Customer Reviews

Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I kept hearing about this anime from the all-female CLAMP manga collective, so I bought the DVD (which also includes MIYUKI-CHAN IN MIRRORLAND, or ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS). The limited story of both short films (actually just a series of strange events) is of a Japanese schoolgirl, Miyuki, who first disappears down an interdimensional "rabbit hole" along with a PLAYBOY bunny type "white rabbit", then meets a series of all-female characters in fetishy garb based on the characters in ALICE IN WONDERLAND. All these characters seem to want to fondle, kiss or sexually dominate Miyuki, who just gets embarrassed, runs off and falls into the next batch of supernatural lesbians who invite her to "come play with us". MIYUKI-CHAN IN MIRRORLAND repeats this trend - except here Miyuki is pulled through her bedroom mirror by a more sexually knowing version of herself, who touches her in an intimate (but non-explicit - so stop drooling, *Okatu-San*!) manner.

The entire tone of the first production is more cute-comical than menacing (even the whip-wielding Red Queen who restrains Miyuki with her bullwhip never actually flogs her), and Miyuki's greatest fear is being embarrassed by all this free-floating feminine touching and snuggling. The second has a bit more edge to it, as the chess game Miyuki plays with her mirror self has living female pieces who whip each other into (again, non-explicit) nudity, and the loser of the game has to strip (which mirror-Miyuki does willingly as our Miyuki looks really, REALLY embarrassed and tries to get her to stop, screaming "But I'm not married yet!" in the English - subtitled only - translation.) Even so, this is as far removed from hardcore BDSM tentacle *hentai* on the order of Maeda's UROTSUKIDOJI ("Overfiend") Saga or Pink Pineapple's ANGEL OF DARKNESS as an episode of Saturday morning's CARDCAPTORS (also created by CLAMP, incidentially).

Depending on which theory you read, Carroll's ALICE books are either a satire of British politics of the time, or a metaphor for a young girl's sexual awakening. CLAMP seems to have gone full-bore for this second interpretation in their story - all the characters except the easily-embarrassed Miyuki are dressed in a sexually provocative fashion, most make seductive advances towards her, and mirror-Miyuki in ...MIRRORLAND is not only willing, but eager to shed her Japanese schoolgirl outfit and stand proudly naked before her other self.

Complicating this, at least to a Western audience, is that all these characters appear to be cliche'd predatory lesbians; however, as Schodt pointed out in his book MANGA! MANGA!, men are often shown in Japanese popular culture as sexually brutal and beastly, whereas women (even sexually active ones) are seen as infinitely more gentle. To the Japanese female fans of CLAMP's work, even the whip-wielding Red (Bondage) Queen would be a gentler, safer introduction into the mysteries of adult sexuality than any man would have been. Miyuki might be embarrassed by all this sex, but she won't be terrified of it coming from other women.

This is the kind of short, slightly-kinky but clearly female-oriented *anime* that you might want to show to any women friends who are under the impression that "all those Japanese cartoons are nothing but S-M porno and big robots." (Though I'd like to know what's wrong with big robots, anyway.... Gekiganger - STRIKE! <g>)

Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is a re-telling of the classic Alice in Wonderland...with a twist. As the back of the box says, this video contains nudity and mature situations.

Poor Miyuki! After waking up late, a skateboarding bunny takes her to Wonderland where everyone is after this kawaii (cute) girl. Great video game style music and a fast pace keep this anime rolling along, not to mention the beautiful character animation. You'll never know who or what Miyuki will encounter next!

Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is incredibly bizarre. The all-female Studio CLAMP has taken the Alice in Wonderland tale and given it an anime pseudo-lesbian twist - to the extent that there is not a single male being (Human or otherwise) to be found!!! As such, there is plenty of male-/lesbian-oriented fan service; those offended by scantily-clad females and the like should probably avoid this title.

There are some perhaps-unintended links to other anime series. Bunny girls pop up across a lot of anime series. The card girls are particularly reminiscent of the main warriors of Wild Cardz. The way some characters are drawn seem to harken to other CLAMP characters, albeit just slightly.

The main drawback to Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is that it is incredibly short - only about thirty minutes total. It would have been nice if the DVD offered some good extras, but all there is here is scene selection and trailers for other ADV Films offerings :-( Also, the music is incessantly repetitive, to the point that it becomes annoying on the level of "Don't Worry Be Happy" by the end of the thirty minutes!!! Still, [...] it is hard to go wrong buying this hilarious PS2-compatible DVD :-)

Lesbianism and Sexual Inuendo aside, the Ladies of CLAMP have produced a comical look at Alice in Winderland.

From the Queen of Hearts (Pardon...S&M Queen of Hearts...) to the other familiar characters, each character is fully decked out as a very sexy and voloptuous female (I personally liked the Cheshire Cat).

In actuality, this film is seperated into two parts. The Second part was even more hillarious than the first....and, it doesn't adhear to the Alice in Wonderland storyline...rather, it kinda...well, I can't say too much, now, can I?

As to the Lesbianism and Sexual Inuendo...it only adds to the humor, rather than making you cringe or get offended (depending on your point of view).

For me, keeping an open mind and looking at the Humor rather than the stuff to get nit-picky about is the way to look at the movie.

That, and I have to say...Poor, Poor Miyuki...

This two episode OAV is hilarious! Miyuki is a straight arrow teenager who takes the place of the Alice character in Lewis Carroll's classic tales. All of the other characters, from the Cheshire Cat to the White Rabbit, are replace by gorgeous, seductive women. The first episode is a short parody of Alice in Wonderland while the second is a loose adaptation of Through the Looking Glass.

Filled to the brim and overflowing with lesbainism jokes and sexual humor, this video is something that is definitaly not for kids. However, it doesn't go so far out that it becomes offensive, as nudity is extremely limited.

this anime rating: 17 up for brief nudity, violence, sexual situations including lesbainism and sado-masochism

As the title (Miyuki-chan in Wonderland) indicates this is CLAMP's version of the children story Alice in Wonderland. This a short, fun, little movie about Miyuki and her crazy dreams.

Technically the animation is beautifully done like any other CLAMP production, the subtitles are acceptable and don't go too fast, but the movie plays only one track of music thriugh the whole film, it didn't bother me at first but after watching it a few times it began to get on my nerves. The character designs are great, also no males in the film, overall a great short film.

*WARNING* These aren't the characters you grew up with (ie humpty dumpty's not your ussual egg!) and other 'modifications' to me they're improvments on thier counterparts. This would probably be recommended for people 15 and up. Good addition to any anime collection!!

I enjoyed watching this one, but it was almost like seeing a girl/girl anime video with all of the sexiest scenes edited out! Miyuki is pretty and has all kinds of encounters with scantily clad pretty girls, many of whom seem to express an interest in being with her --- but nothing ever happens. Just when you think she might begin making out with another girl the scene changes and she's off doing something else. Still, pretty girls with a decided lesbian bent. I hope they continue!

This short video is lots of fun and invites repeated viewing, both for it's always interesting and well-timed action as well as the beautiful animation and very clever and compelling music.

Clamp, the renowned all-female studio that created the anime, draws on some of the unconscious concerns of its young "shoujo" audience for the humor and fascination.

Miyuki, the heroine of the story, who can't help but enjoy her fetching appearance while she sits and combs her beautiful hair in front of the mirror, must know that while she is still partly a child she cannot remain that way for long. In her trip to Wonderland she encounters the somewhat grotesque caricatures of female seductiveness that are among the inhabitants of popular culture, such as girls in bunny suits and cat outfits. That they try to seduce her might be symbolic of her fears of what she might herself have to become.

In the second segment, the trip to Mirrorland, it is Miyuki's own reflection that pulls her in, making the confrontation all the more direct. Seeing how quickly and shamlessly her mirror-double is willing to strip naked embarrasses Miyuki to the point that she must flee, even though it is, after all, only in front of other women.

Clamp infuses humor into a gentle and compassionate look at young women.

While the DVD is fun and silly, I didn't really see or notice anything that would be called true nudity. Also, while the DVD case says one of the languages is English, I couldn't find it in the DVD's menu. I had to go to the DVD player's remote to just switch on the English subtitles! Lots of sexy, kinky females but I would have to say that even kids could watch this. They WON'T understand it, but there's nothing to offend the eyes.
Only 30 minutes long, so not really a lot there to begin with.
Also, after watching once I really don't find myself wanting to watch it again and again, like Tenchi Muyo!, Ranma 1/2, Outlaw Star or Cowboy Bebop. So,if you have to get it, get it used.

I'm not just giving this one star because I didn't like it, but because I found it to be a poor DVD all around. You don't even get to see those cute bunnies on the cover!

This DVD was purchased because I am largely an anime fan as well and an enjoyer of the Alice in Wonderland story. This movie failed me on both levels. Even it was cast with all live supermodels, it would still be worse then watching a Girls Gone Wild commercial. The animation was far from anything high quality, the entire soundtrack was basicly one repetive song that reminds me of one of those benny hill skits where they speed everything up and even though I don't like fan service in my anime, this was still lacking in that department as well. There is no payoff either to this sexual fantasy. As soon as alice even gets close "getting good" Miyuki runs off to the tone of that annoying song just to run away from the next batch of seducers.




The only cool aspect of this movie, and it wasnt even that cool...more of a "this doesn't suck that much" was the lyrics to the ending credits (because of the translation as well as the japanese words spelled out in english) and the landscape of mirrorland.

I prefer action in my anime, this has none. Wasn't good enough for adult anime, but had too many sexual tones to be a childrens story either. This was a poor sexual story as well as a poor alice in wonderland story.

if you DO like the alice in wonderland story, I would suggest not purchasing this film, as it might leave you feeling that the story was raped by this film. I might suggest watching the Labyrinth or if you like it even darker, Alice. The latter is a stop motion/like action version that is much darker and creepier.