Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory: MAPPA’s Hidden Gem
MAPPA's Underdog for the Anime Community on its 10th Anniversary!
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
What if love could upset the balance of our world? Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory is one mysterious and unusual anime movie that beautifully states this narrative. It is one of MAPPA’s original animated movies, which has proved to be a hidden gem for the anime community.
But if you are curious about why Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory is so good and not widely discussed, don’t worry, we have got you covered! In this article, we will be disclosing all the details regarding this underdog.
BUT WAIT! Did you check our latest article on Season 2 of Kengan Ashura? Make sure to get yourself familiar with Ohma Tokito’s badass fights! Now without any further delays, let’s dive into the details!
Table of Contents
Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory: A Captivating Story
If you are a MAPPA fan, you must be familiar with how MAPPA presents its original creations on the big screen. The studio has a reputation for creating dark yet beautifully animated series. Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory follows the same MAPPA pattern.
It has beautiful animation, but its unsettling vibe can leave the audience on the edge of their seats. Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory’s story centers around a strange town once exposed to a massive explosion.
Strangely, the explosion led to the creation of an infinite time dimension within the town. The town and its people are now stuck in this endless time loop. They live their worst nightmares only in the hopes that one day they will be able to return to their normal lives.
Amidst the frozen time, Mutsumi guides Masamune to the fifth blast furnace, where both encounter Itsumi. This strange girl strikingly resembles a wolf. Little did Masamune know that meeting this wolf-like girl would unleash even more turmoil upon the already troubled town.
Their interaction disrupts the town’s stability, and we as viewers begin to see all the adverse effects of Itsumi’s influence on other girls and boys. The gloomy town becomes a breeding ground for chaos, as a sudden and uncontrollable urge for love blossoms among its youngsters.
What’s The Catch?
If you are an Otaku, you might have heard of Mari Okada. She is the legendary creator behind some of the most beloved animated works from Japan such as A Whisker Away, Anohana, and Hanasaku Iroha: Home Sweet Home.
Her work is renowned for its stunning animation and emotionally captivating tales that resonate with the global audience on a much deeper level. As we mentioned earlier, her work is mysterious and almost irresistible.
Her stories often blend elements of magical realism and drama, two of the most favorite themes of shoujo lovers. But people who love adult and more meaningful content get a great deal watching her movies and seasons as well. So if you love magical realism and don’t mind shedding a few tears, you will surely get the best experience with Illusion Factory!
The MAPPA x Warner Bros. Effect
Since The Illusion Factory is MAPPA’s original work, we can’t help but highlight how this studio has become an unstoppable force in the anime world. For the Illusion Factory, this powerhouse teamed up with another giant, Warner Bros.
To release this hidden gem for the Western audience, MAPPA collaborated with Warner Bros, which we think is a smart move, considering that Western studios are wholeheartedly interested in investing in mega anime projects.
Our Final Verdict
To give you an honest opinion, we genuinely believe that Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory is an outstanding movie. It has breathtaking animation, a captivating blend of mystery and drama, and a touch of romance.
But here comes the disappointing part! It is disheartening to see that this unforgettable movie received so little recognition and was almost forgotten by its studio. Movies like this deserve all the hype as they bring out some of the finest animation experiences for the audience.
To sum it all we give Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory a good 7.5 rating and it is an amazing one-time watch especially if you are a Suzume Lover!
Anime Series & Movies Like Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory
If you come to our anime reviews often, you know we don’t end our reviews without giving our readers some amazing anime recommendations. So, we have some anime recommendations that you might like if you liked watching The Illusion Factory. But before that make sure to read our top picks for Most Jaw-Dropping Thriller Anime to Watch in 2023!
1. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
If you could travel back in time, what would you do? Well, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time centers around a high school girl who gains the magical ability to time travel. And what would a high schooler do if they ever obtained such power?
They would undoubtedly go bonkers! However, fate takes a turn when she realizes that her silly changes are affecting people and their decisions in the most peculiar ways. This movie is an enjoyable watch if you prefer romantic drama, mystery, and a dash of time travel!
2. Mirai
This is a heartwarming tale where a young boy gains the magical ability to time travel. But the twist is that he gets to meet different generations of his family through time traveling (Major 100 Years of Solitude Vibes!).
On his journey through time, this young boy learns some amazing lessons from their lives. The story takes a wild turn when we see that the protagonist receives help from his younger sister from the future, which is indeed mind-boggling!
3. The Anthem of the Heart
The Anthem of the Heart is a movie that revolves around heartbreak, trauma, and healing. The story centers around a girl named Jun who undergoes a traumatic accident that leaves her unable to speak. But as Jun befriends others, she discovers that they too are suffering from past traumas.
This group comes to understand the importance of healing through a theatrical project where they attempt to express themselves. For introverts, it’s a gem and for extroverts, this movie has the power to teach you the importance of meaningful communication and healing.
4. Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Also known as “Journey to Agartha,” this movie is about a girl named Asuna who discovers a mysterious world beneath the Earth’s surface. Her journey through this unknown realm teaches her the importance of letting go as she suffers from the memory of a loved one.
As this is Makoto Shinkai‘s work, we can happily say that this movie is another testament to how the creator masterfully plays with animation and cinematography. If you love emotionally charged movies filled with heart-wrenching scenes, then this one will take you on a rollercoaster ride.
5. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
The Place Promised in Our Early Days stands as one of the early works of Makoto Shinkai. It is an emotionally gripping and visually stunning movie, centered around the lives of three friends who find themselves mysteriously separated by a tower.
The movie delves around the themes of friendship, love, and mystery in which the friends embark on the journey to reunite and uncover the secrets that tore them apart years ago. This film is widely popular among anime lovers and if you are up for a sci-fi/romance anime movie, do check this one out!
Bottom Line
We hope that you enjoyed our review on this hidden gem by MAPPA and Warner Bros and we encourage you to watch our recommended movies by some of the most renowned creators. Additionally, as we officially step into the fall season, we are excited to bring our readers, our top picks for the most coziest anime shows to watch in Fall 2023!
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
