Scarlet (Mamoru Hosoda)

[Bubbles-11]

Sony Pictures Entertainment has taken on the quest to globally distribute Scarlet, the new time-traveling animated fantasy from Oscar-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda (Belle, Mirai, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time). Sony will co-produce and co-finance the pic with Hosoda’s Studio Chizu and Nippon TV.

Sony will handle global distribution, including the U.S. theatrical release planned for Winter 2025. Toho is handling theatrical release in Japan.

According to Variety, Scarlet will center on “a princess who transcends time and space.” The project is produced by co-founder Yuichiro Saito and Nozomu Takashi for Studio Chizu, and Toshimi Tanio for Nippon TV.

In addition to the Best Animated Feature Oscar-nominated, Japan Academy Film Prize- and Annecy Prize-winning Mirai and most recent (and highest-grossing) pic, the Cannes premiere Belle, Hosoda’s filmography includes Wolf Children, Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt through Time, all of which were also awarded Animation of the Year by the Japan Academy.

Prior to striking out as an indie auteur, Hosoda directed Digimon: The Movie and One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island for Toei.

https://www.animationmagazine.net/20...-distribution/

[Tylerfan]

Rad as f-ck

Wonder if it will be under Sony Pictures as is or under if they stick it under the Columbia brand

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by Tylerfan

Rad as f-ck

Wonder if it will be under Sony Pictures as is or under if they stick it under the Columbia brand

They could release it under:

• Columbia Pictures
• Sony Pictures Classics
• Sony Pictures Releasing International
• Crunchyroll

[Bubbles-11]

Originally Posted by Tylerfan

Wonder if it will be under Sony Pictures as is or under if they stick it under the Columbia brand

Article pretty heavily implies this won't be under the Crunchyroll label so it could be under Columbia

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

They could release it under:

• Columbia Pictures
• Sony Pictures Classics
• Sony Pictures Releasing International
• Crunchyroll

If it were to be Crunchyroll, we won't get a 4K. They still haven't released Your Name here in the US, and never did Suzume.

[keitaro]

Originally Posted by kevin87

If it were to be Crunchyroll, we won't get a 4K. They still haven't released Your Name here in the US, and never did Suzume.

Suzume is already on blu-ray. It was released last March.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by keitaro

Suzume is already on blu-ray. It was released last March.

Blu-ray, yes, but I said it's not on 4K. Funimation never released Your Name on 4K despite it being in multiple English countries, and Sony/Crunchyroll hasn't released Suzume on 4K anywhere.

[E_I]

Well, Hosada excels at blending fantasy and real life, so I guess that princess will come to our world, or something?

[Twizzle777]

I didn't love Belle, but his work is still pretty remarkable. I'm excited to see this.

[keitaro]

Import the disc directly from Japan. Here's hoping the JP BD will have english subtitles.

[Biss Skyler Bluray]

Originally Posted by keitaro

Import the disc directly from Japan. Here's hoping the JP BD will have english subtitles.

We don’t know if Toho (who is currently not happy with Crunchyroll on how their anime IPs are being handled at the moment) would be releasing this film on Blu-ray in 2026 themselves in Japan, the home video distribution for this film in Japan could still be handled by VAP, though it is bit early to tell at the moment.

[bigblkhrt]

The Variety article is a bit more clear on the details. It’s a co-production between Sony Pictures and Studio CHIZU & Nippon TV. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re pushing for a big release in theaters next year hence Sony Pictures involvement.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/m...ny-1236257299/

Sony Pictures has partnered with Studio CHIZU and Nippon TV to co-produce and co-finance “Scarlet,” the new animated feature from Academy Award-nominated Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda.

The film will receive global distribution through Sony Pictures, with a U.S. theatrical release planned for winter 2025. Toho will handle Japanese theatrical distribution.

[Bubbles-11]

Originally Posted by bigblkhrt

The Variety article is a bit more clear on the details. It’s a co-production between Sony Pictures and Studio CHIZU & Nippon TV. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re pushing for a big release in theaters next year hence Sony Pictures involvement.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/m...ny-1236257299/

Satoshi Kon's Paprika was similarly co-produced and co-financed by Sony Pictures and that was released under the Sony Pictures Classics Label in the US

[bigblkhrt]

Originally Posted by Bubbles-11

Satoshi Kon's Paprika was similarly co-produced and co-financed by Sony Pictures and that was released under the Sony Pictures Classics Label in the US

Right, but that was also 17 years ago. I don’t think you can aptly make that comparison especially when you consider how popular anime has become since Paprika was in theaters. The original announcement even came from Sony Pictures’ Twitter page and not from their Classics label.

https://twitter.com/SonyPictures/status/1871097157635215666

Originally Posted by Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures will release the highly anticipated new animated film 'Scarlet' from Academy Award-nominated animation director Mamoru Hosoda with Studio CHIZU and Nippon TV in the US winter 2025.

[Bubbles-11]

Releasing in North American theaters nationwide December 12th, 2025 under the Columbia Pictures label

[Bubbles-11]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETw4Yy79nY

The film will center on a strong princess named Scarlet who crosses space-time to enact revenge. Her father, the king, was murdered, and after her attempt at vengeance failed, she wakes up in "The Land of the Dead" which is brimming with madness. If one does not exact revenge on one's nemesis and end up here in this "place for the unfulfilled," they become "nothing" and disappear. The story follows Scarlet's boundless journey of vengeance.

Hosoda is directing the film and writing the screenplay, and is also credited for the original work. Hosoda stated the film is not 2D animation or "Hollywood-style CG," and he is aiming for a completely new look. Hosoda also stated the film will have a different feel to his past works, and will also have action and romance elements. He added that the film is based on a "global classic."

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...teaser/.224018

[Herry Dunston]

Originally Posted by Bubbles-11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETw4Yy79nY

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...teaser/.224018

Not going for traditional animation is a direction I didn't expected from Hosoda, but I suppose the years of him messing with CGI animation would be leading up to this. Given the tremendous Sony backing, I hope this works for both him and the studio's favor.

[PGW]

I'm really hoping for a comeback. His first few films (with Satoko Okudera co-writing) were masterpieces. Since then, it's been all downhill. "The Boy And The Beast" was spotty. "Mirai" moreso. I disliked "Belle" so much I turned it off and never went back.

[Bubbles-11]

[Herry Dunston]

Isekai'd, eh?