Ever watched Alice in Borderland and wondered, “Wait, who’s Alice?” You’re not alone. When I first heard the title, I thought it was about a girl named Alice, but the truth is much more surprising. Let’s dive into what “Alice” really means in this dark, thrilling Japanese series.
The Title Explained: Why “Alice”?
The name “Alice in Borderland” is a clever nod to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Instead of a magical rabbit hole, the characters fall into a deadly alternate Tokyo where survival is the only rule.
The “Alice” in this case isn’t a single character but more of a symbolic reference. Arisu Ryohei, the main character, is considered the “Alice” of this twisted world. In Japanese, “Arisu” is just the katakana rendering of “Alice.”
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Ryohei Arisu = Alice
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Borderland = the mysterious, dangerous alternate Tokyo
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Wonderland parallel = strange, often deadly games instead of tea parties and riddles
Who Is Ryohei Arisu?
Ryohei Arisu is the protagonist of Alice in Borderland. He’s not your typical action hero. Instead, he’s an intelligent but aimless gamer who suddenly finds himself in a life-or-death world.
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He loves video games and puzzles, which become his survival tools.
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Arisu struggles with feeling out of place in the real world, but in Borderland, his skills shine.
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He represents “Alice” stepping into a bizarre and hostile Wonderland.
Interesting Facts About Alice in Borderland
Here are some things you might not know about the series and the “Alice” connection:
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The story comes from a manga by Haro Aso, first published in 2010.
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The Netflix adaptation gained huge international popularity, especially after Squid Game.
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Many characters parallel figures from Alice in Wonderland—for example, Usagi (“rabbit”) symbolizes the White Rabbit.
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The “games” act as twisted versions of Wonderland’s challenges, testing intelligence, teamwork, and human morality.
How Alice in Borderland Uses Symbolism
The title works on many levels. On one hand, it’s a cool, catchy reference. On another, it’s a deep metaphor for being lost in a strange new reality.
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Arisu as Alice: Both characters wander into a new world that challenges everything they know.
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Borderland as Wonderland: A distorted reflection of reality, full of absurd yet meaningful trials.
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Survival as the lesson: Just like Alice learns about curiosity and growing up, Arisu learns about survival, morality, and human connection.
Personal Insight
I remember watching Alice in Borderland and constantly searching for “Alice.” When I realized that Arisu himself was the symbolic Alice, it made the title click. I loved how the show tied a familiar childhood classic into such a dark, modern survival story.
Wrapping It Up
So, who is Alice in Alice in Borderland? It’s not a mysterious girl but Ryohei Arisu, the gamer-turned-survivor whose name translates to Alice. The title is both a clever homage and a symbolic clue.
Did you expect the “Alice” twist before watching, or did it surprise you too? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear what you think!