Scarlet ★★

Released: 13 March 2026

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

Starring: Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Koji Yakusho

Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda has been rather quiet since his acclaimed 2021 film Belle. Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning film not only set a goal in terms of ambition and animation but also established lofty expectations for the filmmaker’s next project. So much so, Hosoda spent over four years producing his latest feature Scarlet.

The film follows the eponymous 18th-century princess (voiced by Mana Ashida) on a quest to avenge her father’s murder. Finding herself in a world between heaven and hell, she encounters Hiriji (Masaki Okada), a young medic from the 21st century, who opens her eyes as to whether her future should be driven by hatred.

Scarlet initially sets itself up as an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, from the origins of medieval-era Denmark to the death of Scarlet’s father at the hands of his brother Claudius (Koji Yakusho). This enrages the princess, spurring her to train in sword fighting and combat to face her smug uncle. But when her efforts for retribution backfire, the film’s narrative becomes a blur. 

Scarlet‘s straightforward and conventional narrative sees the heroine stuck in limbo, as a revenge story becoming one that subtly explores humanity and compassion. This is mostly due to the inclusion of Hiriji, a man who is unsure of his circumstances, but his dutiful care and medical knowledge exude empathy towards others, even Scarlet’s enemies. This form of kindness is rare in the protagonist’s eyes, so it is easy to understand her skepticism in whether goodness can truly exist. This is especially as Claudius also rules limbo with an iron fist, with empty promises of taking his followers to Eternity, even if it means the deaths of innocent bystanders.

However, this causes her vengeance to consistently fight against her journey of self-discovery – having spent most of her life being consumed by hate, her encounters in a surreal world slowly thaw her cold exterior and open her eyes to a pacifist world. However, this pushes the concept of an ass-kicking heroine to become lost in the time-bending direction. It’s not helped by the film’s confusing dialogue, culminating in certain scenes – specifically an energetic street dance in modern-day Japan – that feel out of place in a historical action fantasy.

Despite the narrative inconsistencies, Scarlet is a compelling heroine. With delicate features such as her pink hair, wide eyes and elfin face, she evolves from a loving daughter into a determined and hardened young woman. Ashida’s vocal performance exudes a gutsiness that keeps audiences rooted in Scarlet’s quest amid waves of complex animation. The visuals showcase Hosada’s ambition to push animated boundaries – similar to Belle, the use of colour and layers creates an extrasensory immersion for audiences, but Scarlet combines these with hyper-realistic animation, which adds an element of disorientation amid limbo’s surrealness. The result is a breathtaking canvas for his latest heroine.

Overall, Hosoda’s Scarlet is an incredibly beautiful adventure that unfortunately buckles under the pressure in its complex take on Hamlet. If the film had stuck to its promise of a badass princess, it might have resulted in something spectacular, rather than something that feels underwhelming.