Imagine a bustling Tokyo, suddenly emptied of its soul—its people. That's the haunting vision at the heart of Netflix’s global phenomenon, Alice in Borderland, the Japanese sci-fi series that has captivated audiences worldwide. But here's where it gets controversial: could this show’s success be as much about its eerie portrayal of an abandoned Tokyo as it is about its gripping 'death game' narrative? Shinsuke Sato, the mastermind behind this series, has spent a significant chunk of his prolific career bringing this vision to life, all while juggling multiple feature films annually. Now, with Alice in Borderland entering its third season, Sato’s passion project has not only solidified his international reputation but has also become Netflix’s most successful Japanese original series to date.
Season three continued the show’s meteoric rise, spending three weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10 and peaking at No.5 on the global Non-English Shows list. Within a month of its release, it amassed over 20.5 million viewing hours and cracked the Top 10 in 30 countries, from Japan and Singapore to France and Türkiye. This isn’t just a show—it’s a cultural juggernaut.
Sato began this journey in 2019, with the first season debuting the following year. The series quickly tapped into the global appetite for dystopian 'death game' dramas, a genre that also fueled the success of Squid Game. By the time the second season arrived in 2022, Alice in Borderland had become a household name worldwide. But Sato’s expertise extends beyond this series. He’s a master of adapting manga to the screen, having previously brought Death Note: Light Up the New World, Bleach, and Kingdom to life. The latter, in particular, has spawned four films, all directed by Sato, with another installment due next year. And this is the part most people miss: Sato is also set to direct the live-action adaptation of the wildly popular manga My Hero Academia for Netflix and Legendary Entertainment, with Wonder Woman writer Jason Fuchs penning the script.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sato reflected on the five-year journey of Alice in Borderland. ‘It feels like time has flown by,’ he shared. ‘Each season pushed the boundaries of storytelling, so completing season three is a huge relief.’ But what truly sets the show apart is its haunting depiction of an empty Tokyo—a city known for its relentless energy. ‘I wanted to capture the strangeness of a Tokyo devoid of people,’ Sato explained. ‘It’s a stark contrast to the bustling metropolis we know, especially during the Olympics when the city was teeming with international visitors.’
Achieving this visual feat was no small task. Sato and his team built massive sets, including a replica of Shibuya, and employed meticulous CGI to erase crowds from certain scenes. They even shot in real Shibuya locations during early morning hours, carefully managing crowds. But was it worth it? Absolutely. The result is a show that balances graphic violence, melodrama, humor, and high-stakes games—a tonal tightrope walk that somehow feels cohesive. ‘We didn’t want everything to be ‘cool,’ Sato noted. ‘The variety comes from the characters and their unique atmospheres.’
And this is where the controversy lies: Is Alice in Borderland’s success due to its innovative storytelling, its visual audacity, or its ability to mirror our anxieties about isolation and survival? What do you think? Does the show’s portrayal of an empty Tokyo resonate with you, or is it the high-stakes games that keep you hooked? Let’s debate in the comments—Sato’s work invites nothing less.
