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'''Alice 6''' is a 1995 live-action Japanese TV drama written by [[Chiaki Konaka]] and directed by his younger brother, Kazuya. It has a lot in common with ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''.
+'''Alice 6''' is a 1995 live-action Japanese TV drama written by [[Chiaki J. Konaka]] and directed by his younger brother, Kazuya. It has a lot in common with ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''.
== History ==
== History ==
−In Japan in the mid 90's, a special breed of low-budget TV drama was born (and died). To those who even know of them, these shows are known as area code dramas, because for a certain time slot, several regions of Japan got their own unique drama that the other regions did not get to see, and each of these dramas was named after the telephone area code of its broadcasting station. The area code drama was the brainchild of Kenji Kasai (笠井一二, that's probably the wrong reading) of Antinos Records. (Antinos is the prefix 'anti' plus 'sony' spelled backwards, purportedly.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AC%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3#.E3.82.A2.E3.83.B3.E3.83.86.E3.82.A3.E3.83.8E.E3.82.B9.E3.83.AC.E3.82.B3.E3.83.BC.E3.83.89])
+In Japan in the mid 90's, a special breed of low-budget TV drama was born (and died). To those who even know of them, these shows are known as area code dramas, because for a certain time slot, several regions of Japan got their own unique drama that the other regions did not get to see, and each of these dramas was named after the telephone area code of its broadcasting station. The area code drama was the brainchild of Kenji Kasai (笠井一二, that's probably the wrong reading) of Antinos Records. (Antinos is the prefix 'anti' plus 'Sony' spelled backwards, purportedly.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AC%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3#.E3.82.A2.E3.83.B3.E3.83.86.E3.82.A3.E3.83.8E.E3.82.B9.E3.83.AC.E3.82.B3.E3.83.BC.E3.83.89])
−''Alice 6'' is Area Code Drama 054. It was broadcast in Shizuoka by TV Shizuoka. It is also set in Shizuoka, and was shot at famous locations such as [[Wikipedia:Miho_no_Matsubara|Miho Beach]], [[Wikipedia:Sunpu_Castle|Sumpu Park]], Tokiwa Park, and [[Wikipedia:Shuzenji_Romney_Railway|Niji no Sato]]. At least one episode makes references to Shizuoka lore.
+''Alice 6'' is Area Code Drama 054. It was broadcast in Shizuoka by TV Shizuoka. It is also set in Shizuoka, and was shot at famous locations such as [[Wikipedia:Miho no Matsubara|Miho Beach]], [[Wikipedia:Sunpu Castle|Sumpu Park]], Tokiwa Park, and [[Wikipedia:Shuzenji Romney Railway|Niji no Sato]]. At least one episode makes references to Shizuoka lore.
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E]
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E]
== Characters and Cast ==
== Characters and Cast ==
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Miki is the unspoken leader of the group, and if you're looking for a main character, she might be it. She's played by Yukiko Morikawa (森川友紀子), who had a fairly pronounced lisp.
Miki is the unspoken leader of the group, and if you're looking for a main character, she might be it. She's played by Yukiko Morikawa (森川友紀子), who had a fairly pronounced lisp.
*Masatsugu Shoko （真次 祥子）
*Masatsugu Shoko （真次 祥子）
−Shoko is the youngest member of the group, and the most Alice-like. She has a bad sense of humor. This is one of the first roles of Rina Komine (小嶺麗奈), who went on to become a pretty successful actress and model. In fact, she starred in a movie called ''August in the Water'' that very same year.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E5%B6%BA%E9%BA%97%E5%A5%88] This is the character after whom [[Masatsugu Shoko|Shou's mother]] was named in the anime.
+Shoko is the youngest member of the group, and the most Alice-like. She has a bad sense of humor. This is one of the first roles of Rina Komine (小嶺麗奈), who went on to become a pretty successful actress and model. In fact, she starred in a movie called ''August in the Water'' that very same year.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E5%B6%BA%E9%BA%97%E5%A5%88] This is the character after whom [[Shoko Masatsugu]] was named in the anime.
*Oh Reika （王 麗華）
*Oh Reika （王 麗華）
−Reika carries a capacious bag with a seemingly endless supply of snacks, compared by her fellows to the magical pocket of [[Wikipedia:Doraemon|Doraemon]]. Played by Tomoko Okada (岡田智子). This character shares a name with [[Reika]] of the anime.
+Reika carries a capacious bag with a seemingly endless supply of snacks, compared by her fellows to the magical pocket of [[Wikipedia:Doraemon|Doraemon]]. Played by Tomoko Okada (岡田智子). This character shares a name with [[Reika Yamamoto]] of the anime.
*Kato Juri （加藤 樹莉）
*Kato Juri （加藤 樹莉）
−Juri is envious of Miki, who has previously won auditions over her. Played by Yumiko Shimizu (清水由美子), who appears to be the only model out of the six who remains employed by Spacecraft nearly twenty years later.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E6%B0%B4%E7%94%B1%E7%BE%8E%E5%AD%90] Shares a name with [[Juri]] of the anime.
+Juri is envious of Miki, who has previously won auditions over her. Played by Yumiko Shimizu (清水由美子), who appears to be the only model out of the six who remains employed by Spacecraft nearly twenty years later.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E6%B0%B4%E7%94%B1%E7%BE%8E%E5%AD%90] Shares a name with [[Juri Katou]] of the anime.
*Koga Michiru （空閑 ミチル）
*Koga Michiru （空閑 ミチル）
She's feisty and kind of loud. Played by Aiko Fujimoto (藤本愛子), who is perhaps most famous for her stint as an exclusive model for MC Sister.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%A0%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC] According to a 2ch thread, Fujimoto quit modeling in the late 90's to become an office lady.[http://mimizun.com/log/2ch/zassi/1004317493/]
She's feisty and kind of loud. Played by Aiko Fujimoto (藤本愛子), who is perhaps most famous for her stint as an exclusive model for MC Sister.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%A0%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC] According to a 2ch thread, Fujimoto quit modeling in the late 90's to become an office lady.[http://mimizun.com/log/2ch/zassi/1004317493/]
*Yomoda Chisa （四方田 千紗）
*Yomoda Chisa （四方田 千紗）
−A quiet girl who doesn't get much screen time. Played by Sachiko Miyahara(宮原祥子), who was also an MC Sister model.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%AE%E5%8E%9F%E7%A5%A5%E5%AD%90] Same name as [[Chisa]] of the anime.
+A quiet girl who doesn't get much screen time. Played by Sachiko Miyahara(宮原祥子), who was also an MC Sister model.[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%AE%E5%8E%9F%E7%A5%A5%E5%AD%90] Same name as [[Chisa Yomoda]] of the anime.
*Kano Hikozaemon （狩野 彦佐衛門）
*Kano Hikozaemon （狩野 彦佐衛門）
The bad guy. He represents several characters from the ''Wonderland'' pantheon all rolled up into one, including Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, and even Carroll himself. Played by Shigeru Saiki (斉木しげる).
The bad guy. He represents several characters from the ''Wonderland'' pantheon all rolled up into one, including Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, and even Carroll himself. Played by Shigeru Saiki (斉木しげる).
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Of course, the three models decide to run towards the gunshot sounds, and are soon captured in a net trap laid by a band of feral children reminiscent of Peter Pan's lost boys. They are bound and led to the children's citadel or perhaps their pole structure, where they are tried and sentenced to death. Miki appeals the sentence, offering a display of black magic. The locals are impressed by her sorcery, but then Juri and Michiru run into the citadel/pole structure to rescue the other three, reverting the locals to their previous pissed off and death-dispensing attitude. Once they are good and rescued, the five models promptly fall down a hole.
Of course, the three models decide to run towards the gunshot sounds, and are soon captured in a net trap laid by a band of feral children reminiscent of Peter Pan's lost boys. They are bound and led to the children's citadel or perhaps their pole structure, where they are tried and sentenced to death. Miki appeals the sentence, offering a display of black magic. The locals are impressed by her sorcery, but then Juri and Michiru run into the citadel/pole structure to rescue the other three, reverting the locals to their previous pissed off and death-dispensing attitude. Once they are good and rescued, the five models promptly fall down a hole.
===Chapter 4: Ama No Hagoromo===
===Chapter 4: Ama No Hagoromo===
−The hole is some kind of magical wormhole which whisks them out to the ocean and changes their clothes at the same time. There they decide to take off their sashes and prance around on the beach for a while. After a good prance, they go to retrieve their sashes, but find them missing. Following the scent of roasting fish brings them to a fisherman who has stolen their sashes. The fisherman says he will not return the sashes unless they perform a variety show for his entertainment. They do, so he does. The five Alices then walk, a la [[Wikipedia:Doraemon|Doraemon]], through an Anywhere Door which presently appears. (This episode is a corruption of the [[Wikipedia:Hagoromo_(play)|Hagoromo Densetsu]].)
+The hole is some kind of magical wormhole which whisks them out to the ocean and changes their clothes at the same time. There they decide to take off their sashes and prance around on the beach for a while. After a good prance, they go to retrieve their sashes, but find them missing. Following the scent of roasting fish brings them to a fisherman who has stolen their sashes. The fisherman says he will not return the sashes unless they perform a variety show for his entertainment. They do, so he does. The five Alices then walk, a la [[Wikipedia:Doraemon|Doraemon]], through an Anywhere Door which presently appears. (This episode is a corruption of the [[Wikipedia:Hagoromo (play)|Hagoromo Densetsu]].)
===Chapter 5: The Dark Labyrinth===
===Chapter 5: The Dark Labyrinth===
The Alices find themselves in a long subterranean tunnel. The door disappears. They wander through the tunnel to a large cavern that contains a large Buddha statue. Each of the five models disappears one by one. Shoko, who has been having flashbacks to her childhood and generally doubting herself, is the last to disappear. '''/!\CONJECTURE/!\''' This episode ''might'' be loosely based on Lawrence Durrell's book of the same title. (end conjecture zone)
The Alices find themselves in a long subterranean tunnel. The door disappears. They wander through the tunnel to a large cavern that contains a large Buddha statue. Each of the five models disappears one by one. Shoko, who has been having flashbacks to her childhood and generally doubting herself, is the last to disappear. '''/!\CONJECTURE/!\''' This episode ''might'' be loosely based on Lawrence Durrell's book of the same title. (end conjecture zone)
===Chapter 6: Another Me, Another World===
===Chapter 6: Another Me, Another World===
−Reika has been whisked to a rural fishing town in the 1960's, where she finds a doppelganger of herself living a life she's never lived. She confronts the doppelganger and convinces her she is fake, and is then magically whisked back to the bus and joyously reunited with the waiting Shoko.
+Reika has been whisked to a rural fishing town in the 1960s, where she finds a doppelganger of herself living a life she's never lived. She confronts the doppelganger and convinces her she is fake, and is then magically whisked back to the bus and joyously reunited with the waiting Shoko.
===Chapter 7: The Dome===
===Chapter 7: The Dome===
Miki, Juri, and Michiru come to in a terraformation dome on planet Reticle 19 in the Saggitarius star system. There they meet the dome's last inhabitant, Hecorne Kai, who awaits the return of his daughter Lunica. Miki does some sleuthing, mostly by directing questions at the dome's computer system, and finds out that '''WOAH HUGE SPOILERS''' wouldn't want to spoil that for you!
Miki, Juri, and Michiru come to in a terraformation dome on planet Reticle 19 in the Saggitarius star system. There they meet the dome's last inhabitant, Hecorne Kai, who awaits the return of his daughter Lunica. Miki does some sleuthing, mostly by directing questions at the dome's computer system, and finds out that '''WOAH HUGE SPOILERS''' wouldn't want to spoil that for you!
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*Chisa disappears in the first episode and reappears, ghost-like, later on.
*Chisa disappears in the first episode and reappears, ghost-like, later on.
−*''Alice 6'''s villain, Kano Hikozaemon, is similar to [[Eiri]] in that he is a godlike character who controls the world around the Alices and messes with their minds.
+*''Alice 6'''s villain, Kano Hikozaemon, is similar to [[Masami Eiri]] in that he is a godlike character who controls the world around the Alices and messes with their minds.
*[[Identity]] crises, even more than in ''Lain''
*[[Identity]] crises, even more than in ''Lain''
*In one episode, the Alices lose their memories and have them replaced with new ones, which is not entirely unlike the [[Reset]].
*In one episode, the Alices lose their memories and have them replaced with new ones, which is not entirely unlike the [[Reset]].
