Leading up to the highly anticipated third season of Alice in Borderland, Netflix held a virtual press conference featuring director Shinsuke Sato. With press from the US, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and more, the conversation provided insightful perspectives into the world of Borderland.
Director Sato takes an inclusive approach as he explained that the third season is both for those who have seen the prior seasons as well as those who aren’t familiar with the source material.
“Season three is for those who have seen season one and season two, but you don’t necessarily have to really know the original manga in order to enjoy it.”
When asked about what differentiates Alice in Borderland from other survival game narratives, he emphasized the series’ unique blend of gameplay and personal growth.
“What differentiates it is the meticulously constructed games that turn into a process of resolving traumas or problems that each character has.” This integration of storytelling and gameplay offers an experience for audiences that is both engaging and emotionally resonant.
As season three opens up opportunities to explore new themes and character development, director Sato explains that the games were deliberately selected to match the story arcs.
“The gameplay really has to be closely linked to what are the core messages and themes that we’re trying to tell,” which is a thoughtful approach to ensuring that each game serves a meaningful purpose within the narrative and enhances the overall story.
The series begins and concludes in Shibuya, which can be seen as thematic bookend. But director Sato revealed that “there was actually no gameplay ever done in Shibuya in this series.”
As the roundtable discussion concluded, Sato encouraged viewers to approach the new season with an open mind.
“I really want the audience to come in just as if they are approaching a blank sheet of paper,” said Shinsuke Sato.
By doing so, fans can appreciate this constitution of Alice in Borderland, regardless of their last touchpoint with the series (if ever).
Alice in Borderland Season 3 is out now on Netflix.
