"Alice in Wonderland” (不思議の国のアリス), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1953, Ultra Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) O709

A striking 1953 first-release Japanese B2 for Disney’s Alice in Wonderland—and one of only two known styles produced for the film’s Japanese first release. This is the coveted Japan-only illustrated design featuring a luminous, oversized portrait of Alice floating over a parade of Wonderland characters, all set against a deep, mid-century blue field sprinkled with whimsical musical notes—perfectly echoing the Japanese “colour feature-length musical fantasy” positioning printed on the sheet.

For collectors, it’s a true early-1950s Disney standout: bold vermilion Japanese title typography, beautiful vintage colour, period RKO branding, and the rare bonus of a signed Japanese poster design—credited to renowned artist “Miya” (see the signature in the photos). The illustration is signed “Miya” at lower left—an in-image artist credit seen on a handful of early-1950s Japanese campaign pieces - for example "The Outlaw".

Sourced by Japan Poster Shop from a private collection in Japan, this is an extremely rare poster that is notably difficult to find illustrated in books or online, and one that we almost never see offered publicly—even within Japan. Many of our items are sourced across Japan (often privately) through our Japanese owner’s long-standing network of dealers and collectors built over nearly a decade.

Date & Japanese Theatrical Release

Alice in Wonderland premiered internationally in 1951 and was originally released by RKO Radio Pictures.
This poster is an exceptionally rare survivor from the film’s first Japanese theatrical release in 1953—73 years ago, and from a remarkable era of Japanese cinema history (the same year as Tokyo Story, and just before Seven Samurai and Godzilla arrived in Japan in 1954).

The Film & Its Place in Disney’s Legacy

Produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO, Alice in Wonderland is a fully animated musical fantasy-comedy adaptation drawing on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1871).
Its reputation has a famously “two-stage” life: the film struggled on initial release, then found a much larger afterlife through reissues and later reassessment—one reason original first-run Japanese posters (especially Japan-only artwork) are so compelling to serious Disney collectors.

Design Notes

Portrait as center stage: rather than relying on a single action scene, this sheet is dominated by a dreamy, softly shaded close-up of Alice, giving the poster a uniquely elegant, “fine illustration” feel compared with many other international campaigns.
Japan-only title impact: the massive 不思議の国のアリス (“Alice in Wonderland”) lettering is rendered in a thick, textured vermilion style that reads like stamped ink—graphic, bold, and unmistakably Japanese.
Character parade storytelling: Wonderland is sold through a lively ring of supporting characters—croquet-court royalty, tea-party chaos, and fan-favourite figures—creating a “best moments” showcase around Alice’s portrait.
Artist-signed design: the “Miya” signature at the lower left is a rare and highly desirable detail—an immediate marker that this is a distinct Japanese illustration campaign, not a standard international layout.

Disney, RKO, and the “Imported Wonderfilm” Pitch

The RKO Radio Pictures mark and the Japanese RKO credit line (日本RKOラヂオ映画 提供) are more than decoration—they’re an historical fingerprint. Disney features of this era were distributed through RKO, and this sheet’s period branding firmly anchors it to the original distribution era and the film’s first-run Japanese release.

Condition Report

Overall condition: Excellent (unrestored) and highly impressive for age—an outstanding example of a top Disney title from 1953.