The Case of Hana & Alice
Synopsis
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—poisoned by one of his four wives. 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. After an awkward introduction, Hana agrees to help Alice and formulates a plan that may lead them to the answers they seek. The two girls embark on a journey to uncover what happened to Judas, and perhaps a friendship may start to blossom between the two along the way. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reactions are mixed but lean positive. Many appreciate the film's unique art style, heartwarming story, and relatable characters, finding it to be a charming and nostalgic experience. However, some criticize the disjointed plot, lazy animation, and slow pacing, which leads to polarized opinions on the film's overall quality.
Strengths
- Heartwarming and deep meaning story.
- Unique art style that enhances the story.
- Realistic and relatable characters.
- Enjoyable and entertaining moments throughout.
Weaknesses
- Disjointed story with abandoned character development.
- Poor and lazy animation with cheap backgrounds.
- Protagonist can be annoying.
- Slow-paced and may not appeal to everyone.
- Story may stray away from main issue.