Mamoru Hosoda’s latest animated feature Scarlet will premiere in Japan on November 21. It has been revealed that the film’s ending theme, “Hateshinaki” (“Endless”), is performed by actress Mana Ashida, who also voices the protagonist, Princess Scarlet. Her singing was unveiled in a special teaser aired right after the broadcast of Hosoda’s earlier film Wolf Children on the Japanese TV program Friday Road Show.

Hosoda stated that he aimed to create “a powerful film that questions what it means to live and invites the audience to think about this theme together.” The story follows Princess Scarlet, who, after failing to avenge her father’s death, journeys into the Land of the Dead to confront her nemesis once more.

The ending theme “Hateshinaki” serves as the final piece of Scarlet’s “endless journey.” Hosoda himself penned the lyrics, envisioning it as part of the film’s narrative. Ashida performs not as the fierce, vengeance-driven Scarlet, but as the compassionate princess who, like her late father King Amlet, wishes for peace. With her clear and gentle voice, she embodies Scarlet until the film’s very end.

Composer Taisei Iwasaki who won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Music for Hosoda’s Belle joins the project as sound supervisor, overseeing not only the music but also dialogue and sound effects to support Hosoda’s new visual direction through sound.

Iwasaki, who also composed “Hateshinaki,” shared insights into the recording process:
“I only set the starting and ending tones of the piece, leaving parts of the rhythm open. Ashida sang freely in those sections, and then we adjusted it to fit the performance. The result is phrasing that only she could express.”

A special promotional video featuring “Hateshinaki” has also been released, offering viewers an early glimpse into the world of Scarlet through scenes from the film.

Nineteen years after The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Hosoda ventures into new creative territory with Scarlet, a striking departure from his past works. Following its Japanese release, the film will roll out globally starting in December, beginning with the United States.

Source : ORICON NEWS