I have just very recently completed viewing both seasons of the Japanese Netflix series Alice In Borderland ( 今際の国のアリス ), a science fiction thriller drama based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso.

The single biggest visual effect spectacle of the series has got to be the opening scenes from season one, featuring a completely barren and empty Shibuya Crossing, an iconic landmark of Tokyo that many will recognize. Check it out in this clip I posted on twitter –

This opening sequence from the 2020 Japanese Netflix series Alice In Borderland featuring a barren and deserted Shibuya Crossing remains one of the most impressive #vfx feats ( by Digital Frontier ) in recent Japanese productions. #???????? pic.twitter.com/lutpagmGwX

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) February 13, 2023

Because of the sheer amount of both human and vehicle traffic passing through this crossing, which makes it nigh impossible to shut down for filming, I knew some very nifty visual effects must have been employed to create this stunning sight; it turns out the production team re-created a highly detailed replica set of the crossing in the Ashikaga area of Tochigi prefecture. Although that is a monumental task unto itself ( not to mention a very costly production budget ), a whole lot of very impressive digital set extensions still had to be done to re-create the buildings that surround the crossing.

This is easily one of the most outstanding visual effects feats I’ve ever seen in recent Japanese production, and I am truly bowled over by what the Japanese VFX team from Digital Frontier has been able to pull off. You can read more about the details of the VFX creation on this artofvfx page, and check out the official making of video below to see some footages of the splendid Shibuya Crossing replica set in Tochigi –

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