Honestly, most people think they know the deal with Alice Angel. You’ve seen the posters. You’ve heard the distorted singing. Maybe you even jumped out of your skin when she first shrieked at you in Chapter 3. But the real story of Alice Angel Bendy and the Ink Machine is way more messed up than just a "cartoon character gone bad."
It’s actually a tragedy about a woman who got ghosted by her own career.
Who is Alice, Anyway?
In the world of the 1930s Sillyvision cartoons, Alice was supposed to be the studio's big break. Joey Drew wanted a female star to rival Bendy’s popularity. He basically wanted his own Betty Boop. She’s a singer, she’s a dancer, and she’s "quite a gal." But in the ink-soaked hallways of the studio, Alice isn't one person.
She's two. Or maybe three, depending on how deep you want to go into the lore.
The first Alice we meet—the one with the half-melted face and the obsession with "perfection"—is Susie Campbell. Susie was the original voice actress. She was young, naive, and totally obsessed with the role. Then, out of nowhere, Joey Drew replaced her with a woman named Allison Pendle. No phone call. No meeting. Susie just walked into the studio and heard someone else doing her lines.
That’s where the "twisted" part of Alice Angel Bendy and the Ink Machine starts.
The Identity Crisis in the Ink
The game does this cool, creepy thing where it blurs the line between the voice actor and the character. Susie Campbell didn't just play Alice; she became Alice. When the Ink Machine started bubbling over and Joey Drew’s "rituals" began, Susie was pulled into the ink.
She came out wrong.
She wasn't the beautiful angel from the posters. She was a "failed" experiment. One side of her face is gorgeous, but the other side is a literal nightmare of melted ink and exposed teeth.
- The Motivation: She’s not just killing for fun. She’s harvesting "parts" from other ink creatures.
- The Target: She’s obsessed with the Boris clones. She thinks their "insides" are the key to making her beautiful again.
- The Horror: It’s basically a cosmic horror version of a mid-life crisis fueled by Hollywood's obsession with youth.
But then there's the other Alice.
Toward the end of the game, we meet Allison Angel. She’s the ink version of Allison Pendle. Unlike "Twisted Alice," this version is kind, tactical, and carries a giant sword. She’s what Alice was meant to be—a protector. The dynamic between the two of them is basically a battle for the soul of the character. One is a ghost of a bitter past, and the other is a remnant of a better future.
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Why Alice Still Creeps Us Out
Basically, it’s the voice acting. Alanna Linayre and Lauren Synger did an incredible job making these characters feel distinct. When Twisted Alice screams about being "reborn," you actually feel a weird bit of pity for her. She was a victim of Joey Drew’s ego before she ever became a monster.
A lot of fans argue about whether Twisted Alice could have been "fixed." Honestly? Probably not. The ink doesn't just change your body; it rots your mind. By the time Henry (the protagonist) shows up, she’s already gone through countless "procedures" on herself.
What Most People Miss
People often forget that Alice Angel was never actually "real" in the cartoons. She was just a drawing. But the desire to make her real is what destroyed Joey Drew Studios.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Alice Angel Bendy and the Ink Machine, keep an eye out for the audio logs in Chapter 3. They tell the story of Susie’s descent into madness better than any cutscene ever could. Also, if you haven't played the sequel, Bendy and the Dark Revival, you really should. It adds a whole new layer to what happened to Alice after the "ending" of the first game.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to piece together the full timeline of Alice Angel, do these three things:
- Listen to the "New Voice Actress" log: It's in Chapter 2. It sets up Susie's entire downfall.
- Compare the designs: Look at the difference between the "Heavenly Toys" posters and the in-game models. The subtle differences in the halo and dress show how the ink corrupted the original vision.
- Check out the books: The Lost Ones and Sent from Above give a lot of background on the employees who were turned into these creatures.
The story of Alice Angel isn't just a jump-scare. It's a reminder that sometimes the things we create end up consuming us.