| Scarlet | |||||
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.jpg) Japanese theatrical release poster | |||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 果てしなきスカーレット | ||||
| Literal meaning | Endless Scarlet | ||||
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| Directed by | Mamoru Hosoda | ||||
| Written by | Mamoru Hosoda | ||||
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |||||
| Edited by | Shigeru Nishiyama | ||||
| Music by | Taisei Iwasaki | ||||
Production companies | |||||
| Distributed by | |||||
Release dates |
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Running time | 111 minutes[2] | ||||
| Country | Japan | ||||
| Language | Japanese | ||||
Scarlet (Japanese:果てしなきスカーレット,Hepburn:Hateshinaki Sukāretto;lit. 'Endless Scarlet') is a 2025 Japaneseanimatedfantasyaction film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, and produced by Studio Chizu. The film is inspired by theShakespearean tragedyHamlet[3] and follows the eponymous princess who can cross time and space on a quest of vengeance after her father is murdered.
Scarlet had its premiere out of competition at the82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2025.[2] It was released theatrically in Japan on November 21, 2025, byToho andSony Pictures Entertainment Japan.[4][5][6]
Scarlet, a medieval-era, sword-fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father is the protagonist of this powerful, timebending animated adventure. After failing in her mission and finding herself fatally injured in a surreal world, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free from bitterness and rage.When confronted once more by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?
— Studio Chizu[2]
| Character | Japanese[7] |
|---|---|
| Scarlet | Mana Ashida |
| Hijiri | Masaki Okada |
| Claudius | Koji Yakusho |
| Polonius | Kazuhiro Yamaji |
| Laertes | Tokio Emoto |
| Rosencrantz | Munetaka Aoki |
| Guildenstern | Shota Sometani |
| Girl | Noa Shiroyama |
| Old woman | Kayoko Shiraishi |
| Voltemand | Kōtarō Yoshida |
| Gertrude | Yuki Saito |
| Cornelius | Yutaka Matsushige |
| Amlet | Masachika Ichimura |
Mamoru Hosoda, the film's writer and director, stated thatScarlet will not use 2D animation nor "Hollywood-style CG", instead aiming for a different look.[8] The film took four and a half years to produce, longer than Hosoda's previous films, due to incorporated digital techniques for a more detailed aesthetic, including facial expressions that are uncommon in anime. Hosoda stated: “The detail on a lot of the characters and models is something that would be extremely challenging to do with 2D, if not impossible.”[9]Studio Chizu is producing the animation with the company also producing alongsideSony Pictures andNippon Television.[8]Yuichiro Saito, Toshimi Tanio, and Nozomu Takahashi are credited as producers.[5]
Toho distributed the film in Japanese theaters on November 21, 2025.[4][8] Originally, Sony was set to distribute the film internationally throughColumbia Pictures, with them planning to release the film in North America two weeks later on December 12.[5][10] However, in August 2025, the film's North American release was transferred toSony Pictures Classics, with the company planning an awards-qualifying run later that year, followed by a wider theatrical release on February 6, 2026.[1][11] Columbia retained its distribution rights elsewhere via Sony Pictures Releasing International.[12]
On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 71% approval rating based on 21 critic reviews.[13]
Matthew Joseph Jenner fromInternational Cinephile Society described the film as "not only a strong narrative work, but an accomplished visual and aural achievement", and noted "this is a film that will become more rewarding through multiple viewings".[14]IndieWire's film critic Adam Solomons referred to the film as a "visually impressive but narratively forgettable baroque fantasy".[15]
The film was heavily panned online by Japanese audiences after its release, with Hosoda's scriptwriting cited as a frequent point of criticism for its poor quality. As of November 21, 2025, it sat at a 2.4 star rating out of 5 on eiga.com and 2.7 out of 5 stars on Filmarks.[16][17]
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