When you think of William Shakespeare, animation probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for years, filmmakers have borrowed from his most famous plays, transforming tales of betrayal, romance and revenge into animated stories that resonate with a modern audience.

That tradition continues with “Scarlet,” an anime film inspired by “Hamlet” that opens in theaters Feb. 6. The film follows a sword-fighting princess named Scarlet who travels through time to avenge her father’s death. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda (“Mirai,” “Belle”), the movie blends Shakespearean tragedy with anime action and sci-fi elements, centered on a modern heroine.

But it’s far from the first time animation has taken cues from the Bard.

Disney’s “The Lion King” is one of the most widely recognized examples, even if many viewers don’t immediately connect it to “Hamlet.” Released in 1994, the film follows Simba, a young lion haunted by the death of his father and manipulated by his power-hungry uncle. Like Shakespeare’s prince, Simba wrestles with guilt, identity and responsibility, but instead of ending in tragedy, the story pivots toward redemption. Matthew Broderick voices Simba, while James Earl Jones brings his iconic bass to Mufasa.

The Shakespeare influence didn’t stop there. “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride,” released in 1998, shifts its focus to Simba’s daughter Kiara (voiced by Neve Campbell) and her forbidden romance with Kovu, a lion from a rival pride. The setup closely mirrors “Romeo and Juliet,” but Disney again softens the outcome. Instead of doomed lovers, the sequel delivers reconciliation and peace.  

Shakespeare’s most famous love story gets an even lighter makeover in “Gnomeo & Juliet.” Released in 2011, the film transforms the feuding families of Verona into rival groups of garden gnomes. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt voice the title characters, whose romance unfolds amid lawn ornaments, humor, an Elton John-filled soundtrack and the deliberate avoidance of tragedy. Even Shakespeare himself appears in animated form, grumbling about how audiences always want happy endings.

Another unexpected adaptation arrived with “Strange Magic,” a 2015 fantasy musical loosely inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Produced by George Lucas, the film swaps Elizabethan comedy for a popular music soundtrack and a fairy-tale setting filled with love potions, mistaken attractions and magical chaos. Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming lead the voice cast.

Anime has also embraced Shakespeare before. The 2007 television series “Romeo × Juliet” reimagines “Romeo and Juliet” as an epic fantasy, expanding the story into a political rebellion. Juliet becomes a masked vigilante, turning Shakespeare’s tragic heroine into an action-heroine lead.

From lions to gnomes to anime heroines, Shakespeare keeps finding new lives on screen. Turns out, the Bard adapts just as well as his stories do.

About the writer

S. Lynn Bonanno is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. The writer is a strong supporter of action heroes and heroines – whether animated, garden gnome, or plain bad-ass humans exacting revenge and standing up for what is right.