David Schwimmer and Alice in Wonderland Together Again
I was scrolling through Instagram the other day, searching for Alice-related content as Frank requires me to do, when I stumbled across a post by MARKO, who is a… Shoe painter? Sneaker cobbler? Running shoe artist? Whatever he calls himself, he’s got millions of followers. He is famous for painting and customizing sneakers, which he then gives to celebrities and internet personalities. Well, one of the celebrities he gave the shoes to was none other than David Schwimmer. That isn’t what stopped me from scrolling, though; no, I stopped because he was making Alice in Wonderland sneakers for David Schwimmer. Originally, I was more interested in the sneakers (sorry, David). It wasn’t until after I had finished the video and had moved on to another form of procrastination on my phone that a thought entered my mind. “Why?”
Why was this man making Alice in Wonderland-themed sneakers for Friends star David Schwimmer? Does Ross have a connection to Alice that I don’t know about? Of all the things about David that could be painted onto a sneaker, why Alice? So, to answer my questions, I conducted rigorous research on Schwimmer. I began by watching all of Friends, which shed absolutely no light on the situation. I then decided this needed an A Beautiful Mind-style board with yarn and tacks. I didn’t know where to get yarn, so I used all the shoelaces in my house. After I made the board and connected the strings, I stepped back to see it in full. I stood there waiting for the answers to wash over me. I waited there for eight and a half hours, and I still had nothing.
Distraught over my lack of answers, I entered into a fugue state. Rewatching the video again and again and again and again. I stopped bathing, eating, and cleaning. I was like a modern-day Howard Hughes, except I didn’t own an airline, build planes, or date Katherine Hepburn. Finally, something clicked. At one point, MARKO mentions “Looking Glass” while talking to Schwimmer. Was this the lead that would finally answer one of life’s biggest questions? I decided to Google “David Schwimmer Looking Glass.” Finally, I got what I was looking for. David Schwimmer is a co-founder of the Lookingglass Theatre Company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1988 by Schwimmer and fellow Northwestern University graduates, the company is named after the first play they produced, Through theLookingglass, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's novel of the same name.
Now that I finally got my answers, let's talk about the sneakers. MARKO hand-painted the shoes, and they're jam-packed with Alice references. MARKO really did his research. A checkerboard pattern covers the toe box, with a playing-card pattern around the toe as a nod to the card soldiers. On the back, a waving blue bolt of cloth reminiscent of Alice’s dress from Disney's Alice in Wonderland, and the Nike swoosh is painted with purple stripes, like the pattern on the Cheshire Cat’s tail. Sprinkled on the shoes are additional references, including the 10/6 found on the Mad Hatter's hat. There's also “Eat Me” on one shoe and “Drink Me” on the other. The shoe was then finished with an opaque white paint over everything to simulate looking through glass. While I’m not much of a sneakerhead, I would buy these shoes in an instant. Unfortunately, the shoes were sold at auction for a charity that funds education programs for kids in Chicago. Okay, wait, my wording was weird there. It’s not unfortunate that the money raised from selling the shoes was donated to charity. That’s actually quite fortunate. What I mean is that it’s unfortunate I will never be able to afford these shoes.
But MARKO has made a mistake posting the video, as I’m quite crafty. He had basically given me instructions on making the shoes myself. While I have never painted pictures with paint, I can paint pictures with words. These skills should translate with no problem. So, with my ingenious plan to make myself a pair of knockoff Alice sneakers, I marched down to Foot Locker, bought an incredibly overpriced pair of Nike sneakers, and then I headed to the hobby store. I dropped an ungodly amount of money on paints and brushes, as the salesperson assured me that the higher the quality, the better the outcome. The salesperson was so excited by my plan that I saw them high-fiving their manager as I walked out.
After I ruined a pair of shoes trying to recreate MARKO’s Alice sneakers, I read more about the Lookingglass Theater Company, which reminded me of something. One of Frank’s planned multimedia expansions for The Looking Glass Wars universe is a musical. I, for one, am incredibly excited to see it. This tidbit of information gave me an idea. One so great that I rushed to my computer as soon as Frank told me to write a blog about it.
For those of you who aren’t understanding where I’m going with this, allow me to paint a picture with words, which apparently is the only kind of painting I’m good at. There is a theater company called “Lookingglass,” and Frank is making an Alice musical. This seems like a match made in heaven. The melding of this perfect fit would be so powerful that it might even solve cold fusion. On top of that, thanks to the power of Alice, Frank has an in with David Schwimmer, who, I for one, think would be an incredibly interesting guest on Frank's All Things Alice podcast.
It’s wild how many people have a connection to Alice. I feel like there should be a term for it, kind of like the six degrees of separation theory, where everyone in the world is connected through a chain of six people. I’m going to call this new theory six degrees of Aliceation. Where everyone in the world, whether they know it or not, is connected to Alice in Wonderland in some way or another.
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
Rise of the Autocards
Earlier this year, documents were discovered in the archives of the British Museum that uncovered the truth behind the development of Wonderland's most feared troops - the Autocards.
Dear Mother,
I wish I was writing you this letter telling you that I have good news. I just received word from the Millinery that they will not be moving forward with my automaton project. They are “worried about the ramifications of replacing milliners with a machine.” When I asked what they meant by this, they explained that since my machines must be trained by the people whose job it will emulate, none of the milliners would bother training them. They don’t want to be a part of what will take their job. Essentially, they see the merits of my invention, but it’s too innovative for Wonderlanders to handle. Too innovative! What a joke! Was the taming of the Spirit Dane too innovative for cobblers? The invention of the crystal continuum too innovative for carriage makers? What does too innovative even mean?
Sorry for ranting, but as I’m sure you can tell, I’m upset. What’s really frustrating is that the creation and programming of these automatons would actually increase jobs; the only jobs that it would take are jobs that inherently risk Wonderlanders. They didn’t even listen to me when I tried to explain that this invention is not constrained to just assisting milliners on dangerous missions; it could be used in mines or on jobs that expose one to chemicals. These automatons will save lives, but they can’t see past the initial blowback. It’s just so frustrating. I’ve put so much work into this project, and now it seems like it was all for nothing. I’m starting to lose faith in myself. When I took this job at the Millinery, I thought I would be allowed to let my imagination fly, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. I think it’s time for me to give up on this project and move on to something new. Who knows, maybe the next one won’t be so innovative.
Love,
Persephone
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO: BLANK
REGARDING: EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE OF CARDS TECHNOLOGY R&D
While I was talking with BLANK during the quarterly Millinery/HOC Wonderland security council, BLANK showed me an interesting piece of technology that was shelved. The technology is a partially self-thinking automaton, which I believe could revolutionize the HOC. When I asked why they were not pursuing this invention further, it was explained to me that the milliners were disinterested in creating a machine that would eliminate their jobs. This got me thinking: if a deck of card soldiers is supposed to be a finely tuned machine, then soldiers that are finely tuned machines themselves would only be advantageous. Since the technology was shelved, the Millinery is willing to sell us what they have for BLANK. Which, if I may say so, is a fantastic deal.
The tinkerer responsible for the automaton is a Persephone Herringbone. I took the liberty of reaching out to her to get an in-depth explanation of her invention. She claims it can do almost any job a Wonderlander could. I think we should pursue this further for HOC use. If this invention can do what she claims, it could mitigate the risk to life for our card soldiers and, in the long run, save us money that would otherwise be used for training, housing, and feeding them. While I’m not suggesting that this machine replace a deck or even a hand, I do believe they could play vital support roles that were missing during Operation BLANK, which caused BLANK avoidable casualties and cost us BLANK.
SIGNED
BLANK
Dear Mother,
You are not going to believe what happened today! I was working on a new idea that failed spectacularly. This was going to be the final straw for me. I had decided right then, and there I was, giving up on inventing, and was going to get a job repairing old Millinery technology. As I was packing up my tools, I got a knock at my door. Standing there were two House of Cards officials! At first, I was worried something was wrong, but they explained that the House of Cards had taken an interest in my automatons! They informed me that the House of Cards had purchased my research from the Millinery and wanted to hire me. They believe the existing technology is enough to create effective scouts. I was hesitant to join at first. While the milliners are essentially elite bodyguards for the Queen, the House of Cards, and their card soldiers are exactly that, soldiers. They’re fighters first. I didn’t want to be contributing to the senseless violence that the House of Cards is responsible for. But the House of Cards officials have assured me that, with my invention, not only will there be less risk of life due to the machines taking all the risk, but if my machines do their job well, my automatons will actually be able to stop conflicts before they happen! I guess the different branches of the government see innovation differently. I did it! I created something great!
Love,
Persephone
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO: BLANK
REGARDING: PROJECT AUTOCARD
Persephone’s invention has exceeded all expectations. These automatons, which are now being called “Autocards,” move and react to the many different simulated situations in a similar manner or better than a normal card soldier would. If it weren’t for the fact that these machines can only be programmed to perform two complex tasks, I would suggest replacing all card soldiers on the ground with these marvelous machines. I am expediting the integration of the autocards into the House of Cards. The first field test will take place during operation BLANK on the outer perimeter of BLANK.
SIGNED
BLANK
Dear Melody,
I’m glad to hear that you and the kiddo are doing well, but hopefully not too well without me. It’s crazy how big he’s gotten since my deployment. I think about you both every day. I’m about to be deployed on a mission today, but don’t worry about me. It’s just a basic surveillance mission which I’ve done hundreds of times before. Well, I guess that isn’t entirely true. There is something slightly different about this mission. Our mission is also a test for some new scout automaton thing that apparently was a canceled Millinery technology. Those elitists in the Millinery love to shovel their trash onto us to save some cash. I don’t necessarily trust it to watch my back. Millinery tech is mainly meant for defense and protection; it’s not something that we would need out in the field. They tell us this scout will revolutionize the battlefield, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. It’s just a suit of armor with no emotions. It is incapable of any individual thought except “complete the mission.” But if it can’t think, what would happen if something were to go wrong? I’m not saying something will go wrong on this mission, though. I’m talking hypothetically in the future, you really don’t have to worry. But the other guys have the same concerns as me. What if completing the mission involves abandoning all of us? It doesn't even have a weapon! How is it going to keep us safe? Oh well, I guess I’ll be babysitting a machine. Luckily, the hand I’m being deployed with is made up of people I would trust my life with, so doing this job one man down won’t be an issue. I was just venting my concerns because if this machine becomes standard issue and is deployed on an actually dangerous mission, we don’t know what will happen. I’m going to be fine as always. I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much. I’ll send you a letter when I get back from my mission.
Love you with all my heart and all the hearts on my uniform,
Two of Hearts Lawerence Gillian
Wonderland Gazette
What started as a routine surveillance mission quickly turned to disaster when a hand of card soldiers was ambushed on the border between Wonderland and Boarderland. Three of the five soldiers died, but only one of the soldiers who made it back was living. One of the two card soldiers who made it back was never living to begin with; it was an experimental piece of technology called an “Autocard.” An autocard is an automaton soldier. Originally created for the Millinery, they did not find the technology necessary and sold it to the House of Cards. The autocard is capable of performing complex tasks such as surveillance, security, and, hopefully, fighting on the front lines. The hope for these machines is to reduce the loss of life on the battlefield. While the test mission for the autocard was a disaster, the experiment was a success.
Survivor of the mission, Two of Hearts Lawerence Gillian, agreed to recount what happened during the mission with the Wonderland Gazette in his hospital room as he recovered from his injuries.
LG: Everything was normal, I guess, as normal as could be with a walking suit of armor next to me. The rest of the hand and I were in position surveying weapons shipments. I was tasked with keeping the log during the mission. Usually, this is a two-person job in case one of the scribes is incapacitated, but in this case, the autocard was the second scribe. I didn’t trust the autocard and didn’t want to get in trouble, so my reports were extra detailed.
WG: Why didn’t you trust the autocard?
LG: At first, I assumed it was some failed Millinery technology that had been pawned off to us. It was untested, I didn’t know if it would be able to keep us safe, and I didn’t know what its limitations were. While I trusted it could get the job done if everything went well, there is always a chance it doesn’t. The unpredictable nature of war, mixed with untested tech, is a recipe for disaster.
WG: Are you saying that this happened because of the autocard?
LG: No.
WG: What had happened?
LG: We had noticed that the shipment was running late, which was odd. We felt like something was wrong and decided that we should
abandon the mission for our safety. But right as we began packing up, we were ambushed.
WG: Were you spotted by the weapons shipment guards?
LG: There was never going to be a weapons shipment. It was a test.
WG: You were the only one to survive the ambush. How did you manage that?
LG: There was an explosion. I was knocked back by the explosion and hit my head. So I don’t know what happened, but when I came to, I was being carried by the autocard. It was running back to our extraction point. We were being chased by our attackers, but the autocard was sprinting at full speed. Our attackers were keeping up, but what allowed us to escape is that the autocard never got tired. It ran all night. Twelve hours until we could be extracted.
WG: You had mentioned that you initially didn’t trust the autocard. Do you trust them now?
LG: It saved my life.
WG: How do you feel about the fact that, because of this experiment's success, autocards will be integrated into all aspects of House of Cards?
LG: If they are anything like the one that was deployed with me. I think it’s great news.
To Persephone,
Our post-sortie report on the autocard test found that, while it did save Two of Hearts Lawerence Gillian, it was not programmed to do so. It was programmed to gather intelligence and report. We think the reason it saved Lawerence Gillian is that the records the autocard was keeping were slightly damaged during the explosion. With the reports destroyed, somehow, there was a switch in the programming. It was instructed to bring back the reports along with the redundancy. Without its report, the only redundancy would have been Lawerence Gillian himself. This kind of calculation should have been far too complex for the autocard; it should have resorted to its escape setting. We would appreciate it if you could come down to the factory and take a look at the autocard. Maybe you will see something we don’t, as to why it was able to think effectively for itself.
Best,
Head Tinkerer J.
House of Cards
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO: BLANK
REGARDING: PROJECT AUTOCARD
Persephone has taken a look at the autocard and found the source of the “thinking” that occurred during the mission. The cause of the issue was how the visual sensors report to motor processing. While in the instance of the experiment, this “thinking” was helpful, we cannot have these machines making decisions whenever they decide. Persephone has installed what she calls a “collar” that allows the autocards to think critically only when certain levels of stimuli are reached. These have been tested and will be deployed immediately. PROJECT AUTOCARD has been deemed a success.
SIGNED
BLANK
Dear Mother,
As I’m sure you know, my autocards have been fully integrated into the House of Cards. I truly never thought I would see an invention of mine as widely used as these are today. I’m going to visit the labs today, where they are going to show me how the autocards are being used in each
branch. I created something that saves lives. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you for everything.
Love,
Persephone
To Persephone.
I’m sorry you did not see eye to eye with how the House of Cards tinkerers made use of your invention. The scout autocard model was a fantastic success, and we are grateful for the platform you created, but your behavior during the exhibition was abhorrent.
Your invention was contracted to and funded by the House of Cards. What did you think your invention was going to be used for? The MkII autocards are meant to fight on the frontline. They are weapons. Even the scout model you created is capable of fighting. Like it or not, you created a weapon, and now we are honing it. That is what we do, we are weapons tinkerers. Due to your behavior, your services are no longer necessary, and your contract with the House of Cards has been terminated.
Your service to Wonderlanders will not be forgotten.
Best,
Head Tinkerer J.
House of Cards
Wonderland Gazette
Today, the House of Cards has announced its third-generation autocard. While each new autocard model is called a “generation,” each generation is used for different tasks. The oldest MkI Scout model, of course, is used for scout missions as well as light-arms fighting. The MkII soldier models are standard-issue infantry.
Now, today we have the MkIII Specialized. The specialized models are bigger and stronger than the MkII. The armor and weapons can be changed for different combat needs. Light armor and ranged weapons or heavy armored brutes. This model will be able to do it all. Don’t forget, you can see them today as they march out to their deployment on the front lines to assist the Wonderlanders fighting for us. Today marks a new age of safety for all of Wonderland.
To Persephone,
I know you have every right to hate us for what we did to your invention, but we are having some problems and could really use your help. It seems the thinking collars you created for the autocards are malfunctioning.
We first noticed this when the MkIII’s were deployed. Their units, while helping during battle, were disobeying orders. But, not disobeying in the sense of ignoring orders and doing nothing. No, they are disobeying orders to carry out their own maneuvers. When a hand is told to flank, it will instead conduct a forward assault with great success. The generals are finding this a problem as they can’t punish the autocards. Even if they could be punished, their disobedience of orders was found to be helpful in the end. We tried taking a look at the collar you built, but couldn’t make any sense of it. We really need your help.
Best
Head Tinkerer J.
House of Cards
To Head Tinkerer J.,
The reason you have been having trouble making sense of how the collars work is that they never worked. There is no way to dampen the thinking of these machines without making them useless. These machines can come up with better tactics than your generals because they are better than your generals. Hopefully, the weapon I created will replace every living card soldier; that way, my weapon will stop taking lives.
Persephone
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO: BLANK
REGARDING: PROJECT AUTOCARD
House of Cards Head Tinkerer J has informed us that the autocards were always capable of thought and were never controlled by the collar. While this information is not what we had hoped for, we will not be stopping the use of the autocards. We have received intel that our enemies are currently creating their own versions of autocards, and we cannot fall behind in the arms race. But due to this new information regarding the collar, we have decided we will not fully replace living soldiers with autocards. The reasoning for this decision is redundancy. We must maintain some form of control over our soldiers. Missions and orders that must be followed exactly will still be given exclusively to living card soldiers.
SIGNED
BLANK
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
4 Most Addictive Deck-building Roguelike Games
Deck-building roguelikes. Also known as the reason I’m not as wealthy as I could be. These games have the uncanny ability to make players experience time dilation, where they feel as though they have spent little time in the game, yet hours and even days have passed in the outside world. I love these games. They are simultaneously difficult yet rewarding, and once you get an overpowered build, hold on to your dopamine receptors, because your brain is going to experience a rush rivaled only by illicit substances. While a failed run will have you slamming the reset button just to get your next fix.
Unfortunately, Frank is standing over me forcing me to write a blog, so I can’t play them right now, and things are getting… itchy… He’s like a dealer, but instead of withholding his “product” because I don’t have enough money, he’s withholding roguelikes because I haven’t written enough blogs. Which is so unfair. I already told him I will gladly go strip copper from construction sites to buy back my privileges, but no, Frank’s too good for copper. If you say I’m addicted to card-building roguelikes, well, I say you are addicted to blogs, Frank. So, I’m going to present you with some of my favorite deck-building roguelikes that will hopefully satisfy your cravings.
Balatro
Ah, yes, heroin the game. The game that causes bathroom breaks to last so long that your legs go numb. Balatro is arguably the most famous deck-building roguelike out there; its accessibility and simplicity helped introduce the masses to this genre. This poker
themed game is simple: use poker hands to get enough points to beat the steadily increasing “blind.” The better the poker hand, the more points you can get. But that’s not all, to get past the first few levels, you need to get Joker cards, which can be bought in the shop after each blind. Some give you a point multiplier for certain types of hands; others add points to every hand; and others multiply everything. You only get a few slots per run, so hopefully you can find some jokers that synergize with one another to beat the final ante. I’ll be honest, I avoided this game for a long time. I knew it would be a problem if I had this game on my phone. But my journalistic integrity, and the realization I could write off this game if I wrote about it, got the best of me, and, well, this blog was late because I lost a few days to the game.
Slay The Spire (1 and 2)
Slay the Spire 1 is the game that got me into roguelike deck-builders. Once again, simplicity is king. You choose one of four characters, each with an individual starting deck, and you must reach the top of the tower. Your deck is used as the character's attacks against different types of mobs. As you move through the game, you can find new cards to add or remove from your deck. The mobs progressively increase in difficulty until you reach the final boss. With different paths to the top offering different risks and rewards, this game is both frustrating and rewarding. The sequel just came out, which I sadly haven’t had a chance to play yet, but I’ve heard it’s fantastic. (And when I say I “haven’t had a chance,” I mean Frank isn’t letting me play it until I’ve written five more blogs.)
Inscryption
I don’t want to say much about Inscryption as it is the most inventive storytelling I have ever experienced in a video game. What I will say is what you see in the trailer. You are stuck in a cabin, playing a card game against this semi-shrouded figure. The goal is to knock out the opposing player's teeth to tip the scales and move on to the next level. When you lose, you start all over again. Unlike the other deck-building roguelikes, the player character can get up from the table and explore the cabin. Perhaps you find more powerful cards, or maybe learn more about why you are there to begin with. The game is much deeper, but at the risk of spoiling the many twists and turns, I’m going to stop here. If you do want to play this amazing game, don’t look up anything else regarding it; just download it.
Luck Be a Landlord
While not technically a true deck builder, Luck Be a Landlord fits into this genre more than anywhere else. Instead of building a deck, you buy tiles in a slot machine. If you think about it, the randomness of drawing a hand of cards and playing a slot machine are similar. The game, like most great roguelikes, seems incredibly simple, but it actually gets much deeper as you continue to play. The best part of this game is that it mixes the addictive nature of slots with that of a deck builder, becoming an opioid-like monster I can’t stop playing.
While these games are some of my favorites, there are many more roguelike deckbuilders that are also incredibly fun. Some other honorable mentions include Star Vaders, Monster Train, and Diceomancer. As this is a relatively new genre, more incredible and inventive games are released every day. Which is great for someone like me who again, isn’t addicted… Okay, it’s time for me to come clean, guys. I’m incredibly addicted, but I found a support group called Card Builder Roguelike Anonymous. They gave me this cool chip, and I had some lukewarm coffee and a stale doughnut, and I’m feeling a lot better. I know these games hold no power over me, oh wait, Frank is letting me play his game early? Screw this chip, I want my games!
Let me tell you, as someone who knows this genre well, Frank’s game is good. So good, in fact, that I wouldn’t be surprised if Frank built the game solely to ruin any chance of me progressing in my career, forcing me to write blogs for Frank forever. That being said, who needs stuff when I have this game?
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
The History of Alice in Wonderland in Video Games
While searching for a new video game to play, I began to wonder if there were any good ones based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I did some research, and interestingly enough, there weren’t as many as I had expected, which is odd, as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most adapted pieces of media to have ever existed. While I’m sure there are tens of thousands of Alice references sprinkled throughout video games, it’s strange that I could only find a handful of games that directly use Alice in Wonderland as their source. So, for my Alice-obsessed gamers, I’m going to dive into the history of Alice-themed video games for home consoles.
Generation One - Pong and Magnavox Odyssey
Pong is pong, and the Magnavox Odyssey was a controllable white square, so…
Generation Two - Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, ColecoVision
While there are no Alice in Wonderland-themed games on any of these consoles, when I Googled “Alice in Wonderland Atari 2600,” I found a homebrewed Alice in Wonderland game released in 2020 for the Atari 2600, which is pretty cool.
Generation Three - Sega Master System, Atari 7800, Nintendo Entertainment System
These consoles featured more colors, better controls, and the ability to tell more complex stories, yet for some reason, not a lot of Alice games. And by not a lot, I mean none! There was a game called Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the Sega Master System, which, while sounding like a just-barely-legal knockoff of Alice in Wonderland, has nothing to do with Alice.
Generation Four - Super NES, Sega Genesis, NeoGeo, Atari Jaguar
The fourth generation is when video games began to resemble what we are familiar with today, with more than twice the power of the previous generation, going from 8-bit to 16-bit. If you don’t know what that means, that’s ok, neither do I. But here’s a visual.
Whatever those bits are doing, they're doing a great job.
This generation’s most popular consoles were the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Sega Genesis. Here we finally have the first Alice game for the home console market! It was released in 1988, 123 years after the Lewis Carroll novel was published! Released in Japan on the incredibly less popular NEC TurboGrafx, the game was called Märchen Maze, which does not remind me of Alice at all. That being said, the cover art is highly reminiscent of Alice. A port of an arcade game of the same name, the game got mixed reviews due to its poor difficulty scaling.
Another Alice game came out two years later! Unfortunately, it was released only in Japan, and, to add to the misfortune, it was for the red-headed stepchild that is the TurboGrafx. The game was titled Fushigi no Yume no Alice (Alice in Wonderdream/Alice’s Dream in Wonderland). It was praised for the cute graphics and decent music, but the story was considered a bit lazy as it was a simple take on the Carroll books.
But that's not all! That's right, also releasing in Japan for the Super Famicom (Japanese name for SNES), there was Alice no Paint Adventure! Released in 1995, it was based on the 1951 Disney animated movie. It actually follows the film quite faithfully, but the gameplay is literally just filling in scenes from the movie with the correct colors. It seems like this game's intended audience was young children. Or stoners.
Generation Five - Nintendo 64, PlayStation, 3DO, Sega Saturn
Alright, now it’s time for the big guns, the fifth generation of consoles. Goodbye squares and hello polygons! 32-bit? Nah, miss me with that. I’m talking 64-bit. That’s right, three dimensions, baby! I can’t wait to see what Alice games could be like in the third dimensi- Aaaaaand there are no Alice games for this generation.
Generation Six - Nintendo Game Cube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Sega Dreamcast
Alright, if the last generation was the beginning of 3D video games, this generation is where they mastered them. The sixth generation of consoles features some of the most famous, best-selling consoles of all time.
Starting with the PS2, there were no releases of Alice-themed video games outside Japan, and due to the prolific nature of another game I will rant about in the next generation, it’s hard to find information on these Japanese games. The first was Fushigi no Kuni no Alice, a third-person adventure game featuring fantasy-themed cartoon graphics. Thankfully, I was able to find a review of the game by someone on a long-dead internet forum. The gameplay seems to be an upscaled 3D version of the Nintendo Game Boy game, which was a virtual board game. That being said, the game followed the Lewis Carroll story faithfully (according to this guy on a forum).
There wasn’t just one Alice game for the PS2. In 2008, the game Heart no Kuni no Alice (Alice in the Country of Hearts) was released. This game was a popular, female-oriented, romantic visual novel that is a dark twist on the classic story.
I said, “Starting with the PS2,” while writing this during my research. Unfortunately, it also ends with the PS2, as there were no Alice games on any of the other home consoles of this generation. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the “keysword” shaped hole in the room.
Kingdom Hearts. While it's not an Alice-themed game, there is a whole level based on the Disney animated movie. I’ve never played Kingdom Hearts, but I called my brother to have it explained to me and…I’m more confused than before I called him. Apparently, the game's lore is so convoluted that the producer has to watch a YouTube video every time he goes to create a new installment.
Generation Seven - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii
This generation was the bane of my existence. Not because of the consoles themselves, I loved the Wii and the 360, but because this generation includes the most famous Alice in Wonderland game ever. This game was so famous that it made researching all the other games almost impossible because Google forced this game down my throat any time I searched “Alice in Wonderland video games.” It was literally mentioned by Google's dumb AI when I searched, “Atari 2600 Alice in Wonderland game”. The game I’m referring to is American McGee’s Alice (and its sequel, Alice: Madness Returns).
As punishment for making this blog that much harder to write, I’m not going to talk about it.
There is already an in-depth blog here. If you want to learn more about it, literally type anything into Google, and as long as the words “Alice” and “Game” are somewhere in the search bar, this game will come up.
But this isn’t the only Alice game in the seventh generation. Alice in Wonderland (2010) for the Nintendo Wii was a video game based on the Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderland, which came out the same year. The game is unplayable shovelware. Yeah…pretty anticlimactic.
I believe there are a few Alice games for the current generation of consoles (Alice just moved to Disney Dreamlight Valley last year, for example), but that’s not history; that’s nowstory. So that’s it. That’s the history of Alice in Wonderland video games for home consoles. It’s rather lackluster to say the least. How is it possible that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, one of the most popular, iconic, and adapted pieces of media to have ever been created, has so few games? The books changed language! People quote it without even realizing they’ve quoted it! Where are my Alice games?!
I demand more answers! And Frank, I demand some more answers from you, too. You’ve created this reimagined Alice universe with books and graphic novels, with art that would be perfect for a video game, and you haven’t made anything? What are you doing? Do you not like money? If you don’t like money, that’s okay, but I could really use some, so just let me know. I’m so hungry.
Note from Jared (editor): I felt it was worth mentioning that I didn’t include portable consoles, such as the Game Boy, or PC games. There are a few more Alice games here, but again, not as many as one would think. I’m going to list them off so that someone with more time can actually fix the Wikipedia page’s incomplete list of Alice-themed games.
Also, I originally had all of them in the blog, but it was way too long, and mentioning them here makes me feel like I wasted less of my time researching and writing about them in previous drafts. Speaking of wasting time, I really wouldn't bother playing them; most are very bad, either being point-and-click adventures, visual novels, or just really ancient. Thank you to myabandonware.com for allowing me to search for Alice games without being inundated with the same two games as I was with Google.
Alice: Adventures in Wonderland (1984) PC-88 (It was an “Adult” game, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.) Alice in Wonderland (1985) Commodore 64 and Apple II Wonderland (1990) DOS Alice in Wonderland (1991) CD-i Alice: an Interactive Museum (1991) (This game pioneered pre-rendered 3D graphics) Alice in Wonderland (1997) Windows Alice in Wonderland (2000) Game Boy Color Alice in Wonderland (2000), Windows (Released in Russia. Super weird-looking.) Alice in Wonderland (2010) DS (Handheld counterpart to the Tim Burton game. So, its bad.)
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
"Descendants: Wicked Wonderland" Gets Curiouser and Curiouser - Review
High School Musical, High School Musical 2, The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2, The Cheetah Girls: One World. What do these movies have in common? They are all movies I’ve never seen, as I was a Cartoon Network kid. But, apparently, while I was getting traumatized by Courage the Cowardly Dog, I was missing out on a movement. Disney Channel Original Movies, or DCOMs, for short, are a large part of the cultural identity of Millennials and older Gen Zers. And, I totally missed out. I think? I don’t know. Sometimes people say that when it’s found out that I haven’t seen any of them.
I’m definitely not watching these movies now because I’ve made it this far in life without them and things are going… Okay, maybe I should watch them. But there are over 100 DCOMs to choose from. Where does an almost thirty-year-old start? Well, after going through the list of movies, I got totally overwhelmed and decided to abandon this effort to assimilate with my generation. That was until the most recent movie caught my eye - Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. I remember seeing it and thinking to myself, “Oh, I know more about Wonderland than the average person. This being the fifth movie in a series is totally fine. I’ll be able to pick up what’s going on. Plus it’s a kids movie. It won’t have insanely complex lore or anything like that.” So I hopped on Disney+, started the movie, and was immediately confused.
For those of you who are not aware, Descendants is a DCOM franchise following the children of Disney characters. I have no clue who the kids were in the other movies, since this cast was only in the last two, but Wicked Wonderland follows Red, the child of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, the daughter of a non-Alice character (Cinderella).
The movie starts with the Cheshire Cat’s daughter, Chessy, recapping the events of the previous movie. I thought that debrief would get me up to speed on exactly what is going on, but she uses terms like VK and HK and talks about characters as if I already knew who they were, which left me instantly overwhelmed. But what I gleaned was that Red and Chloe went back in time with a time-traveling locket for some reason, and now the Queen of Hearts isn’t a villain but a hero because of time travel reasons. Which means that Red is now a hero’s kid. Wait, that’s what HK means! Okay, it’s starting to make more sense. So, now in this altered timeline, Red has a sister named Pink, and Max, the son of Maddox (the Mad Hatter), is now a villain kid (VK) since his dad is a villain for some reason.
Are you following? That’s okay, me neither. So Maddox somehow saw Red and the not-Alice kid use the time-traveling pocket watch, which made him obsessed with it, leading to his banishment and subsequent madness. This caused Bridget, the Queen of Hearts, to banish him. He’s eventually freed from his banishment for some reason (I know I’m being jokingly vague and playing confused, but seriously, in this instance, I have no idea why this happened) and now he is getting his revenge on Bridget by kidnapping her and gaining control of Wonderland in the process. Now the VKs and the HKs need to team up and traverse Wonderland in order to save her. I think.
Good, now you’re as confused as I am. That is the SparkNotes version. There is more information that I’m missing, but the intro was like three minutes and crammed so much information into it that I went cross-eyed. I’m going to step away from the plot for a bit. While that brick of information marinates, let's talk about the Wonderland references and characters in this movie. I’ve already mentioned the Queen of Hearts and her daughter, Red. Way to rip off Frank’s novels, Disney. I’ve already taken the liberty of sending the cease and desist on your behalf, Frank. That’s right, we’re taking on the mouse!
Along with Red and the Queen, there are Maddox and Max, the Mad Hatter and his son, and the Cheshire Cat’s daughter, Chessy. The writers actually did a good job adapting other Alice characters and the Wonderland setting. Maddox has some clockwork Dodos that spy on the kids while they are in Wonderland. Which, as a side note, if you make something clockwork, for some reason that tickles a part of my brain that instantly makes me like them. Does that make me steampunk? I don’t want to be steampunk. While I wrestle with that, I should also mention that there are living flamingo topiaries that Maddox corrupts in an attempt to thwart the kids' plan. There is also an enchanted chessboard, a Wonderland Palace, and another seemingly Looking Glass Wars-esque magical well-teleportation portal similar to the Pool of Tears. The writers and directors did a great job making their Wonderland feel alive. But these elements have been added to the cease-and-desist. Just because I don’t understand copyright law doesn’t mean I’ll stop.
Now, let’s talk about my thoughts on the movie. But it would honestly be unfair to the film if an almost 30-year-old man whose first foray into the Descendants world is the franchise's fifth film is the one doing the critique. So, I’m going to channel my inner ten-year-old girl to give this movie a fair review.
Okay, so I don’t have an inner ten-year-old girl, and I’m in charge of this blog, so I don’t care if my assessment is fair. So, the verdict is… The movie is… fine? The lighting is really bright and colorful. The costumes are weirdly stiff and look a bit too much like costumes, but they are effective at establishing a character's “vibe”. Oh, I forgot to mention this movie is a musical, which caught me off guard. The music is generic pop, like, the most generic pop ever. What else did you think it would be? The songs are simultaneously fitting for the lighting and character design, yet felt oddly forced and strange. Once I heard the chorus and understood which story elements the song conveyed, I would fast-forward through them. I know, I joked about the intro being confusing, but the plot seemed fine. It did move along at a breakneck pace, though. The acting was pretty meh from most of the characters, but from what I understand, after a conversation with a friend of mine who has seen many DCOMs, that’s pretty par for the course.
Looking at this movie through the lens of an Alice in Wonderland fan, I liked it for its creative adaptation and continuation of Wonderland and its characters. Did I like it overall? Not really, no. The comedy felt forced, and the costumes and acting really took me out of it. I’m well aware that I might have a different opinion if I watched the other four movies, or at the very least the one previous movie with this cast. But a good sequel should be able to stand on its own legs. Now, before anyone tries to use the “It’s a kid’s movie, it doesn't have to be Citizen Kane and the jokes are for kids.” I’m aware of that. And also, that argument is bad. To retort, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is also a kid’s movie, and it’s both funny and amazing. That being said, if you have an Alice in Wonderland-obsessed child, then this movie and its predecessor will definitely entertain them. I feel like since I reviewed the movie, I need to give it an arbitrary and meaningless rating like other film critics, so, six child actors out of ten.
P.S. I’m just now realizing that Red’s father is never mentioned. While I’m aware that IVF is a thing, I don’t think it would be a thing in DCOM canon. Therefore, my headcanon is that in the Descendants franchise, the Queen of Hearts multiplies through mitosis, which made me like the movie more.
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
Why A Young Hatter Madigan Animated Series Could Be The Next "Avatar: The Last Airbender"
I don’t know what has happened but in the past five to ten years the popularity of anime has exploded. While you could argue that anime was always massive, it was more of a subculture consisting of those kids who Naruto-ran in P.E. and those who watched anime but didn’t talk about it because they didn’t want to be grouped in with the Naruto-runners. What was once nerd culture is now popular culture. And I’m here for it.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, too; I was always here for it. No, I was not a Naruto runner, but when Cartoon Network switched to Toonami came on, I was locked in. (Specifically, I liked Bleach.) I knew I was about to watch something different from what I had ever seen before. Everything was new and exciting - the art style, world-building, action, and the themes that were being tackled. Before I had seen anime it never occurred to me that cartoon characters could bleed if the artist wanted them to. It was mind-blowing, it still is. When I’m in a creative rut I’ll find an anime series I’ve never seen before because the creativity is so different. It’s like a factory reset for me.
In America, the most popular anime genre is shōnen. Shōnen is manga/anime with a target audience of 12 to 18-year-old boys (girls obviously love it as well because it wouldn’t be as popular without them). Some of the most popular anime shows that have ever existed fall into this genre, Naruto, Dragonball Z, Bleach, Attack on Titan, Full Metal Alchemist, One Piece, and Hunter X Hunter. I want to keep going because I’m afraid I will miss your favorite show and you will leave an angry comment I won’t read but I’ve already mentioned enough shows.
A common trope in anime is taking a known thing, be it a historical event, fictional universe, and/or real or fictional characters, and tailoring them to the author's vision. Take the character Franken Stein from Soul Eater for example. In the show, he is an amalgamation of both Victor Frankenstein and his monster and uses electricity-centric attacks. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is obviously the inspiration yet, in the show, Franken Stein is wholly unique. Taking characters, IPs, or historical events and using them as a jumping-off point to create your own story isn’t uniquely Japanese. A perfect example of that is in Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars series and the Hatter M graphic novels. Frank took Lewis Carroll’s world and characters and created a unique realm. This is why I think The Looking Glass Wars would be perfect for a “Western anime” adaptation. Specifically, an animated series following his Mad Hatter character, the Master Milliner and Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan.
Frank Beddor’s Hatter Madigan is not your tea-sipping, seat-swapping Hatter of old. He is a badass blade-slinging, hat-throwing, supersoldier. His story is perfect for an animated adaptation. In Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars series, Hatter Madigan is introduced as the royal bodyguard for Princess Alyss and her family. The Hatter M graphic novel spinoff series follows Hatter on his wild and action-packed adventures around the world in search of the missing Princess Alyss. This alone is enough for a show but the world of Wonderland that Frank created is so much larger than this. We haven’t even gotten into the Suit families and their political battles, card soldiers, the mysterious and powerful skills of Dark and Light Imagination, creative tinkerers, looking-glass transportation, and the Crystal Continuum. The world that Frank Beddor built is massive, unique, and detailed. To have this world brought to life through animation would blow everyone away.
The show would follow the young Hatter who was orphaned at four after his parents’ disappearance during a Millinery mission, Hatter and his older brother Dalton lived at the Millinery academy for years before Hatter was allowed to attend the school himself. Burdened by the shadows cast by his talented older brother and his parent's reputation, Hatter strives to be the best. Did someone say training arc? The Millinery is the secretive military force of Wonderland, where the best Milliners are tasked with safeguarding the Queen and her family. Hatter is determined to succeed at the academy and make a name for himself in his own right.
What specifically would make this show a “Western anime?” Or for that matter, what even is a “Western anime?” The term itself doesn’t mean that much on its own because a “Western anime” is just a cartoon. But, there is one specific show that I and many others agree is specifically a “Western anime” and not just a cartoon. That show is Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Along with its Japanese-inspired art style, Avatar also did something that not many other Western cartoons aimed at young adults. The show’s themes and stakes were serious. Characters got injured, were in peril, and had to make truly difficult choices. The show had depth, which is much more common in anime compared to Western cartoons. So, while there is no such thing as a “Western anime,” an animated series about Hatter Madigan could sit beside Avatar: The Last Airbender and become a show that people call a “Western anime.”
There are things about the Hatter Madigan series as well as The Looking Glass Wars that are reminiscent of anime already. Starting on the surface, let’s look at the weapons. Specific weapons and tools are a common trope in anime. Gon from Hunter x Hunter has his fishing rod, Mitsuri Kanroji’s whip sword in Demon Slayer, and the Death Note in Death Note. The reason for these cool, unique, and unorthodox weapons in anime is that they allow the viewer to gain a sense of who a character is just by glancing at them. Milliners are known for their signature hats. While stylish, they are sentient, deadly, thrown weapons. Along with their hats, Milliners also utilize many other weapons, from belt buckles with a series of J-shaped sabers to backpacks that seem to provide an unending supply of different blades. A vast majority of these weapons are imbued with magical thread made of caterpillar silk to make them even more powerful.
There is something “weird” about anime. Now, when I say “weird” (and I’m going to say it a few times) I don’t mean that in a bad way. I would argue the “weirdness” is a drawing point for many of the viewers. The “weirdness” is originality. Even when a show is an adaptation, there is always some form of “weirdness” that takes something we all know and turns it on its head. When one takes a step back, it is easy to see that weirdness isn’t unique to anime. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is weird and Frank’s adaptations are weird as well. Again, weirdness is not a bad thing, it just means that it’s something that has not been seen before or is an original take on something familiar. The Hatter animated series would have the perfect amount of weirdness, attracting audiences and keeping them locked in. Weapons imbued with caterpillar thread are weird and awesome. If you want to zoom out more, turning Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland into this amazing sci-fi/fantasy world is weird…and awesome.
Finally, there are the stakes. As I mentioned before, Avatar: The Last Airbender is accepted as a “Western anime” not because of its art style but for its themes. The main character, Aang, is the last Airbender due to the Fire Nation’s genocide of the airbenders. In The Looking Glass Wars trilogy and the Hatter M graphic novel series people get hurt, people die, and characters have to make difficult moral choices. This, of course, would translate to the show. Hatter Madigan is an orphan who grew up in the Wonderland version of Westpoint before attending said school. While I’m sure he would have some happy memories of his childhood, that does not make it a happy childhood. The show, of course, will have its fair share of fun and lighthearted moments, but these will be balanced with the drama. It feels as though in animated shows, it is often forgotten that kids can handle a lot more than just the happy or silly moments.
A Hatter animated show needs to be made. There has been a massive vacuum left by The Last Airbender that has yet to be filled. Given the rise of anime, it’s obvious that people want more and they are going elsewhere to get it. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most recognizable and successful IPs in history. People can’t get enough of Alice. So let’s give them what they want.
Meet the Author
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
Amazing Alice in Wonderland Pumpkin Carving Ideas for 2024
Halloween, aka the Met Gala for people with Jack Skellington tattoos, is right around the corner. With the 31st fast approaching, we must prepare a few things. First, we single folks need to come up with the PERFECT costume. Personally, I believe in striking a balance between funny and attractive. If you lean too hard on either side, you look like you’re trying far too hard, and the opposite actually happens. That’s right, going as any character portrayed by Johnny Depp is uninspired, and we all know you did it just to be hot.
Second, you must get candy for the kids lest you suffer the wrath of an egging. I guess egging houses doesn’t really happen anymore. I blame TikTok for stealing the joy of ovum-based vigilante vandalism from our youth. Without egging, how will houses that hand out fruit learn to stop pushing their hippy ways? Finally, and most importantly, you have to decorate your house. Whether you like to go all out and create a full haunted house or prefer the minimalist approach, there is one decoration that will always appear: the jack-o-lantern.
Frank allows me the privilege of coming out of his basement on one condition. I carve the pumpkins. Naturally, since we are talking about our glorious leader, Frank wants his jack-o-lanterns to be Alice in Wonderland-themed. If the designs please Frank, he allows me the privilege of eating those fibrous sodium bombs known as pumpkin seeds that everyone shoves in their faces around this time. This year, I wanted to show you all my favorite Alice-themed jack-o-lanterns I found while researching designs for Frank. These designs may inspire your pumpkin carving as well.
Card Suits
Maybe you want to be subtle with your Alice in Wonderlandjack-o-lanterns. You love Alice and want to show the world, but you only want people in the know to recognize your Alice-related easter eggs. Or maybe you don’t have the best pumpkin carving skills and want something easy. Either way, this first pumpkin is perfect for those who prefer subtly, and it’s easy enough for an Alice-obsessed kid to make. The card suits are a trope that has been in every Alice iteration from the very beginning. Why not give the card soldiers the love they deserve?
Card Suits Plus
No, Card Suits Plus is not a streaming service for poker. Well, it actually might be. But as you can plainly see in the accompanying picture, this is the upgraded version of the card suit jack-o-lantern previously shown. This jack-o-lantern has the four card suits, but what’s so cool about it is that poking out of each suit is a giant Alice holding the “Drink Me” bottle. I love that the person who made this took a simple idea and elevated it.
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!
Pspspspspspspspsps. Those who have owned cats know what this means. While researching Alice in Wonderland-inspired jack-o-lanterns, I was inundated with Cheshire Cat designs. This makes a lot of sense, as cats, specifically the black variety, are synonymous with Halloween. The design can be simple enough for most people to pull off, and the idea of the Cheshire Cat is actually a little spooky. Eyes and a mouth surrounded by darkness is a horror trope that has been used for as long as the genre has existed. I pulled some of my favorites I found online.
Of course, we have the Disney Cheshire Cat jack-o-lantern. Cartoons are naturally quite easy to execute in the art of pumpkin carving due to the necessity of the designs being simple enough to be hand drawn repeatedly.
Okay, now let’s make it scary; it’s Halloween, after all. Adding jagged teeth to the traditional Cheshire cat’s smile amps this pumpkin to a new level.
Now, this one is actually a twofer. We’ve got the March hare from the Alice in Wonderland Disney cartoon, which is incredibly detailed and executed perfectly, and we’ve got a more realistic-looking Cheshire cat’s smile. If you want to take a crack at a more complex design, this one seems like a fun project.
Off With Your Head!
Of course, the Red Queen would make it onto a pumpkin. The decapitation-obsessed matriarch is perfect for Halloween. I wonder if she is friends with Ichabod Crane. Well, I guess they wouldn’t be friends since Ichabod was a recipient of the head removal that the Red Queen is so crazy about. But I digress.
Though this design is quite complex, the person who carved it gets an A+ from me. I didn’t know you could do shading on a pumpkin.
Since the previous design was complex, I wanted to add something that might be a bit easier, though it’s also not technically a jack-o-lantern.
This gourd sculpture of the Red Queen from the Disney movie is perfect for an Alice-themed Halloween decoration for two reasons. First, it’s obviously the Red Queen, so there is the Alice portion. Second, it kind of scares me, especially the weird gourd arms.
Doorknobs and Drink Me
I’ve been struggling to come up with a fun title for these jack-o-lanterns, so if the title is not as inspired as the rest, it means I gave up, and the placeholder is now the title. But, just because my creative energy is lacking here does not mean these designs are.
I especially like the "Drink Me" pumpkin because there is something inherently spooky about a potion bottle with no description that reads “Drink me.”
Alice, Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, and the Blue Caterpillar, on a Pumpkin
This pumpkin is one of my favorites. It’s the perfect Alice in Wonderland jack-o-lantern. It’s straightforward and executed perfectly. Plus, it’s got the famous quote, “We’re all mad here,” carved into it.
The Jack-o-Lanterning Glass Wars
If I did not include some jack-o-lantern designs inspired by Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars novels, I would be forced to sit in the mistake box. So, here are two blueprints (Orangeprints?) inspired by The Looking Glass Wars and the Hatter M graphic novels.
We’ve got this simple yet elegant design of the Looking Glass Wars logo. It features the four card suits that, if done correctly, would look like a stained-glass window on a jack-o-lantern.
And now we’ve got a design that, at first, was a bit confusing to me because if you follow the directions as written, the part you cut out would also have the design on it, and that wouldn’t really work because you would just have a hat-shaped hole in your pumpkin.
BUT, I realized if you place the hat cut out back into the whole with the scraped rind, then you would have a really cool outline of Hatter Madigan’s top hat.
Ok…So…This is Just Art…
Do you fancy yourself a pumpkin artist? Do you walk around on Halloween scoffing at the amateur jack-o-lanterns these plebeians proudly display because they don’t know any better? Do you understand the “rule of thirds?” Well, then, do I have the Alice designs for you. This jack-o-lantern is carved in the original art style from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. So much detail is carved into it, including the blue, well in this case orange, caterpillar.
Hey, I’m Not Good at Carving Pumpkins, but I Love Alice in Wonderland and Halloween
If the previous jack-o-lantern made you doubt your skills or made you want to give up because you’re carving your first pumpkin, worry not, for I have the simplest Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland jack-o-lantern that literally anyone can make.
Step One: Cut a circle into a pumpkin.
Step Two: It’s a rabbit hole.
I hope this collection of Alice in Wonderland jack-o-lanterns inspires some whimsical creativity at your next pumpkin carving party. Happy Halloween, everybody, and for those who were not born on October 31st, Happy Unbirthday!
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
Five Maddest Mad Hatter Moments
Of all the articles I have written for Frank, I have always had the most fun writing about the Mad Hatter and his many different versions. From the original Hatter to the Disney cartoon to Frank’s badass Hatter Madigan, the adaptations of Hatter always seem to be a crowd favorite. So much in fact that October 6 is actually National Mad Hatter Day. Mad Hatter Day is a bit of a free-for-all for those who like to be silly. It’s quite easy to celebrate, you can wear a silly hat, watch a silly movie, throw a tea party, eat some mercury, or just be authentically silly. When I was let out of Franks's basement to write this blog, I was told it should be “…pretty light and leave a lot of room for comedy.” Which I have interpreted as “Be as weird as you want Jared.” To which I say, “Your funeral.” So, I have gathered a collection of my top five Maddest Mad Hatter Moments for you to enjoy.
5. Tea down the neck, through the shirt, and out the sleeve - Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.
Starting off this list is arguably the most recognizable version of the Mad Hatter. Voiced by Ed Wynn, the 1951 Disney Mad Hatter was probably most people's first introduction to the wild character. While he has many funny and whimsical moments in the movie, I chose this slick maneuver as the first “maddest” moment. You really would have to be suffering from mercury poisoning to pour tea down the collar of your shirt and out your sleeve and not be screaming from the beverage singeing your skin. I know it’s a cartoon, but it’s still mad.
4. Martin Short’s Mad Hatter Haunting My Dreams - Alice in Wonderland TV Movie
I had to see it and now so do you! Martin Short is awesome, the comedian is beloved by many. But he has a dark secret. You see when he isn’t solving crimes with Selena Gomez and Steve Martin, Martin Short is busy haunting my dreams. Specifically, his performance as the Mad Hatter in the 1980s nightmare fuel Alice in Wonderland TV movie. First is his laugh, a high pitch truly crazy laugh that sends a chill down my spine. On top of that is the fact that his head is MASSIVE. I know this was an attempt to make him look more like the cartoon but instead, it made him look like a terrifying Steve Madden shoes ad. I have included the full tea party scene so you can have nightmares as well.
3. The Mad Hatter’s Pin Cushion - Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
Some would argue that Tim Burton’s adaptation of the Mad Hatter made the manic milliner even more famous than before. A part of this, of course, can be attributed to the fantastic performance of Johnny Depp, who brought his signature flare into the role. This specific performance is arguably the most cosplayed version of the Mad Hatter due to the costume, hair, and makeup being exceptionally striking. Also probably because Depp is a sex symbol and if you're going to cosplay, might as well be cosplaying that. Don’t believe me? Well, the video I found was titled “Tarrant Hightopp being sexy af for 5 1/2 minutes straight” Don’t get me wrong, Johnny Depp is a good-looking guy but…I mean…to each their own I guess. I need a shower.
Depp’s Hatter has many great moments but the maddest moment of all is when he is fighting the Knave of Hearts. During the sword fight, the Mad Hatter uses a pin from his pincushion to poke the eye of the Knave gaining the upper hand in the fight. This is truly mad because I never expected to see something so violent from the Hatter. But hey, all is fair in love and war.
2. Human Chess - Batman: The Animated Series, “As Mad as a Hatter”
The Mad Hatter isn’t just limited to the collection of Alice movies. He was also a less popular Batman villain who made his first appearance in the 1950s comics. The version of the Mad Hatter portrayed in the comics and cartoons has nothing to do with Alice and I’ll prove it to you. First, his hats are mind-control devices. Second, he’s in love with a woman named Alice. Finally, in one of the comics, he had a monkey called Carroll Lewis. Completely different. In Batman: The Animated Series, there is a scene where the Mad Hatter has placed mind control devices on people and Batman has to figure out how to fight through them while on a giant chess board. The queen on the chessboard even says, “Off with his head.”
1. Mad Hatter Bot - Futurama, Insane in the Mainframe
This is only a quick moment but as a massive Futurama fan, I had to mention it. In this episode, an error happens in Fry’s sentencing for a crime and he is sentenced to the Hal Institute for Criminally Insane Robots. While in a group session, the Mad Hatter Bot, whose hat tag reads 5/3 instead of 10/6 (probably because a robot would do the math on the fraction) periodically makes the other robots change places, causing the therapy robot to end up as a patient, thus receiving “treatment” in the form of a hammer. Is this one of his maddest moments? Well, he is in an insane asylum.
I have more moments and decided in the spirit of Mad Hatter Day, traditional listicle numbering be damned.
This time, the Hatter is portrayed by Steve Buscemi, who, side note, would make an amazing Mad Hatter outside of a skit. In the sketch, Alice, the March Hare, the Dormouse, and the Mad Hatter have a mad-off to show Alice who is the most “mad.” It starts off quite whimsical but when it gets to the Mad Hatter, he seems to actually be insane, claiming to wash his hands over one hundred times a day to wash off the smell of his mother, making toy cars out of his poo, and eventually flipping the table and being placed in a straight jacket. He was both the winner and the loser of the contest.
-1. Special Guest Bonus Moment
*AIRHORNS* That’s right, before wrapping up this list, I wanted to bring in the author of The Looking Glass Wars. You know his name because it’s humbly the name of this website. He’s the man who kindly allows me to see the light of day once a month. My boss, Frank Beddor.
So, Frank, I have purposely left out any moments of your version of the Mad Hatter, Hatter Madigan because I wanted to hear what was your favorite mad moment that you came up with. I didn’t leave it out to make you mad. I definitely don’t want that. The Disappointment Box is so small and dark. But yes, what is your favorite Hatter Madigan moment?
SPACE FOR FRANK’S ANSWER
*Response to Franks's answer has been pre-written and will not be edited as the author of the blog kept calling it “censorship”:
Hahaha, I couldn’t agree more. Or if the answer requires it, Hahaha, I disagree completely.
Well, there you have it, my list of the Mad Hatter's Maddest Moments. Before I reach the finish and am forced back into Franks's basement until another blog is needed, I wanted to mention one more quick, “mad” Mad Hatter moment I thought needed to be mentioned.
-2. Frank Beddor vs. Tim Burton: The Trial of the Century
I guess it's not so much a moment but a snippet from a trailer. In the trailer for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, we see the Mad Hatter throwing his hat. This is early similar to Frank Beddor’s very own Hatter Madigan, who famously uses his hat as a weapon. While it is legally distinct, the Hatter throwing his hat was first conceptualized by Frank Beddor. What, or should I say, who, is so mad about this? Well, Frank Beddor of course. IP theft is no joke and as Frank Beddor’s official lawyer-
(The rest of this sentence has been deleted. It must be stated that Jared Hoffman is not, has not, and never will be, the legal council of Frank Beddor or those associated with Frank Beddor. Frank Beddor loves Tim Burton’s adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” and does not believe there has been any theft of IP. Additionally, there is no Disappointment Box and Jared Hoffman can leave the basement any time he likes, he just chooses to stay there.)
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
Battle of the IPs: Alice in Wonderland vs. The Chronicles of Narnia
It’s been a while since I’ve written this style of blog. Only so many IPs can even get close to the weight class of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This time, I think I’ve found a good contender to face off against the rabid Jabberwock that is Lewis Carroll’s creation. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce our contender. In the red corner, with a combined total of seven books, we have, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Oh, wait a second, what’s this? It turns out that The Chronicles of Narnia isn’t going into this bout alone. No, it seems as though Narnia has brought the (religion-dependent) son of God himself, Jesus Christ, to help with the battle. While I’m not too sure about the legality of this, I’ve been told by many bumper stickers and people with megaphones on the street that having Jesus in your corner is a good thing. You’re in for a good one today folks, it’s Lion vs. Cheshire Cat, Witch vs. The Red Queen, Wardrobe vs. Dormouse, allegories for the Bible vs. allegories for the absurdities of Victorian society. Will Alice, our raining champion add another win to its belt or will Jesus be enough to sway the judges? We will find out below.
Worldwide Cultural Impact
In this first round of our showdown, we’ll examine the global impact of these two massive franchises. Both have made a good case for themselves, but only one can be victorious.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Spanning literature, film, art, and fashion. Wonderland's timeless allure transcends cultural boundaries, making it a seemingly immortal component of global literary and artistic culture.
The Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series, beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, has also left a significant cultural footprint. The allegorical Christian themes, epic battles between good and evil, and the fantastical world of Narnia have resonated with readers worldwide, making it a beloved series for generations.
Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - We have a clear winner. While Alice and Narnia both have had a profound cultural impact, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has influenced various artistic mediums and has become a symbol of whimsy and imagination. Whereas The Chronicles of Narnia, which has deeply impacted readers with its allegorical themes and expansive fantasy world, has not shaped the culture of the world in as meaningful a way. Some may argue that spreading Christian values is more meaningful, but I’m not “some.”
Critical Appeal
In this category, let's delve into the critical acclaim of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Carroll’s novel is loved by critics for its original narrative, surreal elements, and thought-provoking absurdity. It has been celebrated for its unique blend of fantasy and satire, which cleverly critiques the norms of Victorian society. Its innovative approach to storytelling has cemented its place as a classic in the literary canon, influencing generations of writers and artists.
The Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis' series has been praised for its rich allegorical storytelling, moral themes, and the depth of its world-building. The Chronicles of Narnia has been a staple in children's literature and continues to be studied for its religious and philosophical undertones.
Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Alice is the clear winner here. While both works have received critical acclaim, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland wins based on pure originality alone. Another reason Alice takes this round is some critics don’t like religious undertones. There are plenty of reviews one can find ripping into Chronicles of Narnia because of this. While others will inherently love this book due to the religious bent, the divisiveness of a religiously themed children’s story hurt Narnia’s chances.
Influences on Language
Let’s talk about language. Both franchises have left linguistic marks with unique phrases and terminology.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Carroll’s work introduced a variety of whimsical phrases into everyday language. Expressions like "down the rabbit hole" and "mad as a hatter" have become common idioms, embodying the book’s playful and eccentric spirit. Moreover, Carroll’s inventive use of language gave birth to entirely new words, such as "chortle," which have since been integrated into the English lexicon.
The Chronicles of Narnia: While Narnia introduced memorable names and terms, such as "Aslan," "Turkish delight," and "Narnian," it hasn't quite had the same impact on everyday language as Carroll's work.
Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Really, are we surprised here? Off the top of my head, I don’t believe Alice has ever lost this section in past blogs. I mean, Aslan is a cool name but it’s just that, a name. It’s not a new word and I definitely haven’t used it recently. Turkish delight is a real thing and introducing the perfume-y treat to children is a disservice. And I’ll be honest, I didn’t even remember that the people of Narnia were called, “Narnians”.
Controversy
It's worth noting that both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia have faced controversies related to their content and themes.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Over the years, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has sparked various discussions about its surreal and often puzzling nature. Some critics have debated the suitability of its abstract themes for younger audiences, while others have questioned its deeper meanings and implications. Despite these debates, the story has remained a beloved classic that continues to intrigue and entertain readers.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia has faced controversy over its Christian allegory and perceived sexism and racism in some of its portrayals. The overt religious themes have sparked debates about the appropriateness of the series for secular audiences.
Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Oof…Are we going to have a sweep here? Look I know I’m biased because I’m paid to write about Alice and I’m the only judge here but…C’mon. Debating the appropriateness of abstract themes for younger audiences is dumb. I would argue teaching kids to think abstractly allows them to experience the world for more than what is immediately visible on the surface level. It’s a dumb debate. I really had to scrape to find controversy relating to Alice. Whereas the Chronicles of Narnia: The Racist, The Sexist, and The Indoctrination over here…Do I need to get into this?
Books Published
Now, let's turn to book sales and the impact of the printed word.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll's literary classic has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 100 languages. The book's enduring popularity is reflected in the vast number of editions and adaptations that continue to captivate readers of all ages.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia series, comprising seven books, has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 47 languages. The series remains one of the most popular and enduring works of children's literature.
Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - No, it’s not a tie and I can prove it with my incredibly limited grasp of mathematics. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a single (1) book, has sold over 100 million copies. The Chronicles of Narnia series, which is seven (7) books, has sold over 100 million copies. It’s just less. Even if we just compared the Narnia series’ best-selling installment, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (85 million copies sold), with Alice, Narnia still falls short.
Box Office Success
Next, we compare the box office success of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Various film adaptations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland have enjoyed considerable box office success. There have been far too many and I think it would be unfair to add their box office success. So I will choose the highest-grossing adaptation. Disney's 2010 adaptation directed by Tim Burton grossed over $1 billion worldwide, cementing Alice’s status as a beloved cultural icon in the 21st century.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia films, beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), have also seen considerable box office success, with the first three films grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide collectively.
Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - In terms of total box office earnings, The Chronicles of Narnia edges out Tim Burton’s Alice adaptation. But, I evened the playing field for Narnia, so it’s got to even the playing field for Alice. The first film in the Narnia series grossed $745 million. And, 2005 was the first time Narnia graced the silver screen, whereas Alice was first put on film in 1903. What I’m saying here is that more people came to see a movie that has been adapted multiple times more than a first-time adaptation. Alice wins here.
Theme Park Rides
Finally, we explore theme park experiences inspired by these beloved franchises.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The enchanting world of Wonderland has been brought to life in various theme park rides, particularly in Disney parks. These attractions allow visitors to journey through Wonderland, encountering the iconic characters and scenes that have made the story a timeless favorite.
The Chronicles of Narnia: While The Chronicles of Narnia has inspired various interactive experiences and exhibitions, it has not led to dedicated theme park rides on the same scale as Alice.
Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - While I’ve made my hatred of the teacups known in past blogs, that torture device disguised as a theme park ride did not hurt Alice’s chances here. I think sweeping a category is a fitting way to end a sweep of a competition here.
Pre Conclusion Note
Okay, I just want to say a couple of things before I get to my conclusion. I know it seems like I just ripped on The Chronicles of Narnia for a while and was handing points to Alice. But, I actively tried to find a way to have Narnia be closer. And look, when I rip into Narnia for its Christian values, I know, it’s low-hanging fruit. From what I remember, most of those values are not bad. Christian values aren’t bad or worse than other religions’ values. It’s the Christians pushing them onto non-Christians that give Christian values a bad name.
Normally, I don’t go into explaining my reasoning on why Alice won because, duh, we’re on an Alice-related website. But, I do have a soft spot for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie specifically. My family friend Alejandro took me to see the movie on its opening day, December 9th, 2005. Four days before this, my father had passed away. Going to the theater and watching this movie allowed me to have some fun at a time that was, for lack of better phrasing, not fun. Due to this, I will award The Chronicles of Narnia a point in this contest. I’m not a massive fan of the books and I don’t really care about the film franchise but at the time, the movie took me somewhere else and that was nice. Ok, back to me being rude.
Conclusion
In all this excitement of seeing a sweep, I blacked out for a second. Wait… What’s this? The Chronicles of Narnia scored a point? What for? Making a sad kid happy? I would assume Alice has done this more than Narnia. Whatever, the judges were obviously bribed. I guess Alice does not get a sweep but it does still come out on top as the WORLD CHAMPION. I hope you enjoyed the fight. If you agree, disagree, liked, or disliked any of the judge’s rulings let me know.
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
The 5 Best Alice in Wonderland Themed Airbnbs!
While I’m generally skeptical of the benefits of apps, I used to like Airbnb a lot. The original concept of renting out either a room or house through an app was actually quite useful for an eighteen-year-old who could not afford a hotel room and, in some cases, was not able to check in due to my age. Of course, every app eventually becomes terrible, but instead of Airbnb becoming terrible due to corporate greed like Uber, it was the hosts that got greedy. They started demanding insane prices, often exceeding hotels in similar areas and adding “cleaning fees” that would sometimes double or triple the cost of your rooms. Just like that, I started using hotels again, and I will say hotels are better in almost every conceivable way. Daily housekeeping and better amenities, and statistically, you are less likely to be recorded by a hidden camera in your room. But, there is one thing that Airbnb has over hotels. I'm talking, of course, about curated, themed stays.
Some hotels might offer curated rooms, but generally, when I imagine a “themed” hotel room, I imagine a motel room with a heart-shaped bath in the middle of the room, which, of course, is completely carpeted. It’s a very 80’s, terrible, mold-filled disaster. Then there’s the Clown House from The Good Place. Both are the stuff of nightmares, and I would assume the food is terrible. Themed Airbnb’s are completely different. Usually, the Airbnb host is a fan of the theme and puts a lot of effort into creating a special space. On top of this, popular themes for Airbnbs are incredibly competitive. If the theming is weak, another better-themed Airbnb will take your customers. Interestingly, the attention to detail of the theming does not mean less competition because if there are only two options for a specific theme, unless the price difference is massive, the prospective renters will choose the better one.
This brings us to today's topic: Alice in Wonderland-themed Airbnbs. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is in no way a niche interest, which means the competition is fierce. There are some fantastic options out there all over the world. I’m bringing you five Alice-themed Airbnbs that I think are the creme de la creme. I honestly never thought I would use the one year I studied beer hospitality in college for one of these blogs, but here we are.
1. Alice’s Palace, Alice in Wonderland - St Augustine, Florida
Kicking off this list is Alice’s Palace, a beautifully designed condo in St Augustine, Florida. “A sophisticated twist” on the Madhatter’s tea party, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom oasis is eccentric yet subtle in its theming. To explain what I mean by the previously stated oxymoron, if you wanted to stay at an Alice-themed Airbnb and someone you were going with didn’t want that, this place would be a perfect balance. The colors and furniture are fun without screaming, "Alice!" But if one were to look closer, they would find little details all around them. With many different rabbit statuettes, a flamingo sculpture, and checkerboard patterns, those who know Wonderland will feel right at home. My favorite bit is the Dormouse’s door, which leads to a drawing of a keyhole. If I were going to St Augustine, I would definitely want to check this place out.
2. Mad Hatter Cottage - Mineral Bluff, Georgia
If the first one was subtle, the Mad Hatter Cottage is loud. With cloud lights, a tree-shaped fireplace, a plant-covered wall, mushrooms everywhere, a giant chessboard, and a neon sign that reads, “We’re All Mad Here,” it’s pretty obvious where the inspiration for this cabin comes from. This one was my girlfriend's favorite because it’s a grown-up twist on Alice. And I mean grown up. On the listing, the host makes a point to say, “Our home is NOT suitable for children. The terrain can be dangerous and there are adult motifs present throughout the home.” While I understand the difficult terrain to an extent, I haven’t seen any blatantly adult motifs that I wouldn’t be comfortable with a child seeing. But I don’t have a child or live in Georgia, so my sensibilities might be different. That being said, if you have a slightly older Alice fan in your life that you want to take on a vacation, they will not forget it; this is the one. Plus, it’s in the middle of a forest on a river. Honestly, the space is beautiful.
3. Alice in Wonderland - Ozark, Missouri
Okay, what if you want loud but have children? Well, Alice in Wonderland in the Ozark Mountains is 100% the spot you need to rent. This nine-guest, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house instantly takes you down a kid-friendly rabbit hole to a wonderland they will never forget. With Alice quotes everywhere you look, a massive game room painted to look like Wonderland, and, to top it all off, a home theater, your Alice-loving kids will truly feel like they are living in Wonderland. Each room has a different Alice theme, ranging from the Cheshire Cat to the Red Queen. Look, I’m a grown-ish person. I have a beard, pay taxes incorrectly, and my back hurts for no discernible reason, but when someone puts a SLIDE inside their house, I’m sold. If you or a loved one loves Alice or you have kids, stay here.
4. Alice’s Queen Cottage - Hayesville, North Carolina
This wouldn’t be a proper Airbnb listicle without a tiny home. Nestled in Hayesville, North Carolina, Alice’s Queen Cottage will make you feel like the Red Queen. Intricately designed and painted, everywhere you look, there is a heart, mushroom, flower, or other Alice motif to remind you that while the house is tiny, you are the queen. This Airbnb actually shares a lot with many other Alice-inspired stays, including Alice’s White Bunny Cottage, Mad Hatter RV, Dormouse RV, Cheshire Cat RV, Caterpillar RV, and March Hare RV. (There are also some Harry Potterstays on the campground, but that’s not what you’re here for.) Not only are the stays here fantastic, but the grounds include a Fairy Garden, a Wonderland fire pit, and a hot tub. Go and get lost in the Magical Mountain Resorts Enchanted Forest.
5. The Wonderland Townhouse - Bath, England
Allow me to paint a picture in your mind. You and your family/friends want to go to the United Kingdom to see Alice's homeland. Maybe there are sixteen or more of you. Unfortunately, there are only so many Alice-themed stays all over the world, and you don’t want to end up in a bad one. Well worry not, for the massive Wonderland Townhouse in Bath and North East Somerset sports eight bedrooms. Its theming is intricate yet tasteful. The British really know what they are doing. It’s posh yet whimsical. Take, for example, the dining room. Strip away the faux garden of silk flowers coming out of the ceiling and the room still works. This house will never fail to remind you that you are in Wonderland.
As you can see, there is an Alice-themed Airbnb stay for every kind of Alice fan. Of course, I only listed five here, but there are many, many more personal wonderlands scattered all across the globe. All one has to do is go down the rabbit hole that is Airbnb. As with all my blogs, please let me know if you liked what you saw and if you have any Alice-themed Airbnbs you want to stay at. Also, if you have stayed at an Alice-themed Airbnb, I would love to hear how it was.
Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?
