3 Minutes
New Poster, New Mysteries
A final poster for Scarlet, the hotly anticipated new film from director Mamoru Hosoda, has landed — and it’s as cinematic and mysterious as fans hoped. Released by Studio Chizu, the artful image teases a story that spans time and space and centers on a courageous young prince, instantly reigniting curiosity about Hosoda’s next imaginative leap.
Cast and Secrecy
Alongside the poster announcement, Studio Chizu confirmed several new voice cast members: Kazuki Namioka, Koki Uchimaya, Shiro Saito, Reina Ueda, and Atsumi Tanezaki. Details about their specific roles remain tightly under wraps, preserving the film’s sense of surprise. What we do know: Mana Ashira will voice Scarlet, a character who experiences two distinct lives, while Masaki Okada voices Hijiri, a present-day nurse who accompanies Scarlet on a time-bending journey.
Release Strategy and Awards Buzz
Known in Japan as Endless Scarlet, the film has been in development for nearly five years. It’s scheduled to premiere in Japan on November 21, 2025 and in the United States on December 12, 2025 — a spacing that looks designed to place Scarlet squarely in awards season conversations. That US December release is a familiar tactic for studios hoping to keep films fresh in critics’ minds when nomination season arrives.
Story, Style, and Hosoda’s Signature
Scarlet promises a lyrical blend of wonder and emotional intimacy, following a prince whose journey through time and alternate spaces echoes the poetic tone Hosoda fans associate with his best work. Think of the heartfelt coming-of-age in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, the family-scaled drama of Summer Wars, and the striking visual ambition of Belle: Scarlet appears to synthesize those strengths into something both familiar and new.
Beyond the director’s fingerprints, the film arrives at a moment when anime cinema is increasingly crossing into global prestige territory — a trend accelerated by Mirai’s Oscar nod and Belle’s broad cultural conversation.
Trivia: the film’s alternate title, Endless Scarlet, hints at cyclical time motifs, and the five-year development period suggests a carefully crafted production rather than a rushed project.
Why it matters: Scarlet isn’t just another release on the 2025 slate. It’s a statement piece from one of anime’s most emotionally astute filmmakers, promising both spectacle and the intimate human beats that make Hosoda’s films resonate. Keep an eye on new trailers and festival screenings as the release window approaches.
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