Alice in Deadly School

Alice in Deadly School was produced by Hoods Entertainment and released as an original video animation in 2021. It is based on a stage play by Kaoru Asakusa, part of the Alice series of theatrical productions that blend the tropes of school-life dramas with sudden, apocalyptic horror. The adaptation follows a group of high school students who must navigate the breakdown of society after their campus is suddenly overrun by undead creatures, focusing on the strained interpersonal dynamics and survival strategies that emerge under extreme duress.

The animation design focuses on capturing the contrast between the mundane aesthetics of a Japanese classroom and the grim, visceral nature of the survival horror genre. By utilizing the medium of an OVA, the production team was able to lean into the intense atmosphere of the original source material, emphasizing the psychological toll on the student protagonists. While the genre of school-based horror is well-populated, this adaptation was noted for its faithfulness to the stage play’s specific tone and its commitment to the grim narrative arc that defines the Alice series.