Scarlet (2026) Movie Review: Mamoru Hosoda’s Visceral, Time-Bending Riff on Hamlet
The landscape of modern animation has often been defined by the tension between tradition and technology. In Scarlet (2026), Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Belle) attempts to bridge this gap with his most ambitious project to date. A dark, surrealist reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Scarlet is a departure from the whimsical family dynamics of Hosoda’s previous work, opting instead for a gritty, time-bending exploration of female rage, grief, and the cyclical nature of violence.
Released in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, the film arrives with significant critical momentum following its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and subsequent nominations at the 53rd Annie Awards.
Film Overview and Technical Credits
| Category | Details |
| Title | Scarlet (Japanese: Hateshinaki Sukaretto) |
| Director/Writer | Mamoru Hosoda |
| Studio | Studio Chizu |
| Lead Voice Cast | Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Koji Yakusho |
| Release Date | February 6, 2026 (IMAX), February 13, 2026 (Wide) |
| Genre | Animation, Dark Fantasy, Action-Drama |
| Runtime | 111 Minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 (for animated violence and thematic intensity) |
The Plot: A Revenge Quest Across Worlds
Set in a stylized 16th-century Denmark, the story follows Princess Scarlet (voiced by Mana Ashida), a fierce, sword-wielding warrior whose life is shattered when her father, King Amlet, is murdered by his brother, Claudius (Koji Yakusho). In a desperate, blood-soaked attempt at immediate retribution, Scarlet attempts to assassinate her uncle but is fatally wounded.
However, death is not the end for Scarlet. She awakens in the “Otherworld”—a liminal purgatory where souls from across history converge. This barren, haunting landscape is a “netherworld between time and space,” populated by lost spirits and ruled by an undead version of Claudius, who has extended his tyranny into the afterlife.
In this realm, Scarlet encounters Hijiri (Masaki Okada), an idealistic paramedic from modern-day Tokyo who found himself in the Otherworld after a fatal accident. While Scarlet is driven by a singular, corrosive desire for vengeance, Hijiri represents the antithesis of her world: healing and empathy. Together, they embark on a journey toward the “Stairway to Eternity,” a mountain summit that promises either final peace or the ultimate confrontation. As Scarlet traverses the shifting planes of time, she must decide if her identity can exist without the weight of her hatred.
Detailed Critique: Analyzing the Craft
Direction and Themes
Mamoru Hosoda has always been a filmmaker obsessed with the intersection of the digital and the physical, the past and the future. In Scarlet, he uses the “Otherworld” as a sandbox to explore transgenerational trauma. By placing a medieval princess and a 21st-century nurse in the same frame, Hosoda highlights the universality of human suffering. His direction is more somber than in Summer Wars or The Boy and the Beast, leaning into the “Rotten in Denmark” atmosphere of his source material.
Acting and Voice Performances
Mana Ashida delivers a powerhouse performance as the titular lead. Known for her range as a former child star, Ashida imbues Scarlet with a “female rage” that feels authentic rather than caricatured. Her vocal shifts—from guttural screams of battle to the hollow whispers of a girl who has lost everything—anchor the film’s emotional stakes. Masaki Okada provides a necessary softness as Hijiri, acting as the audience’s moral compass, while veteran Koji Yakusho brings a chilling, Shakespearean gravitas to Claudius.
Visuals and Animation Style
The most discussed aspect of Scarlet is its experimental animation. Hosoda utilizes a hybrid technique that is neither traditional 2D nor standard Pixar-esque 3D.
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The Medieval World: Rendered in a stark, hand-drawn style reminiscent of classic woodcuts.
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The Modern World: High-fidelity 3D CGI that feels grounded and clinical.
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The Otherworld: A surrealist blend where 2D characters move through photorealistic environments, creating an intentional “uncanny valley” effect that suits the afterlife setting.
Sound and Screenplay
The sound design is visceral; every sword clash feels heavy and impactful. The score, blending orchestral arrangements with modern electronic pulses, mirrors the film’s time-bending nature. However, the screenplay is where the film occasionally stumbles. Hosoda’s decision to simplify Shakespeare’s complex political maneuvering into a “revenge vs. forgiveness” moral binary may feel reductive to fans of the original play.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
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Ambitious World-Building: The Otherworld is one of the most creatively designed fantasy realms in recent memory.
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Strong Protagonist: Scarlet is a complex, flawed, and deeply human character who breaks the mold of the “Disney Princess” trope.
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Visual Innovation: The blend of 2D and 3D animation, while divisive, pushes the boundaries of the medium.
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Thematic Depth: Explores the psychological toll of revenge with more nuance than most action-oriented anime.
Weaknesses
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Narrative Pacing: The middle act, involving the journey across the desert, feels overextended and repetitive.
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Over-Simplified Morality: The concluding message of “forgiveness” is delivered with a lack of subtlety that clashes with the film’s earlier grit.
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Aesthetic Inconsistency: Some viewers may find the transition between different animation styles jarring rather than immersive.
Final Verdict
Scarlet (2026) is a bold, albeit imperfect, masterpiece of visual storytelling. While it lacks the narrative tightness of Hosoda’s Wolf Children, it makes up for it with sheer artistic audacity and emotional intensity. It is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible—specifically IMAX—to appreciate the scale of its haunting landscapes and the precision of its action sequences. For those seeking an anime that treats its audience with maturity and explores the darker corners of the human psyche, Scarlet is an essential watch.
Final Score: 8.2 / 10