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The Wonderland
Birthday Wonderland (バースデー・ワンダーランド)  or known as The Wonderland in the UK, is a 2019 coming-of-age fantasy adventure film which was directed by Keiichi Hara and produce by Yoshinori Takeeda, Fuminori Honda, Hiroshi Chonan. The film is animated by Signal.MD which produces famous Japanese animation such as FLCL Progressive etc. It first premiered in Japan on 26 April, 2019. The film was screened at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2019 where it was the largest event dedicated to animation and also was the final Japanese film to be released in the Heisei era.five days before the 2019 Japanese imperial transition.

Birthday Wonderland has a narrative coming-of-age story with a fantasy adventure theme. The film was set in Japan where Akane, the protagonist who has no self-confidence. She has met a mysterious alchemist and his student on the day before her birthday, they tell her about their mission to save the world so they decide to go to "Wonderland" to complete the mission together.

The film is based on Sachiko Kashiwaba's 1988 children's book Chikashitsu Kara no Fushigi na Tabi (Strange Journey From The Basement) and also heavily inspired by Alice in Wonderland where our young protagonist gets dragged into a strange world filled with Dream like scenario and magical creature.

They used famous Japanese actors/actresses such as Mayu Matsuoka, Anne Watanabe and Kumiko Aso to voice the characters and other supporting cast. Ilya Kuvshinov is a famous illustrator from Russia as a main character designer/animation for this project.

Synopsis
The story is about a young girl named Akane who is struggling to find meaning in her mundane life. One day, she receives a mysterious package containing a map and a strange message. As she follows the map, she is transported to a magical world called "Wonderland" where she meets a talking alchemist named Hippocrates and his apprentice, a boy named Pipo. Together, Akane, Hippocrates, and Pipo embark on a quest to find the "Rabbit of Happiness" who can grant any wish. Along the way, they encounter a variety of strange and fantastical creatures and must navigate the whimsical and often perilous landscape of Wonderland.

As they journey deeper into the world, they discover that the fate of Wonderland is intertwined with Akane's own past and present. With the help of her new friends, Akane must confront her fears and uncertainties and find the strength to make her own wishes come true.

Voice cast

 * Mayu Matsuoka as Akane
 * Ichimura Masachika as Hippocrates
 * Anne Watanabe as Chii
 * Kumiko Aso as Midori
 * Nao Tōyama as Pipo
 * Keiji Fujiwara as Zan Gu
 * Akiko Yajima as Doropo

Akane
Akane is a young girl who has been feeling lost and unfulfilled in her everyday life has been transported to Wonderland and has embarked on a quest to find the Rabbit of Happiness, which has ultimately led her to discovering more about herself and her own desires.

Hippocrates
Hippocrates is an alchemist who can talk and lives in Wonderland, is served as a guide and mentor by Akane. He is wise and kind, but at times he can be a little absent-minded.

Pipo
Pipo is a young boy who had been eager to prove himself and had a tendency to be impulsive, was befriended by Akane and became her companion on their journey through Wonderland.

Zan Gu
Zan gu is a warrior from the kingdom of Altodis, who is sent by the queen to escort Akane, the main character, and her friend Chii to meet with the queen. Zan Gu is a skilled fighter and carries a sword with him, but he is also shown to be kind and caring towards Akane and Chii. He becomes a valuable ally to Akane and helps her navigate through the dangers of the fantasy world of Wonderland.

English voice cast

 * Lisa Reimold as Akane
 * Allegra Clark as Chii
 * TBA as Midori
 * Jackie Lastra as Pipo
 * Ben Lepley as Zan Gu
 * Jennifer Losi as Doropo
 * Zach Aguilar as Prince
 * Frank Todaro as Hippocrates

Akane's hometown
The film's opening scenes provide a glimpse into Akane's mundane life in her small town, which is portrayed as a quiet and lackluster place with streets lined with unremarkable buildings and devoid of color or decoration. This setting effectively establishes Akane's dissatisfaction with her life and her yearning for something more thrilling and exciting. It is through this lens that we are introduced to Akane's character, who is restless and seeking a sense of adventure beyond the confines of her ordinary existence.

Wonderland
After Akane falls through a mysterious portal, she finds herself transported to Wonderland, a fantastical world that is bursting with color, magic, and whimsy. The landscape is dotted with an array of strange, colorful creatures and plants, and the sky is a vibrant shade of blue. As she begins to explore this wondrous world, Akane encounters a variety of unique and memorable locations, including:

The Clock Tower
Hippocrates and his team operate from a towering structure that serves as their home base in Wonderland. The tower is an impressive edifice, filled with all manner of strange machines and devices that the team uses to study and research the mysteries of the world they inhabit. Akane seeks out this tower to gain a better understanding of the nature of Wonderland and the challenges that lie ahead of her. Within the walls of this structure, she receives valuable guidance and support from Hippocrates and his team as she embarks on her journey. The tower serves as a central hub for much of the action in the film, and its imposing presence adds to the sense of wonder and mystery that pervades the world of Wonderland.

The Garden
One of the first places that Akane visits in Wonderland is a breathtaking garden that is bursting with life and color. The garden is a beautiful and tranquil place, filled with blooming flowers, buzzing insects, and colorful birds that flit from branch to branch. It's a stark contrast to the drab and unremarkable world that Akane left behind, and she is immediately struck by its beauty and vibrancy. It is in this garden that Akane first meets Chota, a small but mischievous creature who becomes her guide and companion throughout much of her journey. Together, they explore the wonders of the garden and beyond, encountering a variety of strange and fascinating creatures along the way. The garden serves as an important symbol of the beauty and vitality of Wonderland, and its lush scenery and lively inhabitants make it a memorable location in the film.

The Labyrinth
As Akane and her companions journey deeper into Wonderland, they find themselves faced with a daunting challenge: navigating a dark and twisting maze that is filled with dangerous creatures and deadly traps. This treacherous maze is where the group must find the gemstone that holds the key to saving Wonderland from certain destruction. As they make their way through the labyrinthine corridors, they encounter all manner of obstacles and enemies, each one more challenging than the last. The tension and suspense of this section of the film is heightened by the ominous atmosphere of the maze, which is shrouded in darkness and filled with eerie shadows. Despite the dangers that they face, Akane and her companions press on, driven by their determination to complete their mission and save the world of Wonderland from impending doom.

Akane's School
Towards the end of the film, Akane returns to her school, which is once again depicted as a mundane and uninspiring place. However, her experiences in Wonderland have given her a newfound appreciation for the world around her, and she's able to find beauty and wonder in the ordinary things of everyday life.

Production
The film was produced by animation studio Signal.MD and directed by Keiichi Hara, who is known for his work on other anime films such as "Miss Hokusai" and "Colorful" The film is based on the novel "Chikashitru Kara no Fushigi na Tabi" by Sachiko Kashiwaba. The animation for the film was done using a combination of 2D and 3D techniques, with a focus on creating a visually rich and immersive world for the characters to inhabit. The music for the film was composed by Harumi Fuuki, with the opening theme song "Wonderland" performed by Aina Aiba.

The film was released in Japan in April 2019, and has since been screened at film festivals and received a limited theatrical release in other countries. It has received generally positive reviews from critics, who have praised its imaginative visuals and heartfelt storytelling. The characters were created by illustrator and designer Ilya Kuvshinov. Kuvshinov is known for his distinctive style, which often features soft, pastel colors and delicate, intricate linework.

In "Birthday Wonderland," Kuvshinov's designs are characterized by their whimsy and playfulness, with each character sporting a unique and distinct look. Akane, for example, is depicted with big, expressive eyes and a slightly messy hairstyle that emphasizes her youthful energy and curiosity. Hippocrates is designed to look wise and grandfatherly, with a long beard and kind eyes that convey his gentle nature.

The creatures and landscapes of Wonderland are also designed with a great deal of creativity and attention to detail. From the giant spider that threatens Akane and her friends to the twisted trees and mushroom forests they encounter on their journey, each element of the world is designed to feel fantastical and otherworldly.

Release and reception
Matt Schley of The Japan Times gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising the animation and visuals but suggesting it as being among a number of anime films "trying to recreate the charms of Miyazaki". He concluded: "The Wonderland is not the first, and will almost definitely not be the last, to try to push the Miyazaki buttons — and while it succeeds on the surface, it lacks the deeper emotional core to make for something truly wondrous." Allan Hunter of Screen Daily wrote that the "overly busy story provides countless opportunities to create imaginative worlds and strange characters, but it also tends to feel like a string of set pieces rather than something that builds dramatic tension or momentum", feeling that "a less elaborate approach might have achieved more of an emotional impact." While noting the film's shortcomings, Twwk of Beneath the Tangles also wrote, "I could appreciate the direction, which sometimes created an intensity and urgency that made me worry for the characters, and the abounding fantasy which reminded me that I, too, had an imagination once."

US and Canada disc releases were available from Shout Factory in 2020-10-06.