What happens if you take the frame of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, issues of acceptance, and the political power movements in the world today, and then a touch of Buddhist philosophy? Director Mamoru Hosoda has the answer with Scarlet.
The story begins with a nod to Hamlet, taking us to 16th-century Denmark, where King Amleth is publicly executed at the order of his brother, Claudius. His daughter, Scarlet, is crushed and spends the next several years training to avenge her father. Her Uncle poisons her, and she wakes in the Otherworld. With a mysterious old woman who is a bit of a narrator and a bit of a mystic, helping the audience follow Scarlet’s path among the undead. She meets Hijiri, a modern-day man who doesn’t believe he is dead and keeps trying to remain loyal to his life as a paramedic. Uncle Claudius is also in the Otherworld and sends representatives after Scarlet. Along the way, before the two cross paths again, Scarlet is given a chance to see what other options there are outside of revenge.
The animation reminds me of the animations of my childhood, with sharp lines and bright colors. This has been blended with some hyper-realism and CGI that is now available. I found the animation’s visual style was a perfect match for the story it told. The color palette matched what was happening as well. Such as a moment with Claudius, in a lot of grey, black, and red, as he expressed his anger, and another with Hijiri joining a dance filled with bright colors.
This film can lead to deeper conversations about what one would like the future to be for generations to come, and what one can do to help create change. If you can watch in IMAX, do so; if you do not have access, see it however you can.
*For parents, I will point out that there are darker, more violent moments for you to consider if it is appropriate for your child. The dialog is in Japanese with English subtitles reading skills should also be considered.
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Cast: Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Masachika Ichimura
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for strong violence/ bloody images
Language: Japanese, English subtitles
Selig Rating: 3.5 stars
Runtime: 1h 51m
IMAX Release Date: February 6, 2026
Nationwide Release Date: February 13, 2026
Genre(s): Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Trailer: Scarlet Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.