Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Anime with scary scenes reimagines Hamlet as brave princess.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scarlet
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The happy life of princess SCARLET (voiced by Mana Ashida) is tragically upended in an instant when her power-hungry Uncle Claudius (Koji Yakusho) executes her father, King Amulet (Masachika Ichimura). Scarlet vows to avenge her father, but those plans are foiled when her uncle poisons her. But once she's in the Otherworld, Scarlet discovers that revenge is still possible—and she intends to exact it. On her journey, she meets Hijiri (Masaki Okada), a Japanese medic from the present day who finds happiness in helping heal others
Is It Any Good?
This beautifully drawn, imaginative anime is an inspired incentive to read (or re-read) one of Shakespeare's most famous works. As a reworking of Hamlet, Scarlet makes the legendary play more accessible through the inventive choice of reframing the tragic prince as a teenage girl. And for viewers who are already familiar with the Bard's work, the anime becomes its own playful game of whack-a-mole, sparking a thrill every time a reference to the original surfaces, whether it's the appearance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Scarlet commanding Hijiri to "get thee to a monastery!"
The filmmakers' creative license allows viewers entry to a text that can be daunting while also serving as a lesson that classic stories endure precisely because they can be reinvented. And while Scarlet may have revenge on her mind, she's also full of grit, courage, determination, and compassion—and her companion Hijiri offers a positive example of living a purpose-driven life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Scarlet is similar and different to Hamlet. Why do you think Shakespeare's play stands the test of time?
Does gender-flipping the hero change the story or the expectations? Why or why not? What is the benefit? Why is positive representation important?
How did the violence make you feel? Did you ever feel scared? Does the fact it's animated or fantasy make you feel less worried or upset?
Discuss "the Otherworld" — what new ideas about purgatory does this introduce? What are other ideas of the afterlife you've seen in film or TV? Why do you think this is an area frequently explored in entertainment?
How do Scarlet and Hijiri demonstrate perseverance, courage, and compassion? Why are these important life skills? Are they role models? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 12, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 2026
- Cast : Mana Ashida , Masaki Okada , Masachika Ichimura , Koji Yakusho
- Director : Mamoru Hosoda
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories , Royalty ( Princesses )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence/bloody images
- Last updated : December 9, 2025
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