Nominated for three Annie Awards for Best Director, Best Full Feature, and Best Writing, Scarlet is now available to see internationally. At the time of this review it is unknown if it won any because we are reviewing before the announcement ceremony. The film is directed by acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, who already had one of his full feature films win the Annie award. “Miria” in 2019.  “Scarlet” came with much anticipation from his fans and fans of anime.  Loosely based on “Hamlet” the film places a princess in the role of a daughter to a slang King by her Uncle, who then marries her mother. “Hamlet” is a rich playground to cavort into the deep theme of revenge. It is no wonder at all then why the name of the hamlet replacement is Scarlet, the color always assigned to revenge, but also the color of compassion.  The film is pouring with emotions and color, but also tends to drift off. The result is one part an enthusiastic, rich, wonderful film, but also a static stubborn distraction. It’s a delightful mixed bag. 

It is one its game, “Scarlet” is beyond fantastic. What makes it work is the sound editing and mixing is one of the best of any film, live or animated.  The story doesn’t take place in Elsinore Castle, rather is in the “otherworld” since both “Scarlet” and her Uncle “Claudius” are now dead. Along the journey in the otherworld she meets a paramedic that is slowly realizing he is dead too. The paramedic is in the story to provide an alternative for “Scarlet” other than a singular mind on revenge.  For me this is where the story is stale- stubbornly stale. For we get his very formulaic backstory with no surprise and also being dull at the same time. The paramedic is supposed to be a physical embodiment of compassion, for love-instead “Scarlet” arrives at her proper conclusion without much assistance from the paramedic. Quite simply-”Scar , many are seeking the “Infinite Land” for afterlife salvation, because apparently dying in the afterlife realm of “Otherworld” leads to nothingness.  

The art and art direction is amazing, really truly, but there are just too many things that make out of the film that I so much desired to be kept in. It has a phenomenal ending, and rightfully deserved.  A wonderfully developed and crafted protagonist. It’s the off- ramps of song, music and dance that does not elevate the film. I wanted to love this film with my whole heart but instead it gets just three-fourths.  7.5/10