The first time I saw a Mamoru Hosoda film, it was Summer Wars, and I remember thinking, “This guy gets it.” He understands how to blend the personal with the epic, the digital with the deeply, profoundly human. Fast-forward a decade and a half, and here we are again, with the first teaser for his next big thing: Scarlet.
And what a thing it looks to be. Sony just dropped the first look trailer, and it's a gut punch. A princess, Scarlet, has failed to avenge her father's murder and wakes up in the “Land of the Dead.” Talk about a rough Monday. Her quest for revenge is all that keeps her from fading into “Emptiness.” We've seen this before, right? The hero's journey with impossible stakes. But Hosoda, he always finds a way to make it feel fresh. He's the guy who took a Disney princess story and put it in a cyberspace rave.
The animation style… it's gorgeous. It feels a little like a spiritual successor to Nimona in a way, that distinct blend of grit and flowing, almost watercolor-like movement. Then a modern-day Japanese dude named Hijiri shows up, and the whole thing takes a turn. He's the anchor, the voice of reason. A bit of a classic genre trope, but it works. “You're hurt. That's why I'm here.” Man, that line. Hits you right in the chest.
The trailer is a lot. A “never-ending struggle.” A “fateful encounter.” The usual marketing buzzwords. But then there are the details. The intense battle scenes, the quiet moments of reflection, the philosophical back-and-forth about whether revenge is the answer. It's not just a kids' movie. It's got weight.
And the dates! Hosoda is back on the festival circuit, baby. It's already locked in for a premiere at the Venice Film Festival this fall—just about a month from now. That's a big vote of confidence. The film hits Japanese theaters in November, with Sony dropping it in US theaters on December 12, 2025. Perfect timing for a bit of holiday escapism. Or, you know, an existential crisis about a princess in the Land of the Dead. Potato, potahto.
This is what I love about film. The sheer audacity. The way one director can take something as old as a revenge tale and spin it into something new, something that makes you think. Hosoda is a master of it. His work with Studio Chizu has consistently delivered a brand of animated cinema that's both deeply personal and universally resonant. Belle was a spectacle, Mirai was a tender family drama—so what will Scarlet be? I don't know. But I'm damn sure I'm going to find out.
What about you? What are your thoughts on Hosoda's work? Are you ready for another one of his cinematic adventures, or do you think he's playing in the same sandbox? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to follow Sterling Reels for more festival news and genre deep-dives.
