Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There

Believe me, this cartoon is great. Unlike that sugar-coated and over-simplificated Disney version, it retains genuine sense of wonder and delicious weirdness so prominent in the book. I remember watching Disney's Alice in still tender age of 11, on big screen no less, and it completely failed to impress me compared to Russian cartoon that popped up occasionally on TV.

Carroll's work is not for children only, nor is it easy to adapt onscreen; while Disney carefully removed all the more serious issues, Russian version has them all, including several rather grim existential/death jokes. Again, Disney's Alice is just another Snow-White, while Alisa is more like Carroll and Tennison perceived her: cute, curious, caring, innocent and strong.

Cut-out animation is top of the line, in fact, it eerily resembles some modern high-budget anime; add to this superb voice work and fine electronic soundtrack from the beginning of 80's - and you have a great work of art.

I surely hope "Alisa" finds its way to "Masters of Russian Animation" series. This masterpiece surely deserves much wider recognition.