The Making of Plarium’s “Dark” Alice Cinematic

At Plarium, we strive to break the norm when it comes to creativity in gaming cinematics. Our latest campaign, RAID: Alice’s Adventure, was born out of a desire to merge the timeless allure of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with the intense, high-fantasy world of RAID: Shadow Legends. The result? An 80-second CGI cinematic that explores what happens when cultural nostalgia meets modern gaming innovation.

This project marked a foundational step in our larger vision for a RAID Cinematic Universe. By introducing bold, narrative-driven reinterpretations like this one, we aimed to create an interconnected tapestry of storylines that expand RAID’s world. These stories build on one another, creating a deeper, richer universe for players to explore over time.

Plarium’s Creative Vision

When Plarium’s Global Creative Marketing Team began conceptualizing this project, and “Alice the Wanderer” in particular, they knew it couldn’t just be a standard adaptation of the story. The goal was to reimagine Alice’s journey in a way that felt fresh, bold, and true to the spirit of RAID. The result was a new Champion who is cheeky, rebellious, and unrelentingly fierce; a survivor molded by chaos.

“Every decision in this campaign stemmed from the question: How would this journey play out had it unfolded in RAID?” explains Tal Hirscherg, the scriptwriter and Creative Manager at Plarium. “Her transformation had to reflect the brutal world she’s now a part of. And we didn’t want to play it safe when it came to telling her story.”

Easter Eggs for Fans

While the cinematic captures Alice the Wanderer’s transformation and RAID’s high-stakes storytelling, it’s layered with subtle details that fans can discover upon closer inspection:

The Upside-Down Setting

The entire environment plays with inversion from the windows and cathedrals to even the chandelier hanging above the Queen of Hearts’ throne. Many things are upside down, mirroring the topsy-turvy nature of Alice the Wanderer’s reality.

Concept Art

If you look closely you’ll also notice, the Queen of Hearts’ throne is within the upside-down cathedral.

Concept Art

…as well as Mad Hatter plucking and throwing glowing crystals from the upside-down chandeliers.

The Mad Hatter’s Liberation

Alice the Wanderer’s duel with the Queen of Hearts has deeper implications. Notice the purple smoke surrounding the card in the Mad Hatter’s hat, representing the Queen of Hearts’ control. Alice the Wanderer then uses her shield to deflect his gems and knock the card from his hat, breaking the Queen of Hearts’ hold over him.

This is why she screams “No!” - as her control has been severed. By the end of the cinematic, the Mad Hatter stands beside Alice the Wanderer, signifying his allegiance has shifted - all hail the new queen!

“Off With Her Head!”

In a climactic moment, the Queen of Hearts’ helmet crashes to the ground, creating the visual metaphor of her “head” being severed, an homage to her iconic decree.

These hidden elements add depth to the CGI, making it more fun both for us to make and for our fans to watch!

Crafting a New Alice

Lewis Carroll’s Alice transformation became the heart of the story. We wanted Alice the Wanderer to challenge perceptions of heroism versus villainy, to allude to a more complex origin tale. Her journey mirrors the duality at the core of RAID: strength forged through struggle.

The cinematic’s defining moment comes as Alice the Wanderer declares, “Imagine building the perfect cage, only to find yourself locked in it, with me.” This line encapsulates her evolution from victim to force of nature, offering a glimpse into the resilience that defines RAID’s Champions.

The Art Behind the Madness

From initial concept sketches to final CGI renderings, every detail was meticulously crafted to reflect Alice the Wanderer’s twisted world and Plarium’s passion for creating top-of-the-line cinematics.

“We wanted to craft a cinematic that resonated with players on both an emotional and artistic level,” says Tal Hirschberg.

Balancing Creativity and Strategy

While the campaign is undeniably a work of art, it’s also a strategic effort designed with our players in mind. By blending innovative storytelling with high-concept design, we aimed to engage our audience while showing RAID’s Champions in a fresh and meaningful way.

“We wanted the cinematic to spark curiosity and excitement for what’s next in the world of RAID,” said Tal.

Players have highlighted how the narrative depth drew them further into the story. The immersive storytelling, coupled with the hidden details, Plarium’s “Dark” Alice the Wanderer has sparked widespread excitement and speculation about future campaigns and characters.

At its core, the RAID: Alice’s Adventure campaign reflects our passion for blending art, narrative, and strategy. It’s a campaign that explored new possibilities, not just for RAID, but for what gaming cinematics can offer their passionate communities.