...right against the glossy lollipop of usual Disney animation. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy quite a few glossy Disney works (cf. one of my comments dedicated to "Darkwing Duck").
Pale, insane, dark, surreal, uncouth, crude, but artistically wonderful. Every single voice delivered goes from a talented actor or actress. Every piece of music played and song performed catches attention and does not leave it at ease. If you are accustomed to smooth colourful mermaid-like TV serial adventures, stay far away from this one. An unprepared brain could get damaged by this harsh art.
Alisa is a daring, clever, not very cute (she is no "Britney Spears" or "Barbie" type), but definitely interesting, and very lonely character. She can stand up for herself and she is not a cry-baby - that's for sure. I cannot say I like her, but I watch her animated adventures with a kind of awe.
The two, known to me, Russian DVD releases include both the titles: "Alisa v Strane Chudes" (1981) and "Alisa v Zazerkale" (1982). One of the releases contains mono sound only but that's alright - it becomes to the bleak colour palette of the production perfectly.
As to me personally, I prefer to watch it in almost black-and-white with a very little hint of blue and with the selected EAX advanced sound effects. A fine example of weird intoxicating escapism.
Quite possibly, the best animated version of Mr Lewis Carroll's novel.
10 out of 10. Thank you for attention.
