The Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series initially released in 2004. Not only has it gained a massive following since, but it’s also been adapted into a live action movie, a video game, and tabletop games. So far, every adaptation has been fantastic for their own reasons and has been masterful in their own medium. Now, Scott Pilgrim was adapted once again, this time as an anime series on Netflix. How does this anime, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, compare to other versions? Is it Scott Pilgrim’s finest hour, or does it spell game over for this franchise? Let’s explore all things good and evil it has to offer to find out.

Spoilers for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off are ahead.

The Good

Because this anime series is a retelling of the source material rather than a straight adaptation, it allows fans of the previous versions to still feel surprised. They can experience something new with the characters and other elements that they’re familiar with. Despite this series being based on something folks have read, watched, or played, it manages to tell a story that’s completely unique and genuinely great.

This retelling also allows for characters to receive time in the spotlight and a chance to grow where they haven’t in the past. It’s nice seeing fan-favorite characters receive more depth, as well as spending more time with particularly fun characters. There are also interactions between characters who have never been seen together in previous versions, which provides a lot of entertainment for those who are already familiar with them.

The animation and visuals are absolutely tremendous. With the original graphic novels having a unique art style and the movie being famous for its unique and eye-catching visuals, the animated series needed to follow suit, and it delivers. The aesthetic is quite pleasing to look at and the animation is impressive. This show is a pure treat for the eyes.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is chock full of hilarious moments and dialogue. There are memorable one-liners, plenty of sarcasm, and a fair share of visual gags. There’s no shortage of meta humor throughout. This series knows the viewers have likely experienced other versions of Scott Pilgrim before and uses that for even more humor. It’s all quite clever and leads to lots of laughs.

The action throughout the series is top-notch. It’s so exhilarating and cleverly-choreographed that it’s proof that this franchise is worthy of its own fighting game. Every character uses their powers and specialties without holding back, making every fight a true spectacle. On top of that, there are matches where characters face off against others who we’ve never seen them fight before which leads to some creative fun.

One of the most important elements in Scott Pilgrim is the theme of self-growth. Thankfully, that theme is present in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and feels just as powerful as ever. Interestingly enough, it’s from Ramona choosing to stop running away and letting her past dictate her life rather than Scott learning the power of self-respect. Ramona is a fantastic character and definitely deserved it. It’s quite heartfelt to see how it all plays out.

The Bad

There are some downsides to this being a retelling and not a straight adaptation, though. If you’re a fan of the graphic novels and were hoping to see some scenes that didn’t make it into the movie finally be adapted, then you’re out of luck. Also, while plenty of characters get their time to shine where they haven’t before, other important characters totally get the shaft as a result. Because of this, it’s worth taking the series as it is rather than hoping to see certain scenes, elements, or characters.

This anime is made for the fans, for better and for worse. Those who are going into this series without experiencing the book or the movie will be missing out on some jokes and the meaning behind certain plot points. They wouldn’t be totally lost, but they wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the existing fans. It’s just definitely meant for those who have read the books or seen the movie, which is thankfully most folks who would be watching this series.

Conclusion

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a celebration for those who know and love all things Scott Pilgrim. It pulls elements from the graphic novels, movie, and video game while creating something all its own. It’s well-animated with tremendous visuals, exciting action, comedy that’s “actually hilarious,” and plenty of welcome heart and emotional moments. It’s a unique take on something a lot of people love, which allows for things to be shown in a very different light, and it’s an incredible take at that. There somehow hasn’t been a bad version of Scott Pilgrim yet.

Rating: 9.5/10

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