REVIEW: ‘Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation’ Episode 1 — “Stranger Waking”

Fans of Disney Twisted-Wonderland, the popular mobile game created by Aniplex and Walt Disney Japan, should be excited. The game has gotten the animation treatment with Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation, which brings familiar faces to life in a new format. However, its inaugural episode features a chaotic introduction to its ensemble of characters, making this a shaky first outing for unfamiliar viewers to this twisted realm of magic and mystery.

Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 opens with an ominous voiceover from a masked man, weaving a magical spell of sorts and an all-too-familiar magic mirror looming in sight. We then cut to a gymnasium, where a group of high school students is practicing kendo under their team captain, Yuken “Yu” Enma (Youhei Azakami/Jonathon Ha). A natural leader, Yuken is solely responsible for bringing this group of students together, and all are hyped for an upcoming kendo tournament.

However, fate has something different in store for Yuken. Later that night, mysterious fog surrounds him while he is waiting for his bus. He proves that he would instantly die in a horror movie when he decides to step out into the street to investigate the fog. It is here he is run over in dramatic fashion by a horse-drawn carriage that practically screams villain-coded. 

The mysterious masked man sets the tone before everything devolves into chaos.

The masked man’s voice appears again, transitioning us (and Yuken) from the real world to the Twisted Wonderland. Several archival clips from Disney animated classics appear in a mirror, hinting that this spell is bringing together various beings from the worlds of these films. It’s a cool nod to the source material the series is inspired by, even if it’s a little confusing at first. However, once the spell is completed, the confusion deepens.

Yuken appears in a ceremonial hall, with coffins surrounding him, along with a group of robed teenage boys staring back at him. Floating above, in what looks to be the center of the room, is a magical mirror —the same one from the beginning of Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode. The masked man (Mitsuru Miyamoto/J. Michael Tatum) tries to mitigate the growing confusion in the room, filling in the details with exposition-laden dialogue about where Yuken has been transported. 

Yet, before Yuken can make heads or tails of the situation, a demonic cat-looking creature named Grim (Noriaki Sugiyama/Ben Diskin) barrels into the room. Grim’s appearance sets a rapidly cascading series of events that launches everything into chaos. Easily described as a critter with zero chill, Grim insists that he is capable of becoming a mage like the rest of the people in the room, all of whom have been gathered from all over the universe to learn the magical arts (including Yuken, it seems). However, Grim is promptly rejected.

Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 loses focus after Grim’s arrival.

Grim rightfully crashes out (the rejection seemingly based on his species), and decides the best course of action is to light everything on fire. Quickly becoming the most relatable character so far in Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1, the fire quickly prompts action from the group of mages, with all taking different approaches to the situation. Unfortunately, without any solid characterization leading up to this moment, it isn’t easy to care about anyone just yet, except Yuken. 

However, one character emerges from the chaos, the young mage Riddle Rosehearts (Natsuki Hanae/Paul Castro, Jr), who is easily identifiable by his bright red hair. His personality and power quickly emerge as he clashes with both Yuken and Grim in the chaos. In the case of Yuken, the high school student’s natural caring personality manifests in a moment of concern towards Riddle, confusing the mage. No one has genuinely asked whether Riddle has been alright before, nor has he had anyone protect him like Yuken before.

Still, Riddle’s pride is wounded, and he shrugs Yuken off. Labeling himself judge, jury, and executioner, Riddle makes quick work of Grim, nullifying the creature’s power with a collar and rendering him pretty much useless as a magic wielder. Grim is led away by the mysterious masked man, leaving a confused Yuken behind, who quickly realizes that none of this is a dream. Yet, he is given little time to process before Riddle confronts him with his own sentence before the credits roll. 

A chibi-inspired end-credits scene at the end of Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 gives us the names of what will likely be our core group of characters. The mysterious masked man also provides further exposition on the ceremony and what it’s about. However, all this happening at the end of the episode is an odd choice.

Seeds are planted for further connections between Riddle Rosehearts and Yuken.

While the end-credits scene offers some clarity, providing it earlier in the episode would have been more helpful, particularly since not everyone is willing to stick around for the credits. And given a little joke that’s inserted in the end credits, it doesn’t quite land as well as it could have, given the focus on information over cute Easter eggs. 

What Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 does set up well is the future conflict between Riddle Rosehearts and Yuken, with the latter truly fitting in as the audience surrogate. The already volatile dynamic between the two sets the stage for an unpleasant transition for Yuken, but also makes for future titillating viewing as he attempts to navigate this strange, magical world. 

It’s still early days, but Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 is a wobbly introduction to a Disney-inspired world of potential villainy. What ultimately makes it struggle is the lack of definition around its ensemble group of characters before it launches into an intense, fiery sequence. Granted, it echoes the confusion Yuken is likely feeling in the moment — struggling to know who anyone is beyond his own self-preservation — but it doesn’t give viewers much to glom onto upfront. 

While Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 offers a haphazard introduction to its titular twisted world, the future conflict it sets up between Riddle Rosehearts and Yuken is enough of a hook to spark interest. With further exploration of this world, the chaotic, confusing feeling of the opening episode will hopefully fade, leaving us with something truly magical to sink our teeth into.

Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation Episode 1 is now streaming exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu.

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