals, Lantis
Studio: J.C.Staff
Genre(s): Adventure, Mystery, Seinen
Episode length: 44 minutes

Synopsis: A group of young girls possess mysterious gifts. Detained and experimented upon, these youths are locked away in secret until one of them manages to escape. Her name is Sana―a girl with the power to ignore the very laws of physics. When this willful powerhouse crosses paths with a stubborn old man named Zoroku, his carefully-ordered life will never be the same again! –Amazon

I’m really picky with the anime I watch; I love magical girl, romance, adventure types with happy endings. I don’t usually find my happy endings but I do find a lot of the other genres when looking for new animes. One of the new shows for Crunchyroll’s spring simulcast is Alice & Zoroku. This one seems to be in that supernatural and adventure genre.

This first episode was really catching, and reels you in right away to the story having you ask questions right away. There is a lot of mystery in this first episode and just a few bits of background info. I have a feeling this series might just give you enough answers to string you along to the next episode for more

Sana, also known as the Red Queen, is such a funny character in the sense of since she really hasn’t been out from the research facility she has no social skills or manners at all. Zoroku, the old man who she decides she likes, is hilarious when he lays down the law with Sana and when he knocks her in the head to prove his point. I’m really interested to see what the next episode hold and what other characters they introduce as well.

One aspect that I didn’t care for was the CGI they used for the car chase scene or any scene where they are driving. It was really distracting and didn’t really help the animation at all. It was just really awkward. Though I do like the animation itself, Sana is cute with her dress and little crown and Zoroku fits the old man look with his outfit.

It looks like there will be 12 episodes this season each being about 44 min long. That time flies when you are watching it. Trying to follow what more information they are giving in regards to the facility and what powers any of the “Dream of Alice” had. Overall I really enjoyed the first episode I this series and am looking forward to the next ones.