Alice to Zouroku

To me, this anime is beautiful in the simple meaning of that word. After all the stories that I've gone through, this is what's turned out to be my breath of fresh air. A story in which exclusively everything is good and nothing is bad.
Happy.. Not just happy, but wonderfully happy developments happening all over the place.
...
In a lot of stories there are characters that are the enemies in their given circumstances, but if those circumstances were to be different they'd be friends, or even lovers. To realize our dreams of those characters, at least I turn to fan artworks in which those characters are drawn together. There isn't even many artworks of this story to find and I assume that it's because this story is a whole cake, not just a piece of it, if you understand my analogy. :)
Regardless of that, this story is its own fan-fiction in that sense. Characters which start as enemies, but end up hugging each other in tears and becoming best friends. It's as if that is the essence of this story. I'd even say that no one in this story is ever an enemy of anyone. Even the government is not a bad guy, that ever-present trope.

Almost all of the characters are all bright and positive. At the very least, the conviction is understandable in positive light, but that is an eternal trope and won't be a surprise to anyone I think.

I like all of the characters, but the young girls are especially noteworthy for me. They are good and kind people that are easy to love for me. If only the world was full of kids like that. I wish the world was full of people like the people in this anime in general.
But, I'll just touch on what my feelings are regarding Sana.
Sana, the main character, is almost perfect. The "almost" is there because she is so near-flawless, that a tiny thing like this is the only flaw making her less-than-perfect for me. For me, it matters that a younger character has an appropriately younger voice actor. He voice actor not being that is that single minute flaw.
None the less, the voice actress of Sana performed better than flawlessly, to put it that way... She actually has the intonation, the rhythm, the.. I don't know how to describe it exactly. Her voice sounds like that of a little kid. The way she speaks, the way she stutters, the way the tone of her voice loses confidence, the excitement at times, the voice of an angry child.. Everything about her voice acting for Sana is childlike. Her voice contributed tremendously to me perceiving Sana as a genuine child and liking her as much as I do. It's not even right to say I like her, I'm just happy to know that she is in the hands of two wonderful people, Sanae and Zouroku.
Beyond just her voice, Sana as a character is such an amazing feat. She is very well characterized for a child character. The way she speaks, thinks, behaves and acts, it's all childlike. Not just that, but it's all also how a child that's never seen the outside world would be. My overall point is that Sana is a wonderful character that easily could've carried the show by herself for me, but it wasn't necessary!

While this is a fantasy story, it's not over-the-top. Once you're into the story, the story will not change until its end, so to say. There is a final event, but it's not a plot twist, or something to be described as an arc, it's just how the story goes, proceeds, and departs from you. The story will be just what it has been since the start. Because I am so loving of the topic of beautiful (honest, filled-with-good-intentions) human relationships, this anime has had my eyes in tears for what honestly felt like half of the entire duration of the show.

I liked what the story was presented to me as, and I only liked it more and more with each episode.
Having ended up loving this story, I am glad to have given it a chance.. I'm going to read this manga.
Did I mention that the ending of this anime, the very last scene, is something so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes yet again..

Only thing left to add is that I loved the OST, having searched for one particular piece during the first occasion that it's played in the anime, because of how much and instantly I liked it, and, the art is cute and beautiful. The characters are expressive and especially in the last few episodes, the environment is beautifully drawn.

Alice to Zouroku

Animation – 4/10
The animation quality is below average, with noticeable inconsistencies in character designs and movement. Early episodes suffer from awkward CGI implementation, which detracts from the overall experience. The art style works for slice-of-life moments but lacks the polish needed for the more intense supernatural scenes.

Storyline – 6/10
The story follows Sana, a girl with the ability to materialize anything she imagines, and her unexpected bond with Zouroku, a gruff but kind-hearted florist. The premise is intriguing, but the execution struggles with pacing and tonal shifts. It oscillates between supernatural thriller and heartwarming slice-of-life, sometimes making it feel disjointed.

Characters – 5/10
Sana and Zouroku’s ... dynamic carries the show, providing a unique contrast between innocence and wisdom. However, character development is inconsistent, with many supporting characters left underexplored. While Sana’s journey is endearing, the emotional depth needed to elevate the cast is missing.

Music & Sound Design – 7/10
The soundtrack does a good job of complementing the show’s different moods, from whimsical to dramatic. The opening and ending themes are pleasant, and the background music helps set the tone effectively. Voice acting is solid, but nothing particularly groundbreaking.

Emotion & Impact – 6/10
The series tries to balance action and sentimentality, but its inconsistent pacing weakens its emotional impact. Some heartfelt moments between Sana and Zouroku work well, but the overall execution makes it difficult for these scenes to leave a lasting impression.

Worldbuilding – 7/10
The concept of "Alice's Dream" as a supernatural ability adds an interesting layer to the world. However, the rules governing these powers are not fully fleshed out, leaving some elements feeling underdeveloped. The mix of realism and fantasy is intriguing but could have been explored in greater depth.

Entertainment – 6/10
While the premise is promising, the series struggles to maintain engagement due to its uneven storytelling. Some episodes are captivating, while others feel slow or lacking in direction. Fans of supernatural slice-of-life anime may find it enjoyable, but those seeking a more cohesive experience may feel disappointed.

Innovation – 6/10
The show attempts to blend supernatural elements with a grounded, character-driven story, which is refreshing. However, it doesn’t push boundaries in a meaningful way. The mix of genres is interesting, but the lack of consistency prevents it from standing out.

Rewatch Value – Moderate
If you enjoyed the dynamic between Sana and Zouroku, revisiting the show could be worthwhile. However, due to its storytelling flaws, it may not have enough depth to warrant multiple viewings for most audiences.

Overall Score – 5.9/10
Alice to Zouroku is an anime with a strong concept but inconsistent execution. It delivers moments of warmth and intrigue but struggles with pacing and animation quality. While it offers an enjoyable dynamic between its two main characters, it falls short of its full potential. Fans of supernatural slice-of-life anime may appreciate its charm, but others might find it lacking in depth and cohesion.

I really did not enjoy Alice to Zouroku. The plot of this anime had me completely lost and after the third episode I could already see I was not going to enjoy the rest of the series. But... ofc I powered through it and I just feel really disappointed after completing it.

The story changed halfway. This is not even a long series! So either they wanted it to seem super eventful or they just gave up on the initial idea? The story itself is very confusing... Why was there an antagonist type character that seems to vanish mid series without much explanation? I would have ... enjoyed it more if they focused on one idea and went with it till the end. It also jumps from one event to another without proper explanation and you're left to imagine what happened in between. :/

I enjoyed the artstyle but that's about it. Not my cup of tea.