A quest to become someone else leads to surprising discoveries in “Belle,” an acclaimed animated film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (read our review here). The GKIDS animated release highlights technology’s increasing entanglements with the concepts of humanity. It’s a fantasy grounded among relevant social topics, especially for young women. The team behind “Belle” features an impressive list of credits. Filmmaker Mamoru Hosada — Academy Award nominee for 2018’s “Mirai” — boasts an excellent filmography featuring titles like “Wolf Children” and “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.” Hosada once again teams up with Japan’s Studio Chizu co-founder Yuichiro Saito to craft this intricate tale.
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The filmmaker also assembled a dream team of talents for the project. Jin Kim, an animator and artist with credits on Disney titles, is responsible for the main character’s look. Other contributors include Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart — notable for their work on “Wolfwalkers” as well as “The Secret of Kells” — who added their own touch to the settings. Other creatives shaping the design include British architect Eric Wong and composer Ludvig Forssell. Video game fans may recognize Forssell’s contributions to Hideo Kojima’s “Death Stranding.” This time, the composer extends the dreamlike world’s qualities while creating a musically inclined universe for the title character.
The title already won raves through an extensive festival run. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival — with a North American premiere at the New York Film Festival. “Belle” also counts appearances at the London Film Festival and Fantastic Fest among its showings. All of this helps position the film for awards consideration.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U,” a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.
Mamoru Hosada’s “Belle” will be screened in Japanese as well as English dubbed versions. The film is set for a January 14th nationwide release. Get your first look at the trailers below.