Mamoru Hosoda’s highly anticipated new anime feature film, “Scarlet” (known in Japan as “Hateshinaki Scarlet,” or “Scarlet Without Limits”), has unveiled a compelling new trailer and confirmed plans for IMAX screenings. The film is set to open in Japanese theaters on November 21, 2025, with North American audiences initially slated for December 12, 2025, before a revised release schedule by Sony Pictures Classics for an awards-qualifying run this year and a wider release in early 2026.
Delving into the “Scarlet” Narrative
“Scarlet” marks Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda’s first film since 2021’s “Belle” and promises a departure from his previous works with a darker, revenge-fantasy theme. The story is loosely inspired by William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Hamlet,” centering on a medieval-era princess named Scarlet who embarks on a dangerous quest to avenge her father’s murder.
After failing her initial mission and suffering grave injuries, Scarlet finds herself in a surreal “Otherworld,” described as a netherworld existing between life and death. Here, she encounters Hijiri, an idealistic young man from the present day who espouses pacifism and helps her to heal. The film explores profound questions about the cycle of hatred, the meaning of life beyond revenge, and the possibility of a future free from bitterness and rage.
A Unique Visual Style
Hosoda has stated that “Scarlet” will not utilize traditional 2D animation or “Hollywood-style CG,” instead aiming for a distinctive new visual aesthetic. This approach incorporates sophisticated digital techniques to achieve a highly detailed look, particularly in character facial expressions, which are uncommon in typical anime productions. The production process for “Scarlet” spanned four and a half years, longer than Hosoda’s prior films, due to this intricate digital integration.
Key Cast and Production Team
The film boasts a talented voice cast, many of whom portray characters with names familiar from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Mana Ashida leads as the titular Princess Scarlet, while Masaki Okada voices Hijiri, her companion from the modern world.
Other notable cast members include:
- Koji Yakusho as Claudius, Scarlet’s treacherous uncle responsible for her father’s murder.
- Masachika Ichimura as Amlet, Scarlet’s father.
- Yuki Saito as Gertrude, Scarlet’s mother.
- Mamoru Miyano and Kenjiro Tsuda as gravediggers Scarlet encounters in the Land of the Dead.
“Scarlet” is produced by Studio Chizu, Hosoda’s animation studio, in collaboration with Nippon TV and co-produced by Sony Pictures. Yuichiro Saito, Nozomu Takahashi, and Toshimi Tanio are credited as producers.
International Acclaim and Release Schedule
Before its general theatrical release, “Scarlet” celebrated its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2025. It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival, receiving an awards-qualifying run.
The film is scheduled for release in Japan on November 21, 2025, distributed by Toho. While initially slated for a December 12, 2025, U.S. release by Sony Pictures, the North American distribution was later transferred to Sony Pictures Classics, which will facilitate an awards-qualifying run in late 2025, followed by a wider theatrical release in early 2026. Sony Pictures Releasing International retains distribution rights for other global territories. The confirmation of IMAX screenings hints at the cinematic scope and visual ambition of Hosoda’s latest creation.
