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| Mamoru Hosoda Announces New Anime Film Hateshinaki Scarlet Starring Ashida Mana and Okada Masaki, Releasing November 2025 |
It’s official! — anime maestro Mamoru Hosoda is back with another banger, and he’s pulled in top-tier talent for the ride. Hateshinaki Scarlet, Hosoda’s brand-new animated feature dropping on 21 November 2025, will star the ever-brilliant Ashida Mana as the tragic princess Scarlet, alongside Okada Masaki, who’ll lend his voice to a modern-day nurse named Hijiri.
Set against a sweeping medieval backdrop, the film follows Princess Scarlet, a gentle-hearted royal who adored her peace-loving father — until he was brutally murdered before her very eyes.
Consumed by revenge, she fails in her mission and wakes up in the eerie Land of the Dead, where the stakes get even higher. If Scarlet can’t take revenge on her father’s killer and reach what’s known as the endless place, she’ll vanish entirely — lost to nothingness.
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Along the way, she crosses paths with Hijiri, a Japanese nurse who’s somehow ended up in this underworld. Hijiri, true to his calling, tries to help Scarlet heal, even as she spirals through rage and despair.
Their bond evolves from outright resistance to something resembling partnership, with Hijiri becoming a loyal companion in Scarlet’s desperate fight to keep her sense of self alive.
Director Hosoda had high praise for Mana Ashida, who had the tricky job of voicing both Scarlet’s 19-year-old self and her younger years:
“Ashida-san’s performance is mind-blowing. She threw herself into Scarlet’s revenge-fuelled madness with such force that I was stunned again and again in the studio. There’s a frightening power in her acting, yet a gentle, pure side as well — it’s unforgettable,” Hosoda gushed.
For Okada Masaki, this marks his first-ever lead voice role in a full-length animated film. Hosoda noted:
“Okada-san has this integrity and quiet strength that fits Hijiri perfectly. He understands that Hijiri is both gentle and courageous, and that really came through in his performance.”
Fun fact: Ashida Mana and Okada Masaki last worked together five years ago on Hoshinoko, making this a proper reunion. And since Hateshinaki Scarlet is Hosoda’s first film to be made with a “pre-scoring” method (recording dialogue before animating), the cast had to adapt fast. Ashida said the experience of recording together later on made the interplay between Scarlet and Hijiri feel more natural.
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A newly released poster has also set tongues wagging — it shows Hijiri in modern nursing gear with a first-aid bag and a bow and arrow (what a combo, honestly), supporting Scarlet as she brandishes a sword with a look of fiery determination.
In her own words, Ashida Mana described Scarlet as a deeply conflicted young woman:
“She’s driven to the point of madness by revenge, but you can’t help rooting for her because she has no other choice. I hope people will see how hard she fights to stay true to herself, even in a world as chaotic as this.”
Okada Masaki also reflected on his character:
“Hijiri is the sort of person who helps others without asking for anything back, and I think we need more of that in today’s world. Playing him made me think about what it really means to stay kind, even when facing hatred and fear.”
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With Mamoru Hosoda at the helm, a powerhouse performance from Ashida Mana, and Okada Masaki’s heartfelt voice debut, Hateshinaki Scarlet is shaping up to be a breathtaking masterclass in animation and emotion. Fans across Japan are already buzzing about its darkly epic storyline and stunning visuals, while anime lovers worldwide can’t wait to dive into Scarlet’s haunting quest for revenge in the Land of the Dead. If early reactions are anything to go by, this could easily become one of Hosoda’s most unforgettable films yet.
And with a heavy dose of medieval drama, otherworldly stakes, and a splash of modern-day humanity, Hateshinaki Scarlet is shaping up to be another bold Hosoda adventure you won’t want to miss. Get your tissues ready, folks — 21 November can’t come soon enough.