Acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, known for Belle, The Boy and the Beast, and Mirai, has revealed a brand-new trailer for his upcoming original anime film Scarlet. The preview showcases stunning visuals, emotional storytelling, and a moving new theme song — marking Hosoda’s return to theaters in summer 2026 with what promises to be his most intimate work yet.
Story Synopsis
Scarlet tells the story of a young woman named Rin, a musician struggling with memory loss after a tragic accident. Living in a coastal town where time seems to stand still, she begins to rediscover her past through fragments of melodies — and through her growing bond with a quiet boy named Souta, who claims to know her music from before the accident.
As memories and music intertwine, Scarlet explores the themes that define Hosoda’s storytelling: the tension between technology and human connection, the beauty of imperfection, and the search for identity amid change. The film blends delicate hand-drawn sequences with digital animation, creating a painterly, dreamlike tone reminiscent of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Belle.
Publication or Announcement Details
- The new promo video for Scarlet premiered on November 7, 2025, alongside the reveal of the film’s theme song and production staff.
- The movie is scheduled for a Summer 2026 theatrical release in Japan.
- Scarlet is written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, produced by his studio Studio Chizu (Belle, Wolf Children).
- The theme song, titled “Hikari no Kioku” (“Memories of Light”), is performed by Ado, known for her vocal work in One Piece Film: Red.
- Studio Chizu confirmed the film’s animation will feature experimental color layering and new digital watercolor techniques.
- Hosoda describes Scarlet as “a love letter to memory, sound, and youth that fades yet endures.”
Character / Key Figure Summaries
Rin (Voiced by Rie Takahashi)
A 19-year-old pianist who loses part of her memory after an accident. Her rediscovery of identity through music forms the emotional heart of the story.
Souta (Voiced by Kensho Ono)
A reserved young man who claims to have known Rin before her memory loss. His mysterious connection to her past drives the narrative’s tension and warmth.
Mamoru Hosoda (Director/Writer)
The visionary behind Belle and Mirai returns to a deeply personal story. Hosoda has stated that Scarlet combines “the science of sound with the poetry of remembering,” merging realism with emotional fantasy.
Did You Know?
- Scarlet marks Hosoda’s first original feature since 2021’s Belle.
- The film’s score is composed by Takagi Masakatsu, Hosoda’s long-time collaborator known for his ethereal piano and ambient arrangements.
- The animation team includes several alumni from The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, hinting at Studio Chizu’s most painterly visuals to date.
- Hosoda has confirmed that the seaside town in Scarlet is inspired by his hometown of Toyama Prefecture, where he grew up surrounded by mountains and ocean.
Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet looks poised to be one of 2026’s defining anime films — a deeply emotional, visually breathtaking meditation on memory and music. If Belle explored the future of connection, Scarlet may be Hosoda’s most human story yet.
Suggested Reading
- “Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet Anime Film Promo Video Reveals Theme Song” — Anime News Network
- “Mamoru Hosoda Reflects on Storytelling After Belle” — Anime News Network
- “Ado to Perform Theme Song for Hosoda’s Scarlet Film” — Billboard Japan
- “Inside Studio Chizu’s Evolution of Animation Techniques” — Crunchyroll News
