What happens when one of the most celebrated anime directors in the world decides to abandon the bright, emotional storytelling he is known for and instead crafts a bloody Shakespearean revenge thriller? Mamoru Hosoda happened. And the result is a film called Scarlet that is arriving on Netflix on June 6, 2026, ready to blow the minds of anyone who only knew him from Your Name-adjacent tearjerkers.
Scarlet Is Mamoru Hosoda’s Most Radical Departure Ever
If you have seen The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, or Belle, you know Hosoda as a director who specializes in warm, humanistic stories about connection, family, and growing up. Scarlet — or Hateshinaki Scarlet in Japanese, literally Endless Scarlet — throws all of that out the window. This is a dark fantasy action film inspired by Hamlet, complete with murder, betrayal, poisoned wine, and a descent into the underworld. Hosoda has been working on this project for nearly five years, and it is arguably the most ambitious creative risk of his career.
Produced by Studio Chizu in partnership with Nippon Television and Columbia Pictures, the film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 before hitting Japanese theaters in November 2025 via Toho. Its US theatrical release followed in February 2026 through Sony Pictures, and now Netflix is giving it a global streaming debut just a week into June.
The Story: A Princess, a Murdered King, and the Underworld
Set in 16th century Denmark, the film follows Princess Scarlet, voiced by Mana Ashida in Japanese and Erin Yvette in English. Her father, King Amleth, is falsely accused of treason and sentenced to execution by his jealous brother Claudius, played by the legendary Koji Yakusho. Scarlet fails to hear her father’s final words, a detail that haunts her as Claudius seizes the throne and rules through terror.
During a confrontation at a royal ball, Scarlet collapses after accidentally drinking poisoned wine meant for Claudius. As she loses consciousness, she vows revenge — and awakens in the underworld, a surreal landscape where the living and dead coexist. There, she teams up with Hijiri, a paramedic from 21st century Japan voiced by Masaki Okada, and Cornelius, one of her father’s former assassins. Together, they navigate a nightmarish world of dragons, bandit armies, and Claudius’s ruthless enforcers including Voltimand and Polonius.
The film’s climax forces Scarlet to confront a devastating truth: her father’s last word was “Forgive.” What she does with that revelation is what makes this film so powerful — and so different from anything Hosoda has done before.
Hamlet Meets Anime — And It Actually Works
Shakespearean adaptations in anime are extremely rare. Hosoda’s bold move to use Hamlet as his narrative backbone gives Scarlet a level of dramatic weight that most anime films never attempt. The political intrigue, the family betrayal, the descent into madness — these are classic Shakespearean themes, but Hosoda filters them through his signature visual poetry. The underworld sequences, the dragon encounters, and the emotional climax all feel distinctly Hosoda while still honoring the source material.
The music, composed by Taisei Iwasaki, adds another layer of grandeur. At 111 minutes, the film moves at a relentless pace, balancing action spectacle with genuine emotional depth.
Netflix’s June 2026 Anime Wave
Scarlet is not arriving alone. Netflix has been quietly building what might be its strongest anime lineup of 2026, and Scarlet is the crown jewel of the June release wave. For a director who has consistently pushed the boundaries of what anime films can be — from the time-traveling teen drama of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time to the digital identity exploration in Belle — this latest work represents a bold new direction.
For fans of Netflix’s recent anime adaptations like The Ribbon Hero or the Dorohedoro series, Scarlet offers a completely different but equally compelling experience. This is not a franchise adaptation — it is original, deeply personal filmmaking from a director at the peak of his creative powers.
What the Awards Circuit Already Says
Even before its Netflix debut, Scarlet has been making waves at international festivals and award shows. The film was nominated at the Annie Awards 2026, and it has received strong critical reception for its animation quality, emotional depth, and Hosoda’s willingness to take risks with his established brand. The Venice Film Festival premiere was met with standing ovations, and the film has been praised for its gorgeous hand-drawn animation sequences — a deliberate creative choice in an era increasingly dominated by CGI.
What Do You Think?
Mamoru Hosoda going full Shakespearean dark fantasy is not something anyone predicted. Will Scarlet be his masterpiece, or did he stray too far from the emotional warmth that made him famous? Are you adding it to your Netflix watchlist for June 6?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. And if you have seen it in theaters already, we want to hear your take — no spoilers, but tell us: was Hosoda’s gamble worth it?
