Scarlet for Me, Scarlet for You
A Japanese anime master comes up short in this patch on Hamlet.
By Kristian Lin – December 10, 2025
Scarlet threatens Voltemand with a second death in the next world in “Scarlet.” Courtesy Studio Chizu
In last week’s holiday movie preview, I mentioned that Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet likely wouldn’t reach our theaters until February. It seems I was mistaken. The film is set to debut this weekend at two AMC locations: Eastchase and Parks at Arlington. This Japanese animated adaptation of Shakespeare carries its own unique charm, but having previously lauded Hosoda’s Belle as the best film of 2021, my expectations were understandably high, and sadly, they were not met.
Similar to the tale of Hamlet, this film revolves around a member of Danish royalty. Amleth, the father of the protagonist (voiced by Masachika Ichimura), falls victim to poison administered by his brother Claudius (voiced by Kōji Yakusho), who seeks the throne of Denmark. However, in a twist on the classic narrative, the hero is a pink-haired daughter named Scarlet (voiced by Mana Ashida), who is resolute in her quest for revenge against her uncle. Despite her swordsmanship, her attempt to confront Claudius is thwarted when he offers her a poisoned glass of champagne at a lavish gathering.
Fortunately for Scarlet, she gets a second chance in the afterlife, as Claudius meets his demise shortly after her. In this realm, revenge is achievable, echoing themes seen in Coco, where one can face death again in another world. Accompanying her is Hijiri (voiced by Masaki Okada), a recently deceased paramedic from the present who questions the morality of her revenge mission. Notably, Hosoda has created this narrative without any manga or prior source material, a refreshing departure from recent anime films that require familiarity with extensive backstories.
Hosoda also reinterprets key elements from Shakespeare’s work. For example, Polonius and Laertes (voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji and Tokio Emoto) join forces to eliminate Scarlet during an intense sequence on a snowy mountain ledge. Additionally, characters such as Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Voltemand, and Cornelius are portrayed as hired assassins that Scarlet must contend with, although one character evolves, becoming more intriguing than his Shakespearean counterpart.
Unfortunately, despite these inventive elements, the narrative fails to coalesce into a compelling whole. Ultimately, it centers around Hijiri and the spirit of Scarlet’s father imparting the significance of releasing past grievances, even as Claudius proves to be beyond redemption. This message resonates more profoundly during a vision where Scarlet envisions herself in contemporary times, dancing to pop music free from thoughts of vengeance. The film might have conveyed this theme more succinctly without all the surrounding dramatics. While it may seem unfair to draw comparisons to Akira Kurosawa’s samurai adaptations of Shakespeare, such as Throne of Blood and Ran, when a Japanese filmmaker tackles the Bard, those expectations inevitably arise.
Visually, the film showcases striking scenes, particularly in the depiction of Claudius’ enormous army as he schemes to conquer the afterlife. A serene interlude features our protagonists finding solace among other recently departed souls from around the globe, where they witness a Polynesian woman performing a traditional dance. The animators clearly dedicated considerable effort to accurately capture the choreography and physicality involved in the performance. Scarlet undoubtedly demonstrates that Hosoda is a significant voice in anime and the broader realm of animated film. However, to truly appreciate his artistry, one may need to explore his earlier works.
Scarlet
Voices by Mana Ashida and Kōji Yakusho. Written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Rated PG-13.
TAGS: AMC Parks at Arlington, animated film, animated films, animated movies, animation, anime, anime movie, Hamlet, Japanese movie, Mamoru Hosoda, William Shakespeare
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