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.
REVIEW ‘Belle’ delves into the theme of the Internet as not only as a bridge and access for information. It is an alternate reality. A different realm. Here, Mamoru adapts the myth of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to enhance the narrative. Once, fairy tales were just in our heads and imagination, now it is manifested and it is as tangible as ever.
The Internet in ‘Belle’ is known as ‘U’. It is the total opposite compared to the internet we know, which is full of ‘I’s.
It can be the allegory for the conscious self. The ‘You’ and the ‘I’. The protagonist, Suzu is put into a dilemma between being her real self and her ‘U’ persona. At one point, Mamoru Hosoda hints at the seamlessness between the two, saying about the identity crisis and the mask most of us hide in.
It is Suzu’s journey in knowing herself and the ‘Beast’.
Mamoru also intricately uses manual methods to represent Suzu’s real world and 3D methods for the scenes in ‘U’. It is one subtle way to differentiate between the two realms.
The main attraction is the vocal performance sync with the animation (apart, of course, the beautiful visuals). I was wondering how the non-subbed version is going to be, but there is already an International trailer released and it is sounding great.
Mamoru Hosoda’s was once with Studio Ghibli and eventually open up his own, Studio Chizu. Their 2018 film, Mirai, was nominated for Best Animated Feature for the 2019 Oscar.
Belle received 14 minutes standing ovation at last year’s Cannes Festival. It is already showing in the cinema near you in Malaysia. In the US, it is 14th January.
Watch the trailer
