Mamoru Hosoda’s highly anticipated new anime film, “Scarlet” (Japanese title: Hateshinaki Scarlet, or “Scarlet Without Limits”), has unveiled its main voice cast. The film will star Mana Ashida as the titular character, Scarlet, and Masaki Okada as Hijiri.
Mana Ashida will portray Scarlet, a powerful princess who navigates time and space, voicing her character in both her childhood and 19-year-old stages. Masaki Okada takes on the role of Hijiri, a modern-day nurse who finds himself transported to the “Land of the Dead,” where he encounters Scarlet and becomes her companion.
Produced by Studio Chizu, with Hosoda directing, writing the screenplay, and credited for the original work, “Scarlet” promises a unique visual style that is neither traditional 2D animation nor Hollywood-style CG. The film is described as a revenge fantasy, centering on Princess Scarlet’s journey after her father’s murder. After a failed attempt at vengeance, she awakens in the “Land of the Dead,” a realm of madness where those who fail to achieve revenge risk disappearing into “nothingness.” The narrative will explore Scarlet’s boundless quest for retribution and is said to incorporate elements of a “road movie” and a “buddy story,” focusing on the deepening bond between Scarlet and Hijiri. Hosoda has also indicated that the film draws inspiration from a “global classic.”
“Scarlet” is scheduled to premiere in Japan on November 21, 2025, and will see a U.S. theatrical release on December 12, 2025. TOHO is handling distribution in Japan, while Sony Pictures will distribute the film internationally, having also invested in its production.
