Scarlet
The brief
Mamoru Hosoda trades his usual warmth for something darker and more mythic, crafting a revenge tale that feels like Studio Ghibli meets Dante's Inferno. The "Land of the Dead" setting lets him unleash some genuinely wild animation sequences, though the pacing drags whenever Princess Scarlet stops moving and starts philosophizing about existence. Mana Ashida brings real fury to the voice work, making Scarlet feel less like a typical anime protagonist and more like someone actually consumed by vengeance. This is for anyone who wanted The Boy and the Beast to have more edge, or thinks Hosoda needs to embrace his weird side more often.
The verdict
If you're craving Mamoru Hosoda's gorgeous animation paired with a darker, more mythic edge than his usual family-friendly fare, this revenge-fueled journey through the Land of the Dead delivers genuinely wild visual sequences and uncommonly fierce voice work from Mana Ashida. If you expect the warm pacing and philosophical restraint of The Boy and the Beast, you'll likely find yourself checking your watch during the lengthy existential monologues that regularly grind the action to a halt.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewers who appreciate darker anime
- 👥 Animation fans ready for mature themes
- ⚠️ Young children should skip this one
Heads up
- Murder and revenge themes throughout (frequent)
- Death and existential void concepts (moderate)
- Fantasy violence and combat (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Mamoru Hosoda
- Cast
- Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Yutaka Matsushige, Kotaro Yoshida, Koji Yakusho, Masachika Ichimura, Yuki Saito
Official synopsis
After failing to avenge her father's murder, Princess Scarlet, wakes up in the "Land of the Dead." In this
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Perfect Blue (1998)
Both animated psychological thrillers explore identity crisis and reality's fragmentation.
Total runtime: 1h 52m + 1h 22m = 3h 14m
