If you’ve never had to fight a gang of someone’s seven deadly exes in order to prove that you want to be in a relationship with them, then do you really like them? Scott Pilgrim has had to face off countless trials in order to win the heart of his crush Ramona Flowers, both in the 2010 live action movie and now in the 2023 Netflix animated series. But which one really stands out? Which adaptation really captures the heart of Scott’s love? Here’s a review of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).
Spoilers ahead for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Directed by Edgar Wright, the 2010 live action film has a cult following. Fans are constantly praising the cinematography and indie-esque soundtrack, as well as the all-star cast of actors and actresses who give their all in providing life and energy to their comic counterparts.
Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera, is the 23 year old go-with-the-flow main protagonist in the 2010 film adaptation. The film is based off of the 2004 comic series written by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, is Scott’s current love interest with a past that she’s running away from and hopes to bury deep within the snowy depths of Toronto, Canada.
However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as her past comes back to haunt her. Scott’s interest in her takes the duo on a wild ride of battling your emotions, confronting your past, and ultimately becoming a better person at the end of it all. The comic works well on the big screen, giving the relationship between Scott and Ramona depth. The fight scenes provide a fury of action. They even go so far as to give those comic book action effects when Scott lands a punch.
While it is understandable that the main characters would be the focus, the lack of focus on Ramona’s exes is a little disheartening. While a bit more expansion on the exes’ feelings would have been nice, the live action adaptation is a classic for a reason. It is easily rewatchable again and again. The live action feels like hanging out with an old friend and remembering the moments of youth, both good times and bad, that ultimately helped shape you into the person you became.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)
After almost a decade-long wait from both its live action and video game counterpart, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off captures all of the essence from the 2010 movie. From the fight scenes right down to the voice acting, the Netflix adaptation gives the series a breath of fresh air in a way no one expected.
Directed by Abel Gongora and edited by Keisuke Yanagi, the anime tells the story of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers in a stunning visual art style that replicates the comics it’s based on. The series also has a funky soundtrack from Anamanaguchi (who, fun fact, also did the soundtrack for the Scott Pilgrim vs The World video game)! While the anime keeps everything the same as far as characters and locations, unlike the live action, the anime does a complete focus on everyone else that is intertwined within Scott and Ramona’s relationship. Knives Chau (voice by Ellen Wong), decides to partner up with Stephen Stills (voice by Mark Weber) and learns to play bass. Matthew Patel (voiced by Satya Bhabha) manages to outdo his live action counterpart by actually defeating Scott Pilgrim in the first fight (yes you read that right), and even Young Neil (voiced by Johnny Simmons) manages to write a screenplay!
The anime provides a depth to these characters that wasn’t given to viewers in the live action movie. It makes them feel more human instead of just obstacles in Scott’s way.
The only problem with this anime is that it’s not long enough. It feels as though so much was given to us, yet so many things were unanswered. However, Scott Pilgrim fans weren’t expecting much after the live action release. The fact that anything was given at all was both a shock and a comfort. The anime feels like saying hello to someone you haven’t seen in years. It feels like catching up on life stories and reminiscing. Even after parting ways, you can still have such a fond memory of them.
Final Thoughts
All in all, both the 2010 live action and the 2023 animation have their highs and their lows. Both pieces of media give their perspectives on a beloved comic series and knock all expectations out of the park. Each one culminates into a blend of artistic styles and relatable characters. The voice cast stayed the same for both adaptations. Even 13 years later, they continue to lend their voices and talents to a beloved series with as much vigor and personality as the first time the script was read. In truth, one isn’t as good as the other. The live action provides a witty blend of fantasy and humor while the animation gives all of that and more; an expansion on the characters we’ve come to know and love.
Whether in live action or animation, the Scott Pilgrim series is a well beloved franchise.
Want to watch Scott Pilgrim for yourself? The live action movie can be streamed on MAX and the animation can be streamed on Netflix.
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