When Netflix announced it was developing an anime series based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels and the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it made sense. Realistically, I was surprised it hadn’t been done sooner. After all, bringing Bryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved slacker hero to the small screen seemed like a perfect idea to refresh the story and bring in a new audience.
However, changing mediums is not always easy, and the track record of adaptations living up to the original is spotty at best. Not to mention that you have to keep fans—new and old—happy while still maintaining some creative autonomy.
Unfortunately, while Scott Pilgrim Takes Off nails its source material’s quirky humor and energy, it ultimately falls short in delivering a compelling new take on the Scott Pilgrim saga.
Starting things off on the positive side, the animation by Science Saru is perfect. It vividly brings O’Malley’s signature art style to life. I was a bit worried the studio would not capture the look of the series and it would end up looking more like a typical anime than anything truly unique; thankfully, I was proven wrong.
The fight scenes are fast, fluid, and fun, capturing the over-the-top video game combat that was a highlight of the books and film. If you were a movie fan, you would also appreciate the return of the original movie cast, with Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson, and others reprising their roles.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off also doesn’t shy away from referencing every corner of the Scott Pilgrim universe, with easter eggs and inside jokes galore for devoted fans to discover. There are nods to both the books, games, and the movie, so all fans of the work can easily find themselves jumping into this universe and feeling at home.
Worse, the expanded runtime only highlights the thinness of the premise, with the odd situations played out more for cheap humor than any deep meaning. Scott’s perpetual inexperience, which felt sharp and timely in the 2000s, now comes off as dated and one-note, with even his later growth in the series feeling forced, with a twist that did not work for me.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off will be a fun watch for those familiar with the actors but less so with the story. Fans of the original will likely find some charm here, but unless you’re looking for Scott Pilgrim: The New Class, you may find it hard to settle in here.