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Mamoru Hosoda's Scarlet Anime Film Unveils More Cast
posted on by Anita Tai
The staff for Studio Chizu and director Mamoru Hosoda's new anime film Scarlet (Hateshi naki Scarlet in Japanese, literally "Scarlet Without Limits") announced more cast members on Wednesday.
The newly announced cast members are (from left to right):
- Michio Hazama as the elder leader of a caravan who aids Scarlet
- Mamoru Miyano as one half of a gravedigger duo who appear in Scarlet's dream
- Kenjirō Tsuda as the other half of the gravedigger duo
- Toshio Furukawa as an innkeeper
This is Miyano's third role in a Hosoda work after The Boy and The Beast and BELLE, and Tsuda's second after BELLE. These are also Hazama and Furukawa's first-ever roles in a Hosoda work.
The film will open in Japan on November 21.
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival screened the world premiere with five screenings on September 4-5. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) screened the North American premiere at the 50th annual event as a Special Presentation, with four screenings on September 10-12. The New York Film Festival will screen the film with two screenings on October 7 and 8.
Sony Pictures describes the film:
From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the Otherworld that exists somewhere between life and death, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father's killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?
Mana Ashida stars as the princess Scarlet and Masaki Okada as Hijiri, a nurse from modern Japan.
The cast also includes:
- Yutaka Matsushige as Cornelius, an influential aide of Claudius
- Kōtarō Yoshida as Voltemand, an aide of Claudius who leads the knights
- Kōji Yakusho as Claudius, whose conspiracy led Scarlet onto her quest for vengeance
- Masachika Ichimura as Amulet, Scarlet's father
- Yūki Saitō as Gertrude, Scarlet's mother who assists Claudius in his conspiracy
- Shōta Sometani as Guildenstern
- Munetaka Aoki as Rosencrantz, a vassal of Claudius who targets Scarlet
- Kazuhiro Yamaji as Polonius, an aide of Claudius who watches over Scarlet's movements
- Tokio Emoto as Laertes
- Kayoko Shiraishi as a mysterious old woman
- Noa Shiroyama as a girl whom Scarlet encounters in "The Land of the Dead"
Many of these characters share the same names as characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy play Hamlet.
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."
The film's producer Yūichirō Saitō stated the film will have worldwide distribution. TOHO is releasing the film in Japan, while Sony Pictures is releasing the film outside Japan. Sony Pictures has also invested in the film.
Comic Natalie noted that since The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Hosoda's films have previously opened in Japan in summer, but this new film will open in winter.
Sources: Studio Chizu's X/Twitter account, Comic Natalie
