Photo: Reuters

Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda, known for his Oscar-nominated film Mirai, has returned with a new animated movie called “Scarlet”. The film was first shown at the Venice Film Festival and later at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is Hosoda’s take on the classic Shakespearean play Hamlet, reimagined for a modern audience and told through animation.

Hosoda is famous for creating films that are both beautiful and thought-provoking. His previous works, such as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Belle, combine emotional storytelling with imaginative animation. In Scarlet, he continues this approach, exploring deep themes such as revenge, forgiveness, and moral choices.

A Fresh Take on a Classic Tale

Scarlet tells the story of Princess Scarlet, a young royal whose father is murdered by her uncle. Traditionally, this story would focus on revenge, similar to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. However, Hosoda introduces a new perspective: instead of seeking revenge, the main character struggles with the idea of forgiveness.

The story asks: what if someone like Hamlet were told to forgive the wrongdoer instead of avenging his father’s death? Hosoda wanted to explore how cycles of hatred could be broken through understanding and mercy. By doing so, he brings a fresh moral and emotional perspective to a familiar story.

Princess Scarlet’s journey is both physical and emotional. She navigates a world where life and death exist closely together. Along the way, she encounters allies, adversaries, and supernatural elements that force her to confront her feelings about justice, revenge, and compassion.

Visual Style: Blending Tradition and Technology

Hosoda’s team worked hard to find a visual style that would support the story. They combined hand-drawn animation with computer-generated imagery (CGI). This mix allows for detailed landscapes, realistic movement, and vivid colors, while still keeping the charm of traditional animation.

The landscapes in Scarlet are particularly striking. Some scenes show Princess Scarlet walking through forests, mountains, or mystical castles, where the animation makes every leaf, rock, and shadow feel alive. The CGI helps create depth and motion in large scenes, while hand-drawn elements capture the emotional expressions of the characters.

Hosoda said the challenge was making sure the visuals felt both realistic and magical. He wanted the audience to feel immersed in Scarlet’s world while still appreciating the artistry behind every frame. This careful blending of techniques allows the film to communicate both action and emotion effectively.

Exploring Deep Themes

While Scarlet is visually stunning, its story and themes are what make it particularly impactful. The film focuses on revenge versus forgiveness, a theme that is rarely explored in animated films for young and adult audiences alike.

Throughout the story, Princess Scarlet is faced with choices that test her moral compass. Should she follow the path of vengeance, like her father might have expected, or should she seek a higher, more compassionate path? Hosoda shows that forgiveness is not weakness. Instead, it is a difficult, powerful choice that can break the cycle of violence and bring peace.

Another theme in the film is the relationship between life and death. Scarlet interacts with characters who are alive, dead, or somewhere in between. These encounters emphasize the fragility of life and the consequences of choices. Through these experiences, she learns that every action has emotional and moral consequences.

Hosoda’s Approach to Storytelling

Mamoru Hosoda is known for balancing complex themes with accessibility. He creates stories that children can enjoy for the adventure and visuals, but that also provide adults with thoughtful messages about life, family, and morality.

In Scarlet, he continues this style by combining high-stakes action, emotional moments, and moral dilemmas. He also incorporates elements of humor and warmth to lighten the heavier parts of the story, making the movie suitable for a wide audience.

Hosoda’s approach often involves giving characters depth and freedom to evolve. Princess Scarlet is not just a hero; she is a person struggling with fear, anger, and sadness. Her growth throughout the story is relatable and inspiring, showing that even in dark times, empathy and understanding can lead to growth.

Festival Reception and Anticipation

Scarlet premiered at the Venice Film Festival, one of the most prestigious international film festivals. Audiences and critics praised the movie for its stunning animation, strong storytelling, and meaningful themes.

It was also featured at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which highlighted the film’s global appeal and artistic value. Hosoda’s films are often celebrated internationally because they transcend cultural boundaries. They combine universal emotions—such as love, loss, and courage—with a distinct Japanese artistic style.

The Significance of Animation

Hosoda believes that animation is not just for children. In fact, he often says that animation allows him to explore ideas and emotions in ways live-action films cannot. Through animation, he can create worlds that are visually imaginative and emotionally resonant at the same time.

In Scarlet, the blend of fantastical elements and realistic human emotions shows how powerful animation can be in storytelling. The visual style supports the narrative, and the characters’ emotions are made more intense and visible through artistic expression.

Hosoda’s Legacy

Mamoru Hosoda has a strong reputation in the animation world. He has received international awards and critical acclaim for his ability to tell stories that connect with audiences of all ages.

His previous films have explored themes such as family, memory, identity, and social connection. With Scarlet, he adds the theme of moral choice and forgiveness, which resonates especially in today’s world, where cycles of conflict and revenge are common both in stories and reality.

By continuing to create films that are both beautiful and thoughtful, Hosoda strengthens his position as one of the most influential animation directors in modern cinema.

Release Information

Scarlet is scheduled to release in Japan on November 21, 2025, and in North America on December 12, 2025. The screenings at international festivals have already built anticipation among animation fans, critics, and general audiences.

The combination of a familiar story (Hamlet) with new themes, innovative animation, and Hosoda’s vision makes Scarlet a highly anticipated film. Fans of animation and literary adaptations are eager to see how Hosoda reinterprets a classic story while giving it a modern, thoughtful twist.

Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet is an animated film that combines stunning visuals with deep moral storytelling. It tells the story of Princess Scarlet, who faces the challenges of revenge and forgiveness in a complex world where life and death intersect.

By blending hand-drawn animation and CGI, Hosoda creates a visually captivating film. By exploring themes of revenge, forgiveness, and moral choice, he offers a story that is meaningful for audiences of all ages.

The film’s premiere at Venice and Toronto has highlighted its international appeal, and its upcoming release promises to make it one of the standout animated films of 2025.

Hosoda continues to prove that animation is a powerful medium for telling stories that are not only entertaining but also emotionally and philosophically rich. Scarlet demonstrates that even in a world of violence and loss, compassion and forgiveness can prevail, making it a film with both beauty and moral significance. entertainment industry.