Last week, I got to check out the action fantasy anime feature Scarlet by Oscar nominee Mamoru Hosoda. I hadn’t seen his Oscar-nominated movie Mirai (2018) or Belle (2021), both produced by Studio Chizu, which Hosoda co-founded. It’s an ambitious animated feature that mixes 2D and 3D visuals, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The plot follows a pink-haired medieval princess, Scarlet (voiced by Mana Ashida), as she seeks revenge for her father’s murder. After failing to get back at her wicked uncle Claudius (Kôji Yakusho), she finds herself in the Otherlands, a realm between life and death, where she meets Hijiri (Masaki Okada), an optimistic paramedic from the present day.

It’s interesting to hear names such as Amulet, Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, Polonius, etc., but in anime characters. I wouldn’t say it’s an adaptation of Shakespeare’s most well-known works, or if it were, it’s a very loose interpretation. Hosoda flipped the protagonist’s gender and merely uses fragments of Hamlet to form his own story. The titular sword-fighting princess travels through time and space, fueled by a vengeful spirit, while Hijiri is a gentle pacifist who’s convinced he’s not dead yet. The Japanese voice cast is solid, and their delivery helps convey the characters’ emotions. One fun tidbit I learned via IMDb is that Mana Ashida, who voiced the princess, is the adorable, scene-stealing little Mako in Pacific Rim.

Hijiri joins Scarlet on her adventure, and even though Scarlet is hesitant at first, they end up forming an unlikely alliance. Their personalities and outlooks on life are worlds apart, but as they spend more time together, Hijiri gradually helps Scarlet see a future free from anger and bitterness. The relationship between the two isn’t immediately romantic, which I find refreshing. Their eventual bond feels organic as Scarlet is intrigued by Hijiri’s peaceful nature, even willing to sacrifice himself for strangers, as with the case with the nomadic group when they get attacked by bandits.

While the overall story is actually pretty straightforward, somehow it feels overly convoluted. The script by Hosoda and Todd Haberkorn doesn’t really lay out the rules of the Otherlands, leaving us in the dark about what’s in store in the Infinite Land that the characters are trying to reach. I view the Otherworld concept as a sort of purgatory, where souls from across cultures of the past and present, regardless of their nature, find themselves before moving on to their final resting place. Being that it’s an action fantasy adventure, there are plenty of fight scenes here as Scarlet fights Claudius’ henchmen, all kinds of soldiers and warriors, desert bandits, etc.

Scarlet is certainly an ambitious project that reportedly took 4.5 years to complete. The level of detail is impressive, and the animation overall is stunning. The score by Taisei Iwasaki is one of its strongest elements, blending high-energy action pieces with lovely melodies that enhance the quieter, more emotional scenes. Hosoda seems to draw inspiration from some grand Western fantasy tales like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. There’s this one castle perched on a hill resembling a fortress from Mordor that I kept expecting Sauron to suddenly pop up.

The varied animation styles can be quite a bit distracting. We first see a more traditional, 2D hand-drawn style in the 16th century Denmark, where Scarlet grew up as King Amulet’s (Masachika Ichimura) beloved daughter. The Otherlands is a blend of 3D and 2D anime with photorealistic backgrounds. The blend of styles seems to be a deliberate choice, and while it’s been crafted carefully to avoid looking like a hodgepodge, the color grading and the lighting of the anime characters feel a bit out of sync with the background. These distractions prevent me from being fully immersed in the story.

This animated feature is aimed at adults since it tackles heavier themes like death and revenge, along with big philosophical questions about life’s meaning and the possibility of a world without violence. At its heart, it’s about redemption, particularly for Scarlet, who’s fueled by her rage and hatred for those who wronged her. However, she has to reevaluate her values after discovering her father’s last words before he was murdered. The spiritual aspect blends elements from various religions. A huge dragon patrols the sky that sometimes steps in during key battle scenes, and I see it as a ‘god-like’ figure that delivers final judgment on those considered unworthy. The idea of heaven features a literal stairway leading up into the clouds, where the invisible steps remind me of the ‘leap of faith’ bridge scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

The runtime of almost 2 hours is quite long, especially for an animated movie. While it’s generally engaging, it could have used some tighter editing. For instance, there’s an extended dance scene in a modern city halfway through that feels out of place, and once again, the animation style pulls me out of the narrative. That being said, Scarlet provides a unique escape into a fantastical world with an uplifting message about a future free from war and violence, encouraging humanity to strive for forgiveness. It’s a welcome notion considering the chaotic world we currently inhabit, particularly in my home state, where it feels like civil war could break out at any moment.

All in all, I found the film enjoyable, and I admire Hosoda’s ambition and artistry, even if some of the fascinating concepts don’t quite coalesce into something truly extraordinary.

Scarlet is currently playing in select theaters and IMAX screens

What are your thoughts about Scarlet?