As rapid-fire TikTok clips take over the world, it increasingly looks like Edgar Wright’s butt-kicking romcom Scott Pilgrim Vs the World was ahead of its time. Adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of six graphic novels about a young Toronto bassist romantically punching above his weight, the movie was a live-action cartoon crammed with visual fireworks and smart-aleck dialogue. The gimmick was whimsical but inspired: what if indie-rock slackers engaged in over-the-top fights inspired by video games and Japanese anime?
Wright’s effervescent movie did not become a monster hit on release in 2010, but the actors must have enjoyed the experience. The entire cast – including Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson and several more – have returned 13 years later to voice their characters in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Overseen by O’Malley, this new animated series (produced by Tokyo anime studio Science Saru) chimes with the manga-inspired artwork of his graphic novels: all bold lines and big, expressive eyes. At first, though, the show unfolds like a faithful retread of the film (Wright gets an executive producer credit).
