The Case of Hana & Alice
2015 · Directed by Shunji Iwai
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- comedy
- mystery
The story
After transferring to Ishinomori Middle School, Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa overhears her classmates discussing a strange rumor. The previous occupant of her seat, a nondescript "Judas," is missing and presumed murdered. Amidst dealing with her mother's undesired meddling in her affairs and warding off her classmates' bullying, the troubled Alice starts to investigate the mystery surrounding Judas' disappearance. The trail of clues leads her to the house of her next-door neighbor, the quirky and reclusive Hana Arai.
What it’s like
Bright, storybook-saturated frames with a hand-painted softness: sunlit classrooms, suburban streets in clean primary colours, the shimmer of summer heat on pavement. Rotoscoped sequences give faces a slightly floating, drawn edge, and the camera moves with a restless detective's energy, quick cuts and whip pans that gradually slow as the mood turns. The score is playful, with comic musical stings and bright pop cues, then quiet piano when the loneliness surfaces. The vibe is whimsical and wistful, a sunny puzzle with a cool undertow. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a stretch when you want something quirky and tender. Pacing is brisk and mischievous, and the emotional register swings between goofy and quietly aching as a sullen, bullied new transfer finds an unlikely friend in her eccentric, reclusive neighbour, with a tender, intimate closeness between the two girls. Intensity: bullying, teasing and a presumed-murder premise handled lightly; no gore, little on-screen violence, some tension and sadness. For viewers who love offbeat friendships, puzzles with heart, and anime-tinged visual playfulness.
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