It’s Time For Anime Snobs to Stop Overlooking the Best Series in Years
Today’s anime industry has promised that there will be an abundance of anime to choose from, yet that doesn’t always ensure that each and every series is jam-packed with quality, or are they genuinely worth investing time in. Less is absolutely more, and anime “snobs” are no strangers to vocalizing their opinions in fandom spaces or in online communities when trying to insist on what anime actually is deemed acceptable by them. While taste is completely subjective based on personal interpretation, those who turn up their nose at series deemed unfit for their liking may be overlooking the best anime in years.
Science SARU’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off plays with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World‘s vibrant, imaginative universe through a new medium with an even more open-minded perspective on the beloved franchise. Spinning the narrative to focus on Ramona Flowers’ perspective and finally hold Scott Pilgrim accountable for his behavior, this delightfully unique anime blends nostalgia with a sincere screenplay, strong voice performance, and striking visuals.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Is Familiar, Yet Fresh
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off toes the tightrope of familiarity and freshness as it marries nostalgia with innovation. While the anime relies on the core structure of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World both as a comic book and a movie, the animated interpretation honors the series’ roots without feeling the need to be yet another beat-for-beat remake. With the entire main cast of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World reprising their roles for Netflix and Science SARU’s take on the title, the anime is a genuinely fun foray back into the franchise that spins a story told twice over in an interesting direction.
Science SARU ensures that anime was the perfect lens for a retelling of Scott Pilgrim, as the creative liberty taken seamlessly blends the title’s comic book roots with a more manga-inspired flair. The live-action movie excellently captures the essence of the comics, and the anime compliments both through a more exaggerated manner.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off‘s self-innovation comes from the anime’s refusal to simply retread the highlights of the series, and instead, expounds on the open-endedness of what the series has to offer. While fans are reunited with iconic characters that revisit an icy Toronto, there’s no need for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off to bind itself to sameness.
Instead, it pulls from key moments in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and understands that there are more stories to be told through dynamic animation. By balancing legacy with new or exciting concepts, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off gives new life to a pivotal piece of pop culture.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Deconstructs the “Hero’s Journey” Trope
Both Eastern and Western storytelling have relied on the “hero’s journey” archetype as a driving narrative force, and steps away from the idea that a singular protagonist should be the all-encompassing focus of any story. The original Scott Pilgrim sets Scott Pilgrim attempting to prove his worthiness of dating Ramona Flowers as he defeats her seven evil exes in “battle.” Scott Pilgrim Takes Off shifts away from the ongoing pattern of relying on a singular idea to propel itself forward and opts to challenge past Scott Pilgrim storylines by dismantling the hero’s journey.
Here, the anime questions the idea of a “chosen hero,” a concept that has overstayed its welcome in anime and other forms of entertainment. Anime is guilty of leaning into the masculine hero fantasy, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off insists that this isn’t the only means of storytelling that anime can excel in.
After Scott is seemingly killed in the anime’s early episodes, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off promises that it wants to divert from Scott’s journey for the sake of narrative diversity. From here on out, the Scott Pilgrim formula is shaken up, and the idea of what a hero’s journey typically feels like is reimagined. Eliminating the idea that the woman must be “saved” so early on in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off actively reverses a trend rooted in gender bias while contributing to an outdated stereotype.
As it becomes more redundant, the “hero’s journey” concept becomes more tired and simple. By dodging tropes or concepts that are far too repetitive, Scott Pilgrim uses the “hero’s journey” as a suggestion, not a roadmap. A present sense of genre awareness results in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off becoming greatly introspective, and rich with narrative maturity that the original series struggled to fully grasp. The idea of the “hero’s journey” isn’t completely abandoned, but re-examined through a more self-aware lens in an attempt to reconstruct Scott Pilgrim for the modern day.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Is Mature & Emotionally Aware, But Still Genuinely Fun
Scott’s ultimate disappearance from Scott Pilgrim Takes Off isn’t just a playful, literal reiteration of the anime’s title, but echoes the genuine effort that Science SARU poured into crafting a reboot that wanted to reconcile the concerns that the series has left unresolved. By “taking off,” Scott is running from facing himself, and that attempt to bury his insecurities beneath a quippy bravado no longer exists. Forcing Scott to face his own immaturity is much-needed, as his boyish behavior had been excused for far too long.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off addresses Scott’s selfishness through a vibrant, eye-popping, and flashy point-of-view that artistically stylizes the idea of personal growth. By ensuring that Ramona is no longer reduced down to the idea of being a romanticized “manic pixie dream girl,” she’s finally given proper autonomy that was withheld through Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and her existence is de-romanticized. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off treating Ramona as a person instead of boiling her down to a love interest is a step in a progressive direction, maturing the overall perspective on Scott Pilgrim.
Older Scott is a literal reminder that Scott must learn to reconcile for his past and confess to his transgressions if he wants to give himself a promising future. This, here, is Science SARU committing to self-awareness through a unique angle that’s rarely seen in anime.
For as pensive as Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is, Science SARU has created a genuinely enjoyable anime that doesn’t shy away from playfulness while taking on Scott Pilgrim‘s video game influences. There’s still well-timed comedic beats and bits of humor that break through more intense moments, allowing Scott Pilgrim Takes Off to balance its tone in an impressively even manner. Rich with distinct visual flair and unique energy, Science SARU’s expressive art style paired with strokes of comedy that keeps Scott Pilgrim Takes Off in check with its philosophies without sacrificing any ounce of fun.
