Anime fans looking for a major fantasy spectacle this summer finally have a date to circle on the calendar. Acclaimed filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda is bringing his newest feature film, Scarlet, to Netflix in the United States on June 6, 2026, after an impressive theatrical and festival run that turned the movie into one of last year’s most talked-about anime releases.
The film has already built a reputation as one of Hosoda’s boldest projects yet. Combining Shakespearean tragedy with fast-paced fantasy action and virtual-world style visuals reminiscent of Sword Art Online, Scarlet blends emotional storytelling with large-scale battles and surreal worlds. Following premieres at prestigious international festivals and an awards-qualifying IMAX release, the movie is finally set to reach a much wider audience through Netflix.
At its core, Scarlet takes heavy inspiration from Hamlet, but transforms the classic revenge story into a time-bending anime fantasy. The film follows Scarlet, a sword-wielding princess determined to avenge her murdered father after her uncle seizes power. What begins as a straightforward revenge mission quickly spirals into something far stranger and more philosophical.
After a failed assassination attempt leaves her near death, Scarlet awakens in a mysterious realm caught between life and death. There she encounters a peaceful young man from the modern era who challenges her obsession with vengeance. Their relationship becomes the emotional centerpiece of the film as Scarlet struggles between hatred and the possibility of breaking the violent cycle consuming her world.
The movie’s animation style is also drawing major attention. Unlike some of Hosoda’s earlier films such as Wolf Children and Summer Wars, Scarlet leans heavily into CG animation. The result gives the fantasy landscapes an almost digital-reality atmosphere that many viewers have compared to the immersive worlds seen in Sword Art Online, particularly during its larger action sequences and dreamlike environments.
Hosoda has spent years building a reputation as one of anime’s most respected directors. Beyond original films like Belle and The Boy and the Beast, he also contributed to major franchises including *Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! *and Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan. With Scarlet, however, many critics believe he has delivered his largest-scale production to date.
The film premiered out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 before continuing its momentum through the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Sony Pictures Classics later handled North American distribution, beginning with a limited IMAX awards run in December 2025 before expanding nationwide in February 2026.
Despite strong reviews, Scarlet was released during a crowded anime movie season dominated by larger franchise titles. That limited some of its mainstream exposure during theaters, even as critics praised its emotional storytelling and ambitious visual style. Its upcoming Netflix debut could give the movie the broader audience many fans believe it deserved from the start.
Netflix has increasingly become a major home for anime films, and Scarlet arrives with significant momentum already behind it. The movie first launched on Netflix in select international territories on May 17, 2026, including countries such as South Korea, India, Germany, Singapore, and the Philippines before finally making its United States debut this June.
The film also boasts an impressive Japanese voice cast led by child actress and performer Mana Ashida as Scarlet herself. Veteran actor Koji Yakusho voices the villainous Claudius, while notable performers like Kenjiro Tsuda and Mamoru Miyano round out the ensemble.
This newly announced anime is perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved films who are looking for a cozy and adorable series to enjoy.
With a runtime of nearly two hours and a TV-14 rating, Scarlet is a mature fantasy drama rather than a straightforward action movie. Between its Shakespeare-inspired narrative, emotionally heavy themes, and dazzling fantasy visuals, the film could easily become one of Netflix’s biggest anime conversation starters of the summer.
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