Mamoru Hosoda’s latest anime movie, Scarlet, is a modern tale of vengeance that is nothing short of spectacular. From beginning to end, it served stunning visuals with breathtaking world-building, centered on the intense and emotional journey of the heroine. It’s a strange yet captivating fantasy that piques my curiosity on so many levels, and seeing this on the big screen was absolutely an experience to remember.
At the advance screening hosted by Columbia Pictures Philippines, I was instantly drawn in by Scarlet’s powerful and haunting art design that mixes traditional hand-drawn animation and 3D CG. The sound was impressive as well, as if it was pulling me into the chaos of the battle and making the world feel real. I strongly felt and appreciated the artistic ambitions of the creators, not to mention Hosoda’s vision.
There were moments in the cinema where the audience, myself included, reacted loudly to the intense action scenes, while other times, we laughed at the awkward and lighthearted moments. You see, the movie had a weird pacing – it was charged with suspense, drama, dance and song breaks, and other things that may or may not have a deeper meaning. There are so many points to discuss as to why this is such a compelling movie, but before I dive into my review of the Scarlet movie, let me talk about the inspiration.
Reimagining a Classic Revenge Tragedy Into a Modern Story
One of the reasons this movie is much anticipated is that it’s by the renowned director, Mamoru Hosoda. His movies, which usually leave viewers with a bunch of sentimental emotions, include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009), Wolf Children (2012), The Boy and the Beast (2015), and Mirai (2018). His recent film, Belle (2021), was a reimagination of Beauty and the Beast.
This time for Scarlet, Hosoda takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet. The beginning of the movie takes plenty of references from it, but when the heroine is poisoned to death before she could take revenge on the uncle who killed her father, the story diverges, and the Scarlet movie immediately takes on a life of its own.
Princess Scarlet wakes up in the Otherworld, a barren realm between life and death where people from various times and places exist altogether. There are wandering souls, soldiers, bandits, the elderly, and children. They can also die and finally pass on to nothingness. Motivated by her regret and rage, Scarlet then throws herself towards fulfilling her revenge once and for all, and in this journey, she crosses paths with Hijiri, a kind-hearted medic from modern Japan.
Where do I even begin to describe the shift that happens here? From the dynamic action scenes to the vast, incredible landscapes, the movie suddenly feels like a big field of Hosoda’s imagination at work.
An Amazing, Bewildering Spectacle
My favorite thing about the movie, hands down, would be the masterful blend of 2D and CG visuals, delivering a fascinating, highly imaginative, gritty spectacle that every anime fan can appreciate. From the haunting textures of the environment, details in the background, and the crisp, expressive movements– everything was amazing to see.
At a glance, the movie is reminiscent of anime fantasy titles like Berserk and Vision of Escaflowne. I especially liked seeing Scarlet’s elegant and badass character design, so I was looking forward to more scenes that showcased her fighting abilities. But as the movie went on, I realized that the revenge part was not as carefully put together as I hoped; in fact, it became hard to root for Scarlet when the narrative could not keep up.
My complaint with the movie comes from my being overloaded with the many riddles and layers to its writing. I had to constantly wonder about what every detail meant – is this a metaphor, a reference, or a plain, fun tidbit? As a fangirl and a review writer, I love connecting the dots, especially when things fall into place. However, there were moments in the Scarlet film that had so many separate, bizarre, unexplained things.
The world-building had me in the first half, and instead of fully feeling the wonder in the second half, I became confused. There were no definite answers for the war in the otherworld, the dragon in the sky made of water, seeing into the future, the stairway to heaven, or the old wise lady. Everything is here and there all at the same time, and the movie kept throwing them one after another. It was wild, yet eventually amusing somehow, because I didn’t know what to expect anymore.
I was also happy to hear Mamoru Miyano and Kenjiro Tsuda’s voices as the gravediggers. And the insert song, which had a festive sound that contrasted Scarlet’s despair, was a bit cruel and poignant, though I know that it was meant to feel hopeful.
After watching the film, there’s a part of Hosoda’s press conference that now resonates with me. He said that he made his film with the hope that young people, despite the uncertainties of the world, will carve out their own future, live strong, be fearless, and look forward to living bright lives.
“Teach me about love, please let me know the miracle that’s inside of you. Won’t you color my heart today? Show me all the things that love can be. It must be a key to secrets unseen, a hidden truth. I have a feeling the answer is you.”
– Scarlet‘s “A Moment of Celebration” OST
So yes, even though the overall delivery of the narrative didn’t fall quite right into place all throughout, it was at least satisfying to see it through its momentous end. Like all revenge stories, this movie goes out dramatically. Again, it’s bizarre and confusing, but composer Taisei Iwasaki’s thumping music, Studio Chizu’s animation, and even Mana Ashida’s voice acting evoke all the right emotions. When Scarlet was finally face-to-face with her enemy, and she finally found the answer she sought, everything culminated in that instant.
She found her strength in forgiveness, grieving love lost, and hope for the future. Hijiri’s part in her story played a big role– if it weren’t for him, Scarlet would never have thought about getting past her grief and anger. Healing does not take time; it’s the process that does, and Hijiri profoundly showed her that.
It is for this moment that I enthusiastically recommend the movie – you all have to experience the amazement, the bewilderment, and the emotional conclusion. And whatever you think of it, there is, without a doubt, a piece of wisdom to take from Scarlet.
Scarlet Movie Review Wrap-Up
All in all, the Scarlet movie was a memorable experience with thought-provoking themes around death, vengeance, forgiveness, and living one’s life with hope and love. It is bold and ambitious, playing around with the wonders of a fantasy and the complexity of a tragic but modern story. Mamoru Hosoda delivered extraordinary visuals, astonishing animation, and a unique theatrical experience, not to mention how fun it is that the audience has plenty to talk about, whether it’s a silly laugh at the movie or something more heartfelt.
To conclude my Scarlet review, I want to say that the only way to approach this movie is to not expect anything ordinary from it; just enjoy the thrill of the strange and dream-like experience as it is. Appreciate the artistry and the message. There’s no doubt that it was a lot of things, but admittedly, it was also an incredible, beautiful, unforgettable ride—just like how life is meant to be lived
Scarlet (Japanese title: Hateshi naki Scarlet) is now showing in the Philippines, exclusively on SM Cinemas nationwide. It is also showing in theatres in the United States. For more information, visit the official Scarlet website.
Special thanks to Columbia Pictures Philippines for inviting Anime Corner to the exclusive Scarlet Advance Screening!
Images via Columbia Pictures
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