Scott Pilgrim - Check out the differences between Anime, Comic Book and Movie!

The comic is based on the idea that Scott will date a girl named Ramona and must defeat her 7 evil ex-boyfriends. While initially a simple premise suggesting action, adventure, and a bit of romance, the comic develops this premise into a more intricate and profound narrative. As Scott faces and defeats the 7 evil ex-boyfriends, the story uses these confrontations as hooks to address various other themes, such as Scott's traumas, how his friends perceive him, and how Ramona deals with and reflects on her past actions.

When some people expect to read Scott Pilgrim and anticipate a lot of action, entertaining humor, and adventure, they might be disappointed as the comic is not exactly like that. However, the movie delivers and plays that role. Unlike the comic, which delves deeper into each relationship and character's past, the film removes some depth and focuses on Scott needing to defeat Ramona's exes to be with her.

The series presents itself as an adaptation of the comics, but it diverges from this in the first two minutes of the first episode. Afterward, it takes a different narrative direction, telling a completely new story that may surprise those who have consumed other media related to the story. To illustrate this narrative shift, note the animation's name, "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off," a joke in relation to the comics, where each volume always alluded to something about Scott, such as the titles: "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life," or even "Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together." The animation removes Scott from the scene and focuses on telling another story involving different characters and entirely different outcomes from those presented in previous works.

The Evil Genius

In both works, the main villain is Ramona's last ex, Gideon. In the comics, Gideon Graves is presented as a more developed and intricate villain with a broader influence on the narrative. In the movie, his characterization is more direct, focusing on visual and action elements, sacrificing some of the subtler layers of the original plot.

In the first episode, we are surprised because, unlike previous works, Matthew Pattel, the first ex-boyfriend, defeats Scott during his presentation with Sex BoB-omb, thus assuming the role of the leader of the League of Evil Exes.

The 7 Exes

In the cinematic adaptation, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," directed by Edgar Wright, there is a considerable compression of the narrative to accommodate the film format. As a result, the exploration of the ex-boyfriends is quicker and simplified compared to the comics.

In the Scott Pilgrim series, the lives of these characters are deepened, revealing in more detail their reasons for joining the group. Their relationship with Ramona is explored more thoroughly, as are the events that led them to take on the role of villains. The series provides an expanded space for the development of the personalities of some, such as Lucas Lee (played by Chris Evans), resulting in a more engaging and fun version of the characters. This is made possible by the additional time dedicated to building their characteristics in the narrative.

Knives Chau

In the comics, Knives Chau is portrayed as a 17-year-old teenager, a fervent fan of Scott Pilgrim's band, and initially his girlfriend. Her journey is more extensive in the comics, with a deeper development of her personality, feelings, and how she deals with the end of her relationship with Scott. Her story is more complex, providing a more detailed exploration of her emotions and evolution as a character throughout the series.

In the film "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," Knives Chau is portrayed by Ellen Wong. One of the main differences is that, in the movie, Knives is presented as an even younger high school student, modifying the dynamics of her relationship with Scott. The emotional complexity that permeates her story in the comics is reduced to meet the demands of the cinematic format.

The approach to the character Knives in the anime brings a notable evolution, differing from how she was initially presented. While at the beginning of the anime the trajectory may seem similar, Knives receives more substantial development, highlighting her musical talents and transformation into a more independent character.

Netflix opted for a new direction for Knives, addressing an issue that used to be criticized in the comics. The problematic relationship between the teenager and the young adult, as well as her almost blind passion for the protagonist, is adjusted in the anime. The adaptation's narrative seeks to give more autonomy and strength to the character, offering a more balanced and less problematic perspective than the original plot.

Ramona

She has many similarities between these two media. In both, she works delivering products for Amazon, always changes the color of her hair, leading to comedic moments in the comic in its black and white version.

Unlike the other two works, in the animation, Ramona is a Netflix DVD delivery person (a profession that actually existed). Unlike the comics and the film, here, she plays a central role in the plot, confronting her ex-boyfriends in more detail, showing how she faced her traumas and past relationships.

The animation produced by Netflix, called Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, is excellent extra content for all fans who have read the comics and watched the movie. Those who appreciate excellent animation will not be disappointed with this work. Also, don't forget to check out our list of 24 Easter Eggs from the Arcane Series!