It's a common opinion that the least interesting part of the whole "Scott Pilgrim" franchise is Scott Pilgrim himself. Yes, he's supposed to be a frustrating and problematic protagonist, and the story is about addressing his flaws, but even so, basically every other character in the series is more enjoyable to watch or read about than Scott. For those who wish "Scott Pilgrim" was more about the supporting cast, "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" is for you.
This time, Ramona is the primary viewpoint character for much of the series, and her relationships with the evil exes get explored in greater depth. Though this isn't the "Scott Pilgrim: Brotherhood" take they might have been expecting or hoping for, comic fans will be happy that the characterizations of Roxie Richter (Mae Whitman) and the Katayanagi Twins (Julian Cihi) hew closer to the comics than their more stereotypical depictions in the film. We get to explore the villains' strange lives beyond just battling Scott; I particularly love what the anime does with Lucas Lee (Chris Evans). The character to get the biggest upgrade is Young Neil (Johnny Simmons), who was more or less a nonentity in previous versions but is now my dumbass cinephile son whom I must protect at all costs.
One thing that hasn't changed is the setting. What was a contemporary story 20 years ago is now a 2000s-era period piece. As a millennial, I am still processing the phenomenon of 2000s nostalgia becoming a thing, especially since "Scott Pilgrim" was already playing on nostalgia for earlier decades in its retro video game aesthetics, but this nostalgia play is preferable to trying to modernize the setting of "Scott Pilgrim." And it's more than just nostalgia: If the comic captured the experience of being a clueless young adult, "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" allows for greater reflection on this experience from the perspective of someone older and maybe a tiny bit less clueless.
