Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet Anime Film Finally Unveils Trailer — A Stunning Revenge Epic Is Coming

Calling all anime fans: Scarlet, the latest original feature from acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, has officially dropped its first full trailer — and it’s a towering blend of emotion, fantasy, and intense vengeance.

✨ What We Know So Far

• Release dates: The film debuts in Japan on November 21, 2025, followed by a U.S. premiere on December 12 under Sony Pictures distribution Wikipedia+15Anime Trending | Your Voice in Anime!+15ResetEra+15Polygon.

• Story premise: Princess Scarlet awakens in a surreal "Land of the Dead" after failing to avenge her father's murder. In this realm, souls who don’t complete their quest vanish into oblivion unless they reach the fabled “Endless Place” Gizmodo+4Otaku USA Magazine+4ComicBook.com+4.

• Animation style: A new hybrid form—neither wholly 2D nor traditional Hollywood CG—this blend lends both fluidity and artistic personality, offering something fresh amid current anime trends ComicBook.com+3Anime Trending | Your Voice in Anime!+3Reddit+3.

🧍 Main Cast & Characters

• Mana Ashida plays Princess Scarlet

• Masaki Okada portrays Hijiri, a modern-day Japanese man who becomes Scarlet’s companion in the afterlife realm

• Kōji Yakusho as Claudius, her treacherous uncle

• Masachika Ichimura, Yuki Saitō, Kazuhiro Yamaji, Tokio Emoto, Munetaka Aoki, Shōta Sometani, and others round out a strong supporting cast inspired by names from Hamlet Wikipedia+15Gizmodo+15ResetEra+15.

The story is heavily influenced by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but reimagined with cosmic scope, romance, and emotionally driven spectacle GizmodoOtaku USA Magazine.

🎨 Why Scarlet Stands Out

1. A director evolving his craft
   Hosoda’s filmography is rich with heart-centered, visually inventive tales (Mirai, Belle, Wolf Children). Scarlet promises to diverge into darker territory, anchored by epic fantasy and vengeance while staying emotionally grounded Crunchyroll+14Gizmodo+14Reddit+14.

2. Bold animation approach
   Studio CHIZU and Sony are experimenting with a CGI approach that emulates hand-drawn fluidity—a direction Hosoda has hinted might define the future of Japanese animated features Wikipedia+7Anime Trending | Your Voice in Anime!+7Gizmodo+7.

3. A genre-blurring narrative
   At once isekai-like and classical in its tragic structure, the hybrid setting enables Hosoda to explore themes of identity, purpose, and memory in a uniquely stylized environment.

🎬 Trailer Highlights

• Pure visual power: Scarlet wielding a sword, blood-stained and resolute

• Shifting landscapes that blend surreal horror with melancholic beauty

• Her confrontation with shadowy figures—each frame feels charged with stakes

• Moments of connection: Hijiri interacting with Scarlet, hinting at emotional depth beyond the battles

🔮 Final Thoughts

Scarlet not only marks Hosoda's return after the deeply emotional Belle, but also suggests he’s pushing out of his comfort zone into darker, more ambitious storytelling. The combination of Shakespearean drama and stylized animation lends it the potential to be one of the most distinct anime films of 2025.

Whether you're drawn by the emotional storytelling Hosoda has become known for or intrigued by the new visual style and mythic revenge arc, Scarlet deserves a spot on your watch list. Set your calendars for November 21 (Japan) and December 12 (U.S.).