Bryan Lee O’Malley, the creator of the Scott Pilgrim comics, has come forward to discuss the divisive changes to the story seen in the 2023 Netflix anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
The show, which debuted on November 17, 2023, is an eight-part anime series that has all actors from the 2010 feature film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, return to their roles. What’s more, this anime adaptation maintains the same art style as seen in the comics. However, the story noticeably deviates from the original source material from as early as the first episode.
Rather than directly follow the same arc from the books or film, the anime uses it as a foundation for a completely new story, which caused a divisive response amongst many fans. The collective complaint is that the show has felt like a “bait-and-switch.”
In response to the “confusing” script and “shock twist”, O’Malley went on Instagram and Reddit to address the concerns.
O’Malley confirmed that while the show deviates, he personally wrote every script and rewrote the dialogue to feel more like ‘Scott Pilgrim’. But essentially, the anime is meant to be a spin-off. In O’Malley’s words, “It comments on the book and the movie, but it isn’t meant to replace them … I know it’s pretty different and that might come as a shock, but it’s all intended in the spirit of fun.”
The Canadian cartoonist also humbly acknowledged the appreciation and feedback from fans, saying “If you’re confused or want more information, you can always read the books or watch the movie…if you don’t like it, I still appreciate you.”
In spite of the fan backlash, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off has received rave reviews among critics.