"Alice in Wonderland” (不思議の国のアリス), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Pamphlet 1953, Ultra Rare, B5 Size (18 x 25 cm) I192B
This is an original Japanese movie pamphlet from the first release of Alice in Wonderland in 1953.
This pamphlet is from 1953 and is incredibly rare even in Japan.
A striking 1953 first-release Japanese B5 pamphlet for Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, featuring a vibrant Japan-release design with Alice at the centre, surrounded by the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and other Wonderland characters. The bright blue background, bold English title typography and charming period illustration make this a highly attractive survivor from the film’s earliest Japanese theatrical campaign.
For collectors, it is a true early-1950s Disney standout: vivid colour, charming character artwork, period Japanese release context, and the unusual survival of a delicate original Japanese cinema pamphlet from the film’s first release. Unlike standard later reissue material, this piece belongs to the original Japanese release period and reflects how Disney’s animated features were promoted in post-war Japan.
Date & Japanese Theatrical Release
Alice in Wonderland premiered internationally in 1951 and was originally released by RKO Radio Pictures.
This pamphlet 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 shortly 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).
It was the thirteenth animated feature produced by Walt Disney. Disney had explored the idea of adapting Alice as early as the 1930s, later reviving the project and ultimately deciding to make the film entirely animated. Although its initial theatrical reception was mixed, Alice in Wonderland later found a much larger audience through television broadcasts, reissues and critical reassessment, becoming one of Disney’s most recognisable and beloved works.
Design Notes
Alice as the central figure: the composition places Alice prominently at the centre of the design, giving the piece immediate visual impact and strong Disney character appeal.
Wonderland character cast: the cover includes a lively group of beloved characters, including the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit and other figures from the film, creating a compact visual summary of Wonderland’s fantasy world.
Japan-release collectability: original Japanese Disney pamphlets from the early 1950s are highly desirable because they were made for cinema audiences, handled at the time of release, and rarely preserved in excellent condition.
Original pamphlet format: the reverse carries a period Japanese advertisement, a wonderful detail that reinforces the object’s original post-war Japanese cinema and publishing context.
Disney, RKO, and the Original Release Period
Disney features of this period were distributed through RKO, and Japanese promotional material from this era is especially collectible due to its scarcity, fragile paper format and distinctive local design treatment. This pamphlet’s release context places it firmly within the original 1950s theatrical campaign for Alice in Wonderland in Japan.
Condition Report
Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact pamphlet for sale.
This item presents beautifully for its age, with strong colour and highly appealing artwork. As with almost all surviving Japanese promotional material from this period, there may be light signs of age and handling, but the overall appearance is very impressive.
It is over 73 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
I192B
