Wondering where the Alice in Borderland anime ends in the manga? You’ve finished Season 2 and are now facing the big question of what comes next. You need a clear, direct answer to know if you can continue the story.
The Netflix live-action series Alice in Borderland concludes its adaptation of the original manga with Season 2, covering the story up to the final chapter. The original manga by Haro Aso ends with Chapter 65, titled “The 731st Day of Restitution,” which is found in Volume 18. Therefore, there is no more source material from the main series to adapt.
Based on a direct analysis of the source material, this guide will explain exactly where the anime leaves off. You’ll discover the crucial differences between the endings, the true meaning of that lingering Joker card, and what the future holds for the live-action series, including its anime-original path for Season 3.
Key Facts
- Complete Adaptation: The Netflix series has officially adapted the entire main story of the original Alice in Borderland manga, which consists of 65 chapters.
- The Joker Is the Biggest Change: In the manga, the Joker is a metaphysical guide, whereas the anime uses a physical Joker card as a cliffhanger for a new season.
- Core Ending Is Identical: Both the anime and manga reveal the Borderland is a form of purgatory for victims of a meteorite strike, with survivors waking up with amnesia.
- A Sequel Manga Exists: A short sequel called Alice in Borderland: Retry was written, but it is not long enough to be the primary basis for a full new season.
- Season 3 Will Be Original: Because all the main source material has been used, the upcoming Season 3 will be an anime-original story, likely centered around the Joker.
Where Does the Alice in Borderland Anime Officially End in the Manga?
The Netflix live-action series Alice in Borderland concludes its adaptation of the original manga with Season 2, covering the story up to the final chapter. The original manga by Haro Aso ends with Chapter 65, “The 731st Day of Restitution,” which is located in Volume 18. This means if you have finished watching both seasons of the show, you have experienced the complete main storyline that was written in the original manga. There are no remaining chapters from the primary series to continue the story.
For fans looking to transition from the anime to the manga, it’s useful to know how the seasons map to the source material. The adaptation covers the manga’s plot points in a relatively faithful sequence, though some games and character arcs are condensed or slightly altered for television. The core journey of Arisu and Usagi, from their arrival in the Borderlands to the final confrontation with the Queen of Hearts, is fully depicted.
To understand where to continue reading, you would need to look at the sequel series, not the original. Here is a clear breakdown of how the two seasons of the Netflix show correspond to the manga’s chapters.
| Anime Season | Corresponding Manga Chapters (Approximate) | Key Events Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Chapters 1 – 30 | Introduction to the Borderlands, the Seven of Hearts game, Arrival at “The Beach”. |
| Season 2 | Chapters 31 – 65 | The Face Card games, the King of Spades hunt, the Queen of Hearts final game. |
How Faithfully Does the Netflix Series Adapt the Manga’s Ending?
The Netflix adaptation is highly faithful to the manga’s core conclusion, revealing the Borderlands experience was a near-death struggle for survival after a meteorite strike. However, the series makes one crucial change: it removes Arisu’s direct encounter with the Joker entity [a ferryman figure] and instead ends with a shot of a physical Joker card, creating a cliffhanger for a future season. This fundamental loyalty to the source’s main plot twist ensures that anime-only viewers receive the same essential explanation for the games’ existence as manga readers.
Both versions confirm that the characters were not in an alternate dimension or a video game in the traditional sense. Instead, they were in a state of purgatory, a borderland between life and death, after a meteorite devastated Shibuya. Their fight for survival in the games was a manifestation of their will to live while their bodies were in critical condition in the real world. The final choice to “accept” or “decline” permanent residency was their final decision to either give up and die or fight to return to life.
What Are the Core Similarities in the Ending?
The endings of the Alice in Borderland anime and manga share the same foundational truths. This consistency ensures the central mystery is resolved in the same way across both mediums.
- The Meteorite Disaster: Both stories reveal that a meteorite struck Tokyo, and this event is the cause of all the main characters being on the brink of death.
- The Purgatory Reveal: The Borderlands is explained as a realm between life and death, where the consciousnesses of the victims fight for survival. This is not an alternate reality but a metaphysical state.
- Amnesia Upon Return: In both the manga and the anime, the survivors who choose to return to the real world wake up in a hospital with no memories of their time in the Borderlands.
- The Final Game: The last game in both versions is against the Queen of Hearts, Mira, which involves a psychological game of croquet designed to make Arisu give up.
What Is the Single Biggest Difference in the Ending?
The biggest difference is the Joker. In the manga, after refusing Mira’s offer and winning the final game, Arisu meets a mysterious, shadowy entity. This being identifies itself as the Joker, the “ferryman” who guides souls across the border between life and death. This encounter is a quiet, thematic conclusion, cementing the idea of the Borderland as a spiritual passage.
The anime completely cuts this scene. Instead, after the characters wake up in the real world, the camera pans across a table of playing cards left behind, with the wind blowing all of them away except for a single, ominous Joker card. This changes the Joker from a metaphysical conclusion in the manga to a literal sequel hook in the anime, implying the game is not truly over and setting up an entirely new conflict for Season 3.
What Is the True Meaning of the Joker Card?
The Joker Card has different meanings. In the original manga, the Joker is a metaphysical being who ferries souls, representing the end of the journey. In the Netflix anime, the card is a literal cliffhanger, implying a new, final game and setting up an original story for Season 3, as the main manga content is finished. The card’s appearance is the show’s way of telling the audience that despite the book being closed on the original story, a new chapter is about to begin.
The Joker in the Manga: A Thematic End
In Haro Aso’s manga, the Joker is not a player or a game master but a guide. Described as a “smudge” or a shadowy figure, he serves a role similar to Charon from Greek mythology, the ferryman of the dead. He asks Arisu if he is a devil or a god, and Arisu concludes he is simply an arbiter. This encounter provides a philosophical capstone to the series, confirming the Borderland’s nature as a plane between worlds.
The Joker in the Anime: A Sequel Hook
The decision to end Season 2 with a close-up on the Joker card was a deliberate creative choice by the showrunners. With all 65 chapters of the main manga adapted, they needed a way to signal the story’s continuation. The Joker card serves as a perfect narrative device to introduce a new, unknown threat that goes beyond the original source material. It suggests that a final, unpredictable “game” remains.
Popular Fan Theories
The anime’s cliffhanger has sparked numerous fan theories across platforms like Reddit. Many viewers speculate about what the Joker’s arrival could mean for a new season.
* The Final Boss: A common theory is that the Joker is the ultimate game master, the true ruler of the Borderland, who will be the final antagonist.
* A New Kind of Game: Some believe the Joker’s game will not follow the rules of the numbered or face cards, instead introducing a new level of chaos and unpredictability.
* A Return to the Borderland: The most popular theory is that the Joker’s appearance will somehow drag Arisu, Usagi, and the other survivors back into the game world for one last round.
What Happens in the ‘Alice in Borderland: Retry’ Sequel Manga?
Alice in Borderland: Retry is a 13-chapter sequel manga by Haro Aso. It follows Arisu years after the original story; he is now married to Usagi and works as a school counselor. After a new life-threatening accident, he is transported back to the Borderland and must survive one more game to return to his pregnant wife. This sequel provides a short but intense look at what happens when a survivor is forced to face the games again.
In our experience analyzing manga adaptations, a short sequel like Retry is often a point of major fan curiosity. The plot of Retry focuses on a single, high-stakes game and explores Arisu’s matured perspective.
Key plot points include:
* A Time Skip: The story is set several years after the conclusion of the original manga.
* Arisu’s New Life: He is happily married to Usagi, and they are expecting their first child.
* An Unfortunate Return: Arisu gets into an accident (hit by a falling sign) and wakes up back in the Borderland, completely alone.
* One More Game: He is forced to participate in the Nine of Hearts game, a challenging psychological battle, with his return to the real world and his family on the line.
This sequel manga shows that returning to the Borderland is possible under life-threatening circumstances. It serves as a compelling epilogue to Arisu’s journey, highlighting what he now has to lose and reinforcing his powerful will to live.
Will Alice in Borderland Season 3 Be Based on the Manga?
No, Alice in Borderland Season 3 will not be based on the manga. Season 2 adapted the remainder of the original 65-chapter manga series. While a short sequel called Alice in Borderland: Retry exists, it is not substantial enough for a full season, meaning Season 3 will be an original story created for the show, likely focused on the Joker.
The evidence points to an anime-original path. The Retry manga is only 13 chapters long, focusing on a single game. A full season of the Netflix show typically adapts around 30 chapters of material. Therefore, there simply isn’t enough source content for a full adaptation. Industry analysis and comments from the production team suggest that the Joker card cliffhanger was intentionally placed to launch a new narrative unique to the Netflix series. This gives the showrunners the creative freedom to explore new games and character dynamics, surprising even long-time fans of the manga.
FAQs About where does the alice in borderland anime end in the manga
Is it worth reading the Alice in Borderland manga from the beginning?
Yes, it is highly recommended to read the manga from the beginning even if you have seen the anime. The live-action series skipped or altered several games and character backstories for pacing. Reading from Chapter 1 provides a richer, more detailed experience and deeper characterization than the Netflix adaptation alone.
Who is the Joker in the Alice in Borderland manga?
In the manga, the Joker is not a game master but a mysterious, shadowy entity Arisu meets after clearing the final game. This being acts as a “ferryman,” guiding souls between the realm of the living and the dead (the Borderland). He is a thematic conclusion to the journey, not a setup for another fight.
Do Arisu and Usagi remember the Borderlands in the manga?
No, just like in the anime, Arisu, Usagi, and the other survivors have no memory of their time in the Borderland after they wake up in the hospital. They experience a sense of deja vu and feel a strong connection, which leads them to get to know each other in the real world.
Did anyone choose to stay in the Borderland in the manga?
Yes, two characters from the Jack of Hearts game, Banda and Yaba, accepted the offer of permanent residency in the Borderland. While most main characters chose to return to the real world, these two opted to stay behind.
How many chapters are in the main Alice in Borderland manga?
The main, original Alice in Borderland manga series consists of 65 chapters, collected into 18 volumes. The story is complete, and its entire plot was adapted across the two seasons of the Netflix show.
What is the other manga, ‘Alice on Border Road’?
Alice on Border Road is a spin-off series also written by Haro Aso, but it features an entirely new cast of characters in a different part of Japan dealing with their own Borderland. It is an isolated side story and is not directly connected to Arisu’s plot, making it unlikely to be adapted for the main Netflix series.
Why did the anime show a Joker card if it wasn’t in the manga ending?
The Joker card at the end of Season 2 was an anime-original cliffhanger added to create a setup for a third season. Since the show had adapted all the existing source material from the main series, the card was a way to tease a new, original storyline that would go beyond the manga.
Is the ‘Retry’ manga long enough for Season 3?
No, the sequel Alice in Borderland: Retry is only 13 chapters long, which is considered too short to be the sole basis for an entire new season. A full season typically adapts around 30+ chapters, which is why Season 3 will need to be a primarily original story.
What does the title of the final manga chapter, “The 731st Day of Restitution,” mean?
“The 731st Day of Restitution” refers to the epilogue of the manga, which takes place two years (approximately 731 days) after the characters returned to the real world. It shows how they have been “restituted” or restored to their lives, with Arisu pursuing a career in clinical psychology.
Where can I read the Alice in Borderland manga and its sequels?
The original Alice in Borderland manga and its sequel, Alice in Borderland: Retry, are licensed for English release by VIZ Media. They can be purchased from major booksellers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers where manga is sold. Digital versions are also available on platforms like the VIZ Manga app.
Key Takeaways: Alice in Borderland Anime & Manga Summary
- The Anime Fully Adapts the Main Manga: Season 2 of the Netflix series concludes the adaptation of the original 65-chapter manga, ending with the final game against the Queen of Hearts and the reveal of the meteorite disaster.
- The Joker is the Key Difference: The manga’s ending features a metaphysical “Joker” entity who is the ferryman between life and death, offering a thematic close. The anime replaces this with a physical Joker card as a direct cliffhanger for an original Season 3.
- Reading From the Start is Recommended: While the plot is similar, the manga includes games, character details, and backstories that were cut from the live-action adaptation, offering a more complete narrative experience.
- A Direct Sequel Manga Exists: Alice in Borderland: Retry is a short, 13-chapter sequel where a married Arisu accidentally returns to the Borderland years later and must survive a new game to get back to his pregnant wife.
- Season 3 Will Be an Original Story: With all the main source material adapted and the Retry sequel being too short for a full season, Season 3 will be an anime-original plot centered around the mystery of the Joker card.
- The Core Ending is Identical: In both versions, the Borderland is revealed to be a form of purgatory, a shared near-death experience for the victims of a meteorite that struck Tokyo. The survivors wake up in a hospital with no memories of the games.
Final Thoughts on Alice in Borderland: From Manga to Screen
Understanding the relationship between the Alice in Borderland anime and its source material reveals a fascinating journey of adaptation. While the Netflix series faithfully brought Haro Aso’s core story to a global audience, its decision to diverge with the Joker card sets the stage for an exciting, unpredictable future. For fans, this creates two distinct yet connected paths: exploring the rich detail of the completed manga and its sequels, or anticipating the brand-new territory the live-action series will chart in its upcoming season. Whichever path you choose, the game is far from over.
Last update on 2026-02-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
