ALI PROJECT is a Japanese band known for their aristocratic aesthetic, built around vocalist and lyricist Arika Takarano and composer/arranger Mikiya Katakura.

The duo's sound has evolved considerably over time. Early on, they leaned into lighter, cheerful material, but gradually shifted toward darker, more mysterious compositions. Takarano herself describes this transformation as moving from "White Alice" to "Black Alice"—a distinction fans still reference today. While the band now favors their Black Alice material, they'll occasionally revisit the brighter style.

They started out in 1988 as Ari (Ant) Project, releasing the indie album Fantastic Garden. The project gained some credibility when progressive rock critic Tatsumi Takayuki cited the album in his book Philosophy of Progressive Rock, which ended up positioning them within that genre. Four years later, they rebranded as ALI PROJECT and scored their major debut with the single "Fall in Love, Maiden" in 1992.

Most of their releases come through Toshiba-EMI, Victor Entertainment, and Tokuma Japan. They've become particularly recognizable in anime circles for their opening and ending theme work—most famously on Noir and Rozen Maiden, though they've contributed to plenty of other series over the years.