Photo/Illutration “Scarlet” ((c) 2025 Studio Chizu Inc.)

“Scarlet,” Mamoru Hosoda’s first film in four years, is themed on “Hamlet” but was also influenced by tragedies in contemporary society.

“Seeing the current world with its constant conflicts, I thought that I must think about what can be done to break the cycle of vengeance and retaliation,” the anime director said.

The fantasy story opens with Scarlet, a princess of medieval Denmark, waking up in the “world of the dead” after failing to kill her uncle Claudius to avenge the death of her father.

She vows to complete the mission after learning that Claudius is also somewhere in the same world.

But she begins to change after encountering Hijiri, a young nurse from present-day Japan.

“Revenge stories are popular as entertainment across the world, but in reality, they only end up as tragedies,” Hosoda said. “So, I made Hijiri, an idealist who is gentle and altruistic, as a partner who can ask the protagonist if she can offer forgiveness. I hope you watch the movie and think about whether she can forgive and what it means to forgive.”

The otherworld where the dead still fear death and rely on force is savage and dark.

In sharp contrast, a musical scene takes place at the scramble crossing in Tokyo’s Shibuya district.

In her dreams, Scarlet sees herself singing and dancing with Hijiri.

“She is caught up in vengeance and finds herself at a standstill, but she realizes another possibility,” Hosoda said. “I made it a very cheerful and joyful scene because (her realization) is celebrated by singing a song and dancing.”

The story shares the same structure as “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” a 2006 anime film that made Hosoda famous. It centers around a time-traveling protagonist who meets a man from the future.

“I noticed it while I was making the movie when I was told that they were similar,” he said. “However, the times have changed from 19 years ago. Before, we were hopeful about the future and we could say to young people, ‘We leave the future to you.’

“But young people nowadays seem to be bound hand and foot by many things and live with constraints,” the director said. “On top of that, democracy is becoming shaky. I made the movie hoping it would soothe the anxieties about the future and give strength.”

His wishes are contained in a straightforward message unleashed at the climax.

“Scarlet” is currently showing nationwide.

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