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{{Short description|Japanese animated film by Mamoru Hosoda}}
{{Short description|Japanese animated film by Mamoru Hosoda}}
{{Expand Japanese|竜とそばかすの姫|date=January 2022}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=cult|竜とそばかすの姫|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
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| distributor = [[Toho]]
| distributor = [[Toho]]
| released = {{Film date|2021|07|15|[[2021 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2021|07|16|Japan}}
| released = {{Film date|2021|07|15|[[2021 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2021|07|16|Japan}}
| runtime = 124 minutes
| runtime = 121 minutes
| country = Japan
| country = Japan
| language = Japanese
| language = Japanese
| gross = $64.7 million<ref>{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=Belle (2021) |id=13651628 |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
| gross = $64.7 million<ref>{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=Belle (2021) |id=13651628 |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Belle'''''|竜とそばかすの姫|Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime|literally '''''The Dragon and the Freckled Princess'''''}} is a 2021 Japanese [[Anime|animated]] [[Science fantasy|science fantasy film]] written and directed by [[Mamoru Hosoda]] and produced by [[Studio Chizu]]. The story is inspired by the 1756 French fairy tale ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' by [[Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont]] as well as the 1991 [[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Disney animated film]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/mamoru-hosoda-belle-interview-20220117/|title=Mamoru Hosoda On Creating A Virtual 'Beauty And The Beast' For 'Belle' [Interview]|date=January 17, 2022|access-date=March 4, 2022|archive-date=April 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408184739/https://theplaylist.net/mamoru-hosoda-belle-interview-20220117/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Nihongo|'''''Belle'''''|竜とそばかすの姫|Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime|literally '''''The Dragon and the Freckled Princess'''''}} is a 2021 Japanese [[Anime|animated]] [[Science fantasy|science fantasy film]] written and directed by [[Mamoru Hosoda]] and produced by [[Studio Chizu]]. The story is inspired by the 1756 French fairytale ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' by [[Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont]] as well as the 1991 [[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Disney animated film]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/mamoru-hosoda-belle-interview-20220117/|title=Mamoru Hosoda On Creating A Virtual 'Beauty And The Beast' For 'Belle' [Interview]|date=January 17, 2022|access-date=March 4, 2022|archive-date=April 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408184739/https://theplaylist.net/mamoru-hosoda-belle-interview-20220117/|url-status=live}}</ref>


''Belle'' premiered on July 15, 2021, at the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/cannes-premiere-hosoda-mamoru-belle-1235011390/|title = Cannes Premiere: Hosoda Mamoru's 'Belle' Joins Festival Lineup|date = July 4, 2021|access-date = July 4, 2021|archive-date = July 4, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210704141528/https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/cannes-premiere-hosoda-mamoru-belle-1235011390/|url-status = live}}</ref> where it was well-received by critics with a standing ovation that lasted fourteen minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-16|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Gets 14-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes|url=https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101853/https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was additionally dubbed into foreign languages (English, Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, German and Polish). It was released theatrically in Japan on July 16, 2021. ''Belle'' is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for {{Currency|6.53 billion|JPY|linked=no|passthrough=yes}} in box-office rankings as of December 12, 2021.<ref name="animenews">{{Cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=29 December 2021|title=Final Evangelion Film Tops Japan's Box Office in 2021 So Far|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-29/final-evangelion-film-tops-japan-box-office-in-2021-so-far/.181107|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Anime News Network|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229125815/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-29/final-evangelion-film-tops-japan-box-office-in-2021-so-far/.181107 |archive-date=December 29, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="cbr">{{Cite web|last=Lacerna|first=Michael|date=2021-12-29|title=Evangelion Is Japan's Highest Grossing Movie of the Year|url=https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-mha-jujutsu-kaisen-highest-grossing-2021-japan/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-30|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229215507/https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-mha-jujutsu-kaisen-highest-grossing-2021-japan/ |archive-date=December 29, 2021 }}</ref>
''Belle'' premiered on July 15, 2021, at the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/cannes-premiere-hosoda-mamoru-belle-1235011390/|title = Cannes Premiere: Hosoda Mamoru's 'Belle' Joins Festival Lineup|date = July 4, 2021|access-date = July 4, 2021|archive-date = July 4, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210704141528/https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/cannes-premiere-hosoda-mamoru-belle-1235011390/|url-status = live}}</ref> where it was well received by critics with a standing ovation that lasted fourteen minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-16|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Gets 14-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes|url=https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101853/https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was additionally dubbed into foreign languages (English, Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, German and Polish). It was released theatrically in Japan on July 16, 2021. ''Belle'' is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for {{Currency|6.53 billion|JPY|linked=no|passthrough=yes}} in box-office rankings as of December 12, 2021.<ref name="animenews">{{Cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=29 December 2021|title=Final Evangelion Film Tops Japan's Box Office in 2021 So Far|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-29/final-evangelion-film-tops-japan-box-office-in-2021-so-far/.181107|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Anime News Network|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229125815/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-29/final-evangelion-film-tops-japan-box-office-in-2021-so-far/.181107 |archive-date=December 29, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="cbr">{{Cite web|last=Lacerna|first=Michael|date=2021-12-29|title=Evangelion Is Japan's Highest Grossing Movie of the Year|url=https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-mha-jujutsu-kaisen-highest-grossing-2021-japan/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-30|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229215507/https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-mha-jujutsu-kaisen-highest-grossing-2021-japan/ |archive-date=December 29, 2021 }}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. Please discuss any major changes on the talk page. -->
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. Please discuss any major changes on the talk page. -->
Suzu Naito is a third-year high school student living in the rural [[Kōchi Prefecture]] of Japan, with a lost passion for singing and songwriting. As a child, Suzu witnessed her mother rescue a girl from a flooding river at the cost of her own life, and thus resents her for "abandoning" her for a stranger's child. Suzu remains in contact with a group of older choir teachers who were her mother's friends, but is alienated from most of her classmates, with the exception of her childhood crush and self-appointed protector Shinobu Hisatake, popular girl Ruka Watanabe, sportsman Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami, and her genius best friend Hiroka "Hiro" Betsuyaku.
Suzu Naito is a third-year high school student living in the rural [[Kōchi Prefecture]] of Japan, with a lost passion for singing and songwriting. As a child, Suzu witnessed her mother rescue a girl from a flooding river at the cost of her own life and thus resents her for "abandoning" her for a stranger's child. Suzu remains in contact with a group of older choir teachers who were her mother's friends but is alienated from most of her classmates, except her childhood crush and self-appointed protector Shinobu Hisatake, popular girl Ruka Watanabe, sportsman Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami, and her genius best friend Hiroka "Hiro" Betsuyaku.


At Hiro's insistence, Suzu signs into the popular virtual world "U" and is appointed a beautiful avatar with freckles (through the AI engine's biometric analysis<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=In 'Belle,' the Internet Unlocks Our Best Selves |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/belle-anime-essay/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>), whom she names "Bell", the English translation of her own name. Upon logging in, she finds herself capable of singing again. With the assistance of Hiro, who appoints herself Bell's manager and producer, Bell becomes a hit on U's music charts, and people start referring to her as "Belle", meaning "beautiful" in French.
At Hiro's insistence, Suzu signs into the popular virtual world "U" and is appointed a beautiful avatar with freckles (through the AI engine's biometric analysis<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=In 'Belle,' the Internet Unlocks Our Best Selves |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/belle-anime-essay/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>), whom she names "Bell", the English translation of her own name. Upon logging in, she finds herself capable of singing again. With the assistance of Hiro, who appoints herself Bell's manager and producer, Bell becomes a hit on U's music charts, and people start referring to her as "Belle", meaning "beautiful" in French.


During one of Belle's concerts, an infamously strong and near-unbeatable user, "The Dragon" (or "The Beast"), arrives, fleeing from the Justices, a vigilante group led by the self-righteous Justin, who fight the Dragon and accuse him of disturbing the peace of U. Justin plans to unveil the Dragon's identity to the public using a specialized program mostly reserved for U's owners. Intrigued by the Dragon, Suzu begins to gather information about him. She discovers that he is popular amongst children, who consider him to be their hero. She meets the Dragon and his five guardian [[artificial intelligence|AIs]]. Belle and the Dragon grow close. In the real world, Ruka confides to Suzu that she has a crush on Kamishin. Suzu helps the two confess their feelings.
During one of Belle's concerts, an infamously strong and near-unbeatable user, "The Dragon" (or "The Beast"), arrives, fleeing from the Justices, a vigilante group led by the self-righteous Justin, who fight the Dragon and accuse him of disturbing the peace of U. Justin plans to unveil the Dragon's identity to the public using a specialized program mostly reserved for U's owners. Intrigued by the Dragon, Suzu begins to gather information about him. She discovers that he is popular amongst children, who consider him to be their hero. She meets the Dragon and his five guardians [[artificial intelligence|AIs]]. Belle and the Dragon grow close. In the real world, Ruka confides to Suzu that she has a crush on Kamishin. Suzu helps the two confess their feelings.


In U, Justin captures and interrogates Belle, threatening to unveil her identity to the world if she refuses to cooperate. The Dragon's AIs rescue Belle, but their intervention allows Justin and his group to locate the Dragon's castle and burn it down. The Dragon flees before Belle can find him. Suzu and Hiro work to find out the Dragon's real identity before Justin can and warn him. They find out the Dragon is a third-year junior high school student named Kei who is being physically and verbally abused by his father; Kei's protectiveness over his younger brother, Tomo is what gives the Dragon his unbeatable strength in U. Suzu contacts Kei offering help. Kei does not believe that she is Belle, and generally distrusts everyone who offers him help, since nobody has ever followed through. Shinobu, Ruka, Kamishin, and the choir teachers reveal their knowledge of Belle's true identity and urge Suzu to sing to gain Kei's trust. Suzu unveils herself to the world in U and sings. Tomo convinces Kei to trust her and they try to contact her again. When Kei's father sees that evidence of his abuse has been posted online, he terminates their internet connection before Kei can tell Suzu their address.
In U, Justin captures and interrogates Belle, threatening to unveil her identity to the world if she refuses to cooperate. The Dragon's AIs rescue Belle, but their intervention allows Justin and his group to locate the Dragon's castle and burn it down. The Dragon flees before Belle can find him. Suzu and Hiro work to find out the Dragon's real identity before Justin can and warn him. They find out the Dragon is a third-year junior high school student named Kei who is being physically and verbally abused by his father; Kei's protectiveness over his younger brother, Tomo is what gives the Dragon his unbeatable strength in U. Suzu contacts Kei offering help. Kei does not believe that she is Belle, and generally distrusts everyone who offers him help, since nobody has ever followed through. Shinobu, Ruka, Kamishin, and the choir teachers reveal their knowledge of Belle's true identity and urge Suzu to sing to gain Kei's trust. Suzu unveils herself to the world in the U and sings. Tomo convinces Kei to trust her and they try to contact her again. When Kei's father sees that evidence of his abuse has been posted online, he terminates their internet connection before Kei can tell Suzu their address.


Using context clues, Ruka and Kamishin deduce that Kei's hometown is [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], near [[Tokyo]]. Since authorities cannot intervene on abuse charges until 48 hours have passed, Suzu locates Kei and Tomo on her own and protects them from their father. The next day, she and her father warmly greet each other at the station. Shinobu praises Suzu for her bravery and, deciding she no longer needs his protection, finally feels free to pursue the relationship he has always wanted with her. Finally understanding her mother's selfless actions, Suzu makes peace with her death.
Using context clues, Ruka and Kamishin deduce that Kei's hometown is [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], near [[Tokyo]]. Since authorities cannot intervene on abuse charges until 48 hours have passed, Suzu locates Kei and Tomo on her own and protects them from their father. The next day, she and her father warmly greet each other at the station. Shinobu praises Suzu for her bravery and deciding she no longer needs his protection, finally feels free to pursue the relationship he has always wanted with her. Finally understanding her mother's selfless actions, Suzu makes peace with her death.


==Voice cast==
==Voice cast==
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| [[Kōji Yakusho]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-27/mamoru-hosoda-belle-film-casts-koji-yakusho-as-suzu-father/.173296|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Film Casts Kōji Yakusho as Suzu's Father|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 20, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205258/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-27/mamoru-hosoda-belle-film-casts-koji-yakusho-as-suzu-father/.173296|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Kōji Yakusho]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-27/mamoru-hosoda-belle-film-casts-koji-yakusho-as-suzu-father/.173296|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Film Casts Kōji Yakusho as Suzu's Father|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 20, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205258/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-27/mamoru-hosoda-belle-film-casts-koji-yakusho-as-suzu-father/.173296|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Ben Lepley
| Ben Lepley
|Suzu's widowed father who she feels distant from.
|Suzu's widowed father whom she feels distant from.
|-
|-
| Shinobu Hisatake
| Shinobu Hisatake
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While Studio Chizu worked on the project, they had help from veteran [[Disney]] animator and character designer [[Jin Kim (animator)|Jin Kim]] and Michael Camacho on the design of Belle and studio [[Cartoon Saloon]] for the background work of the world of U.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://studiochizu.com/news/652 |title=Studio Chizu Reveals New Trailer for "BELLE" and Announces International Roster{{!}}Studio Chizu |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417120102/https://studiochizu.com/news/652 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mamoru-hosoda-teams-up-with-cartoon-saloon-and-disney-vet-jin-kim-for-new-film-belle-203731.html |title=Mamoru Hosoda Teams Up With Cartoon Saloon And Disney Vet Jin Kim For New Film 'Belle'{{!}}Cartoon Brew |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417120102/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mamoru-hosoda-teams-up-with-cartoon-saloon-and-disney-vet-jin-kim-for-new-film-belle-203731.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
While Studio Chizu worked on the project, they had help from veteran [[Disney]] animator and character designer [[Jin Kim (animator)|Jin Kim]] and Michael Camacho on the design of Belle and studio [[Cartoon Saloon]] for the background work of the world of U.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://studiochizu.com/news/652 |title=Studio Chizu Reveals New Trailer for "BELLE" and Announces International Roster{{!}}Studio Chizu |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417120102/https://studiochizu.com/news/652 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mamoru-hosoda-teams-up-with-cartoon-saloon-and-disney-vet-jin-kim-for-new-film-belle-203731.html |title=Mamoru Hosoda Teams Up With Cartoon Saloon And Disney Vet Jin Kim For New Film 'Belle'{{!}}Cartoon Brew |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417120102/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/mamoru-hosoda-teams-up-with-cartoon-saloon-and-disney-vet-jin-kim-for-new-film-belle-203731.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Hosoda initially intended for ''Belle'' to be a musical, but considered the idea difficult due to Japan not having a culture of making musicals. However, he still wanted music to be central to the film, so he searched for a protagonist that could sing. He stated that he preferred the same person doing both speaking and singing voices to make it convincing, and searched for a singer who could express their feelings though song and move people, even if they don't understand Japanese. He then found Kaho Nakamura, whom he considered relatively unknown, but a perfect choice for the role. Hosoda stated that Nakamura was also involved in writing lyrics, so she could feel the lyrics she was singing.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|date=January 18, 2022|title=Mamoru Hosoda Talks Belle|magazine=[[Neo (magazine)|NEO]]|issue=216|pages=42, 44|issn=}}</ref>
Hosoda initially intended for ''Belle'' to be a musical, but considered the idea difficult due to Japan not having a culture of making musicals. However, he still wanted music to be central to the film, so he searched for a protagonist who could sing. He stated that he preferred the same person doing both speaking and singing voices to make it convincing and searched for a singer who could express their feelings through song and move people, even if they don't understand Japanese. He then found Kaho Nakamura, whom he considered relatively unknown, but a perfect choice for the role. Hosoda stated that Nakamura was also involved in writing lyrics, so she could feel the lyrics she was singing.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|date=January 18, 2022|title=Mamoru Hosoda Talks Belle|magazine=[[Neo (magazine)|NEO]]|issue=216|pages=42, 44|issn=}}</ref>


===Release===
===Release===
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Sale rights to the film outside Japan were handled by French company Charades who pre-sold the rights internationally, including Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, [[Anime Limited]] in the UK,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mamoru Hosoda's BELLE in cinemas in the UK and Ireland this February!|url=https://animeuknews.net/2022/01/mamoru-hosodas-belle-in-cinemas-in-the-uk-and-ireland-this-february/|work=Anime UK News|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=July 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710050420/https://animeuknews.net/2022/01/mamoru-hosodas-belle-in-cinemas-in-the-uk-and-ireland-this-february/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Belle anime movie coming to UK theatres February 2022|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/belle/release-date-UK|work=The Digital Fix|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709034452/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/belle/release-date-UK|url-status=live}}</ref> Ireland and France (with [[Wild Bunch (company)|Wild Bunch]]), and [[Koch Media]] in Italy and German-speaking territories. The deal size was due to the popularity of Japanese anime and the international status of Mamoru Hosoda.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/mamoru-hosoda-international-sales-charades-1234998072/ | title=Mamoru Hosoda's 'Belle' Sells to Major Western Territories, Including U.K., France (EXCLUSIVE) | date=June 16, 2021 }}</ref>
Sale rights to the film outside Japan were handled by French company Charades who pre-sold the rights internationally, including Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, [[Anime Limited]] in the UK,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mamoru Hosoda's BELLE in cinemas in the UK and Ireland this February!|url=https://animeuknews.net/2022/01/mamoru-hosodas-belle-in-cinemas-in-the-uk-and-ireland-this-february/|work=Anime UK News|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=July 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710050420/https://animeuknews.net/2022/01/mamoru-hosodas-belle-in-cinemas-in-the-uk-and-ireland-this-february/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Belle anime movie coming to UK theatres February 2022|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/belle/release-date-UK|work=The Digital Fix|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709034452/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/belle/release-date-UK|url-status=live}}</ref> Ireland and France (with [[Wild Bunch (company)|Wild Bunch]]), and [[Koch Media]] in Italy and German-speaking territories. The deal size was due to the popularity of Japanese anime and the international status of Mamoru Hosoda.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/mamoru-hosoda-international-sales-charades-1234998072/ | title=Mamoru Hosoda's 'Belle' Sells to Major Western Territories, Including U.K., France (EXCLUSIVE) | date=June 16, 2021 }}</ref>


==Soundtrack==
==Music==
{{main|Belle (2021 soundtrack)}}
{{Infobox album
The music for the series was composed by Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, and [[Yuta Bandoh]]. The soundtrack album was released on August 18, 2021, by [[Ariola Japan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp/music |title=音楽｜「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト |year=2021 |website=「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト（ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp） |publisher=スタジオ地図 Studio Chizu |language=ja |access-date=2024-05-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp/news/20210730-2.html |title=NEWS｜「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト |date=2021-07-30 |website=「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト（ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp） |publisher=スタジオ地図 Studio Chizu |language=ja, en |access-date=2024-05-23 }}</ref>
| name = Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Various artists]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = July 30, 2021
| recorded = 2020–2021
| venue = [[Tokorozawa Civic Cultural Centre Muse|Tokorozawa Civic Cultural Center Muse Ark Hall]], [[Tokorozawa, Saitama|Tokorozawa]], [[Saitama, Japan]]
| studio = Victor Studio, Bunkamura Studio, Studio Tanta, [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]<br>[[Abbey Road Studios]], [[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| genre = {{flat list|
* [[Film score]]
* [[J-pop]]
* [[Music of Japan#Theme music|Anison]]
* [[emo pop]]<ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web |title=BELLE REVIEW: "A FEAST FOR THE HEART AND SENSES" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/belle-review/ |website=gamesradar |date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709111735/https://www.gamesradar.com/belle-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| length = 76:52
| language = Japanese, English, Latin
| label = [[Studio Chizu]]<br>[[Sony Music Entertainment]]<br>[[Milan Records]] (international)
| producer = Taisei Iwasaki
| chronology = [[Studio Chizu]]
| prev_title = [[Mirai (film)|Mirai: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]
| prev_year = 2018
}}

===Track listing===
{{Track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| extra_column = Artist(s)

| title1 = U
| note1 = digital track only
| lyrics1 = Daiki Tsuneta
| music1 = Tsuneta
| extra1 = [[:ja:millennium parade|millennium parade]]<br>[[Kaho Nakamura]]
| length1 = 3:07

| title2 = {{Nihongo|Whispers|ささやき|Sasayaki}}
| lyrics2 = Nakamura
| music2 = Ludvig Forssell
| extra2 = Nakamura
| length2 = 0:28

| title3 = Slingshot
| music3 = Miho Hazama<br>Taisei Iwasaki
| length3 = 2:56

| title4 = {{Nihongo|Memories of a Sound|遠い音色|Tōi neiro}}
| music4 = Iwasaki
| length4 = 1:29

| title5 = Blunt Words
| lyrics5 = Forssell
| music5 = Forssell
| extra5 = [[:ja:ermhoi|ermhoi]]
| length5 = 1:18

| title6 = {{Nihongo|Gales of Song|歌よ|Uta yo}}
| lyrics6 = Nakamura
| music6 = Forssell
| extra6 = Nakamura
| length6 = 3:59

| title7 = {{Nihongo|Fleeting Days|儚い日常|Hakanai nichijō}}
| music7 = Forssell
| length7 = 0:40

| title8 = {{Nihongo|Swarms of Song|導き|Michibiki}}
| lyrics8 = Nakamura
| music8 = Forssell
| extra8 = Nakamura
| length8 = 1:38

| title9 = {{Nihongo|Alle Psallite Cum Luya|いざ、リラを奏でて歌わん|Iza, rira o kanadete utawan}}
| extra9 = [[Ryoko Moriyama]]<br>Sachiyo Nakao<br>[[Fuyumi Sakamoto]]<br>[[Yoshimi Iwasaki]]<br>[[Michiko Shimizu (entertainer)|Michiko Shimizu]]<br>Nakamura
| length9 = 0:38

| title10 = Fama Destinata
| note10 = ''Destined Fame''
| music10 = Forssell
| extra10 = Nakamura
| length10 = 2:18

| title11 = {{Nihongo|Dragon|竜|Ryū}}
| music11 = [[Yuta Bandoh]]
| length11 = 1:28

| title12 = {{Nihongo|Justin|ジャスティン|Jasutin}}
| music12 = Bandoh
| length12 = 1:11

| title13 = {{Nihongo|Unveil|アンベイル|Anbeiru}}
| music13 = Bandoh
| length13 = 1:33

| title14 = {{Nihongo|Digital Ripples|電網鼓動|Denmō kodō}}
| music14 = Forssell
| length14 = 5:21

| title15 = {{Nihongo|Dragon's Lair|竜の城|Ryū no shiro}}
| music15 = Bandoh
| length15 = 3:10

| title16 = {{Nihongo|Lend Me Your Voice (Draft)|心のそばに(鈴)|Kokoro no soba ni (Suzu)}}
| music16 = Iwasaki
| lyrics16 = [[Mamoru Hosoda]]<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki
| extra16 = Nakamura
| length16 = 1:16

| title17 = {{Nihongo|Social Warfare|手のひらの戦乱|Tenohira no senran}}
| music17 = Forssell
| length17 = 1:19

| title18 = {{Nihongo|Assault|強襲|Kyōshū}}
| music18 = Bandoh
| length18 = 3:48

| title19 = {{Nihongo|Lend Me Your Voice|心のそばに|Kokoro no soba ni}}
| lyrics19 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki
| music19 = Iwasaki
| extra19 = Nakamura
| length19 = 5:03

| title20 = #UnveilTheBeast
| music20 = Forssell
| length20 = 1:38

| title21 = {{Nihongo|Authority and Arrogance|倨傲の権力|Kyogō no kenryoku}}
| music21 = Forssell
| length21 = 2:04

| title22 = {{Nihongo|Scorching the Facade|竜の城、燃ゆ|Ryū no shiro, rán yu}}
| music22 = Bandoh
| length22 = 3:44

| title23 = {{Nihongo|The Truth Obscured|潜む真実|Hisomu shinjitsu}}
| music23 = Forssell
| length23 = 1:04

| title24 = {{Nihongo|Lend Me Your Voice (Humming)|心のそばに(知くん)|Kokoro no soba ni (Tomo-kun)}}
| music24 = Iwasaki
| extra24 = HANA
| length24 = 0:48

| title25 = {{Nihongo|Distrust|不信|Fushin}}
| music25 = Forssell
| length25 = 2:47

| title26 = {{Nihongo|A Million Miles Away|はなればなれの君へ|Hanarebanare no kimi e}}
| lyrics26 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki
| music26 = Iwasaki
| extra26 = Nakamura
| length26 = 8:01<br>3:08 (part 1)<br>1:06 (part 2)<br>1:45 (part 3)<br>2:01 (part 4)

| title27 = {{Nihongo|Pieces of the Puzzle|糸口|Itoguchi}}
| music27 = Forssell
| length27 = 2:14

| title28 = {{Nihongo|Faces in the Rain|素顔|Sugao}}
| music28 = Iwasaki<br>Bandoh
| extra28 = Nakamura
| length28 = 2:22

| title29 = {{Nihongo|Skies of Song|辿り着いた空|Tadoritsuita sora}}
| lyrics29 = Nakamura
| music29 = Forssell
| extra29 = Nakamura
| length29 = 3:02

| title30 = {{Nihongo|A Million Miles Away (reprise)|はなればなれの君へ (reprise)|Hanarebanare no kimi e (reprise)}}
| lyrics30 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki
| music30 = Iwasaki
| extra30 = Nakamura
| length30 = 6:29

| total_length = 76:52
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = English edition
| extra_column = Artist(s)

| title1 = U
| note1 = English Version; digital track only
| lyrics1 = Daiki Tsuneta<br>Ludvig Forssell (translation)
| music1 = Tsuneta
| extra1 = [[:ja:millennium parade|millennium parade]]<br>Kylie McNeill
| length1 = 3:07

| title2 = Whispers
| note2 = English Version
| lyrics2 = [[Kaho Nakamura]]<br>Forssell (translation)
| music2 = Forssell
| extra2 = McNeill
| length2 = 0:28

| title3 = Slingshot
| music3 = Miho Hazama, Taisei Iwasaki
| length3 = 2:56

| title4 = Memories of a Sound
| music4 = Taisei Iwasaki
| length4 = 1:29

| title5 = Blunt Words
| lyrics5 = Forssell
| music5 = Forssell
| extra5 = ermhoi
| length5 = 1:18

| title6 = Gales of Song
| note6 = English Version
| lyrics6 = Nakamura<br>Forssell (translation)
| music6 = Forssell
| extra6 = McNeill
| length6 = 3:59

| title7 = Fleeting Days
| music7 = Forssell
| length7 = 0:40

| title8 = Swarms of Song
| note8 = English Version
| lyrics8 = Nakamura<br>Forssell (translation)
| music8 = Forssell
| extra8 = McNeill
| length8 = 1:38

| title9 = [[Alle Psallite Cum Luya]]
| extra9 = [[Ryoko Moriyama]]<br>Sachiyo Nakao<br>[[Fuyumi Sakamoto]]<br>[[Yoshimi Iwasaki]]<br>[[Michiko Shimizu (entertainer)|Michiko Shimizu]]<br>Nakamura
| length9 = 0:38

| title10 = Fama Destinata
| note10 = English Version
| music10 = Forssell
| extra10 = McNeill
| length10 = 2:18

| title11 = Dragon
| music11 = [[Yuta Bandoh]]
| length11 = 1:28

| title12 = Justin
| music12 = Bandoh
| length12 = 1:11

| title13 = Unveil
| music13 = Bandoh
| length13 = 1:33

| title14 = Digital Ripples
| music14 = Forssell
| length14 = 5:21

| title15 = Dragon's Lair
| music15 = Bandoh
| length15 = 3:10

| title16 = Lend Me Your Voice (Draft)
| note16 = English Version
| music16 = Taisei Iwasaki
| lyrics16 = [[Mamoru Hosoda]]<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki<br>Forssell (translation)
| extra16 = McNeill
| length16 = 1:16

| title17 = Social Warfare
| music17 = Forssell
| length17 = 1:19

| title18 = Assault
| music18 = Bandoh
| length18 = 3:48

| title19 = Lend Me Your Voice
| note19 = English Version
| music19 = Iwasaki
| lyrics19 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki<br>Forssell (translation)
| extra19 = McNeill
| length19 = 5:03

| title20 = #UnveilTheBeast
| music20 = Forssell
| length20 = 1:38

| title21 = Authority and Arrogance
| music21 = Forssell
| length21 = 2:04

| title22 = Scorching the Facade
| music22 = Bandoh
| length22 = 3:44

| title23 = The Truth Obscured
| music23 = Forssell
| length23 = 1:04

| title24 = Lend Me Your Voice (Humming)
| note24 = English Version
| music24 = Iwasaki
| extra24 = Bentley Griffin
| length24 = 0:48

| title25 = Distrust
| music25 = Forssell
| length25 = 2:47

| title26 = A Million Miles Away
| note26 = English Version
| lyrics26 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki<br>Forssell (translation)
| music26 = Iwasaki
| extra26 = McNeill
| length26 = 8:01

| title27 = Pieces of the Puzzle
| music27 = Forssell
| length27 = 2:14

| title28 = Faces in the Rain
| note28 = English Version
| music28 = Iwasaki<br>Bandoh
| extra28 = McNeill
| length28 = 2:22

| title29 = Skies of Song
| note29 = English Version
| lyrics29 = Nakamura<br>Forssell (translation)
| music29 = Forssell
| extra29 = McNeill
| length29 = 3:02

| title30 = A Million Miles Away (reprise)
| note30 = English Version
| lyrics30 = Hosoda<br>Nakamura<br>Iwasaki<br>Forssell (translation)
| music30 = Iwasaki
| extra30 = McNeill
| length30 = 6:29

| total_length = 76:52
}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
Line 531: Line 195:
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95|7.9|129|A remarkable story brought to life with dazzling animation, ''Belle'' finds writer-director Mamoru Hosoda setting a brilliant new benchmark.}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=m|id=belle_2022|title=Belle|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref> {{MC film|83|31}}<ref>{{cite Metacritic|type=movie|id=belle-2021|title=Belle|access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> American audiences polled by [[PostTrak]] gave the film an 86% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/scream-spider-man-weekend-box-office-mlk-1234912797/|title=''Scream'' Hitting Loud Pitch With $36M 4-Day, ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'' Surging Past ''Black Panther'' – Sunday AM Update|date=January 24, 2022|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116152830/https://deadline.com/2022/01/scream-spider-man-weekend-box-office-mlk-1234912797/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95|7.9|129|A remarkable story brought to life with dazzling animation, ''Belle'' finds writer-director Mamoru Hosoda setting a brilliant new benchmark.}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=m|id=belle_2022|title=Belle|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref> {{MC film|83|31}}<ref>{{cite Metacritic|type=movie|id=belle-2021|title=Belle|access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> American audiences polled by [[PostTrak]] gave the film an 86% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/scream-spider-man-weekend-box-office-mlk-1234912797/|title=''Scream'' Hitting Loud Pitch With $36M 4-Day, ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'' Surging Past ''Black Panther'' – Sunday AM Update|date=January 24, 2022|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116152830/https://deadline.com/2022/01/scream-spider-man-weekend-box-office-mlk-1234912797/|url-status=live}}</ref>


At the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]], the film received a 14-minute-standing ovation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steen |first=Emma |title=Japanese anime Belle receives a 14-minute standing ovation at Cannes |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japanese-anime-belle-receives-a-14-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes-071921 |website=Time Out |date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616185211/https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japanese-anime-belle-receives-a-14-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes-071921 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Baron |first=Reuben |title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Gets 14-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes |url=https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/ |website=CBR |date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101853/https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Joe Morgenstern]] wrote for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' that "There's too much plot for the film to manage, but its heart, and sumptuous art, are so firmly in the right place that its appeal comes through sweet and clear."<ref>{{cite news |last=Morgenstern |first=Joe |title='Belle' Review: Reality's Beautiful Bite |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/belle-mamoru-hosoda-metaverse-mirai-gkids-11642112149 |website=Wall Street Journal |date=January 13, 2022 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710050420/https://www.wsj.com/articles/belle-mamoru-hosoda-metaverse-mirai-gkids-11642112149 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the visual quality, character development, worldbuilding, and called the film "unfailingly touching."<ref>{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |title='Belle' Review: Soaring and Singing Over the Online Rainbow |work=The New York Times |date=January 13, 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/movies/belle-review.html |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714205432/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/movies/belle-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Justin Chang]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the visuals and story, writing "It’s a tale as old as time and as newfangled as [[TikTok]], in which the virtual world, though packed with fantasy and artifice, can bring startling truths to the surface."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Justin|title=Review: 'Belle' is a striking virtual reality riff on 'Beauty and the Beast'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-01-13/belle-review-mamoru-hosoda|url-status=live|access-date=14 January 2022|newspaper=LA Times|date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113230641/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-01-13/belle-review-mamoru-hosoda |archive-date=January 13, 2022 }}</ref>
At the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]], the film received a 14-minute-standing ovation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steen |first=Emma |title=Japanese anime Belle receives a 14-minute standing ovation at Cannes |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japanese-anime-belle-receives-a-14-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes-071921 |website=Time Out |date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616185211/https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japanese-anime-belle-receives-a-14-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes-071921 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Baron |first=Reuben |title=Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Gets 14-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes |url=https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/ |website=CBR |date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101853/https://www.cbr.com/mamoru-hosoda-belle-14-minute-standing-ovation-cannes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Joe Morgenstern]] wrote for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' that "There's too much plot for the film to manage, but its heart, and sumptuous art, are so firmly in the right place that its appeal comes through sweet and clear."<ref>{{cite news |last=Morgenstern |first=Joe |title='Belle' Review: Reality's Beautiful Bite |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/belle-mamoru-hosoda-metaverse-mirai-gkids-11642112149 |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 13, 2022 |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710050420/https://www.wsj.com/articles/belle-mamoru-hosoda-metaverse-mirai-gkids-11642112149 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the visual quality, character development, worldbuilding, and called the film "unfailingly touching."<ref>{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |title='Belle' Review: Soaring and Singing Over the Online Rainbow |work=The New York Times |date=January 13, 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/movies/belle-review.html |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714205432/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/movies/belle-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Justin Chang]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the visuals and story, writing "It’s a tale as old as time and as newfangled as [[TikTok]], in which the virtual world, though packed with fantasy and artifice, can bring startling truths to the surface."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Justin|title=Review: 'Belle' is a striking virtual reality riff on 'Beauty and the Beast'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-01-13/belle-review-mamoru-hosoda|url-status=live|access-date=14 January 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113230641/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-01-13/belle-review-mamoru-hosoda |archive-date=January 13, 2022 }}</ref>


===Accolades===
===Accolades===
Line 560: Line 224:
| ''Belle'', Mamoru Hosoda
| ''Belle'', Mamoru Hosoda
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref name="Locarno Festival Kids Award">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=Mamoru Hosoda to Receive the First Locarno Kids Award |url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/LFF/news/2021/07/Locarno_kids_award_hosoda.html |accessdate=2021-07-26 |publisher=The Locarno Film Festival}}</ref><br /><ref name="BELLE wins Locarno Festival Kids Award">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/07/28-1/mamoru-hosodas-anime-film-belle-wins-inaugural-locarno-kids-award|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Anime Film BELLE Wins Inaugural Locarno Kids Award|date=2021-07-28|accessdate=2021-07-28|archive-date=2022-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512111547/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/07/28-1/mamoru-hosodas-anime-film-belle-wins-inaugural-locarno-kids-award|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|<ref name="Locarno Festival Kids Award">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=Mamoru Hosoda to Receive the First Locarno Kids Award |url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/LFF/news/2021/07/Locarno_kids_award_hosoda.html |access-date=2021-07-26 |publisher=The Locarno Film Festival}}</ref><br /><ref name="BELLE wins Locarno Festival Kids Award">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/07/28-1/mamoru-hosodas-anime-film-belle-wins-inaugural-locarno-kids-award|title=Mamoru Hosoda's Anime Film BELLE Wins Inaugural Locarno Kids Award|date=2021-07-28|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2022-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512111547/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/07/28-1/mamoru-hosodas-anime-film-belle-wins-inaugural-locarno-kids-award|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Animation Is Film Festival
|Animation Is Film Festival
Line 573: Line 237:
|Best Feature Film
|Best Feature Film
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
|rowspan="4" align="center"|<ref name="2021 Fancine">{{Cite web|url=https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/fancine-turns-its-31st-edition-into-a-scientifically-proven-film-experiment|title=FANCINE TURNS ITS 31ST EDITION INTO A SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FILM EXPERIMENT|website=Fancine|date=2021-11-18|accessdate=2021-11-18|archive-date=2023-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021150359/https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/fancine-turns-its-31st-edition-into-a-scientifically-proven-film-experiment|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><ref name="2021 Fancine winner">{{Cite web|url=https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/2021-winners|title=31ST FANCINE WINNERS|website=Fancine|date=2021-11-18|accessdate=2021-11-18|archive-date=2023-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021150359/https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/2021-winners|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rowspan="4" align="center"|<ref name="2021 Fancine">{{Cite web|url=https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/fancine-turns-its-31st-edition-into-a-scientifically-proven-film-experiment|title=FANCINE TURNS ITS 31ST EDITION INTO A SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FILM EXPERIMENT|website=Fancine|date=2021-11-18|access-date=2021-11-18|archive-date=2023-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021150359/https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/fancine-turns-its-31st-edition-into-a-scientifically-proven-film-experiment|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><ref name="2021 Fancine winner">{{Cite web|url=https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/2021-winners|title=31ST FANCINE WINNERS|website=Fancine|date=2021-11-18|access-date=2021-11-18|archive-date=2023-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021150359/https://site-fancine.festicine.pro/en/pratical-infos/2021-winners|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Best Sound Design
|Best Sound Design
Line 628: Line 292:
| [[Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Feature]]
| [[Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Feature]]
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-florida-film-critics-circle-ffcc-nominations/|title=The 2021 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations|website=NextBigPicture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=December 15, 2021|accessdate=December 17, 2021|archive-date=December 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216015427/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-florida-film-critics-circle-ffcc-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-florida-film-critics-circle-ffcc-nominations/|title=The 2021 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations|website=NextBigPicture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=December 15, 2021|access-date=December 17, 2021|archive-date=December 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216015427/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-florida-film-critics-circle-ffcc-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle]]
| [[San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle]]
Line 634: Line 298:
| [[San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| [[San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations/|title=The 2021 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations|website=NextBigPicture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=January 7, 2022|accessdate=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107171425/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations/|title=The 2021 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations|website=NextBigPicture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107171425/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Austin Film Critics Association]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Austin Film Critics Association]]
Line 640: Line 304:
| Best Animated Film
| Best Animated Film
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-afca-nominations/|title=The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations|website=Next Big Picture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=January 4, 2022|accessdate=January 4, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104172601/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-afca-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-afca-nominations/|title=The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations|website=Next Big Picture|first=Matt|last=Neglia|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104172601/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-afca-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance
| Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance
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| ''Belle''
| ''Belle''
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-11/evangelion-3.0-1.0-film-wins-japan-academy-film-prizes-animation-of-the-year/.183465|title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'' Film Wins Japan Academy Film Prizes' Animation of the Year|website=[[Anime News Network]]|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=March 11, 2022|accessdate=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311161241/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-11/evangelion-3.0-1.0-film-wins-japan-academy-film-prizes-animation-of-the-year/.183465|archive-date=March 11, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-11/evangelion-3.0-1.0-film-wins-japan-academy-film-prizes-animation-of-the-year/.183465|title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'' Film Wins Japan Academy Film Prizes' Animation of the Year|website=[[Anime News Network]]|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311161241/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-11/evangelion-3.0-1.0-film-wins-japan-academy-film-prizes-animation-of-the-year/.183465|archive-date=March 11, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Outstanding Achievement in Music
| Outstanding Achievement in Music
Line 683: Line 347:
| ''Belle''
| ''Belle''
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="5" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/annie-awards-nominations-2022-raya-and-the-last-dragon-encanto-luca-flee-1234899864/|title=Annie Awards Nominations: 'Raya And The Last Dragon' & 'Encanto' Lead Field For Animation Prizes|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=December 21, 2021|accessdate=December 21, 2021|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307163729/https://deadline.com/2021/12/annie-awards-nominations-2022-raya-and-the-last-dragon-encanto-luca-flee-1234899864/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/annie-awards-nominations-2022-raya-and-the-last-dragon-encanto-luca-flee-1234899864/|title=Annie Awards Nominations: 'Raya And The Last Dragon' & 'Encanto' Lead Field For Animation Prizes|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2021|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307163729/https://deadline.com/2021/12/annie-awards-nominations-2022-raya-and-the-last-dragon-encanto-luca-flee-1234899864/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production|Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production]]
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production|Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production]]
Line 742: Line 406:


=== Cultural influence ===
=== Cultural influence ===
After the release of the film, [[Ochi, Kōchi]] in [[Kōchi Prefecture]], which served as the prototype for filming, was certified by the [[Anime Tourism Association]] as one of the "88 Japanese Anime Mecca I Want to Visit".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animetourism88.com/ja|script-title=ja:BELLE.Ochi Town, Kochi Pref|publisher=Anime Tourism Association|date=September 24, 2021|accessdate=2022-01-01|language=ja|archive-date=2022-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412145105/https://animetourism88.com/ja|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nordot.app/843745226139598848?c=39546741839462401|script-title=ja:日本のアニメ聖地116カ所選定「竜とそばかすの姫」など新たに|publisher=Kyodo News|date=|accessdate=2021-12-15|language=ja|archive-date=2022-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709033417/https://nordot.app/843745226139598848?c=39546741839462401|url-status=live}}</ref> The Kochi Prefectural Tourism Bureau plans movie sightseeing routes to attract tourists with movie locations.<ref name="Studio_Chizu_Kochi_tourism">{{cite web|url=https://www.attaka.or.jp/ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime/#fv-point|script-title=ja:映画「竜とそばかすの姫」物語の舞台高知へ。|publisher=公益財団法人高知県観光コンベンション協会|author=|work=よさこいネット/映画「竜とそばかすの姫」スペシャルタイアップサイト|date=2021-07-24|accessdate=2021-07-24|language=ja|archive-date=2022-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116113612/https://www.attaka.or.jp/ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime/#fv-point|url-status=live}}</ref>
After the release of the film, [[Ochi, Kōchi]] in [[Kōchi Prefecture]], which served as the prototype for filming, was certified by the [[Anime Tourism Association]] as one of the "88 Japanese Anime Mecca I Want to Visit".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animetourism88.com/ja|script-title=ja:BELLE.Ochi Town, Kochi Pref|publisher=Anime Tourism Association|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=2022-01-01|language=ja|archive-date=2022-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412145105/https://animetourism88.com/ja|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nordot.app/843745226139598848?c=39546741839462401|script-title=ja:日本のアニメ聖地116カ所選定「竜とそばかすの姫」など新たに|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=2021-12-15|language=ja|archive-date=2022-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709033417/https://nordot.app/843745226139598848?c=39546741839462401|url-status=live}}</ref> The Kochi Prefectural Tourism Bureau plans movie sightseeing routes to attract tourists with movie locations.<ref name="Studio_Chizu_Kochi_tourism">{{cite web|url=https://www.attaka.or.jp/ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime/#fv-point|script-title=ja:映画「竜とそばかすの姫」物語の舞台高知へ。|publisher=公益財団法人高知県観光コンベンション協会|work=よさこいネット/映画「竜とそばかすの姫」スペシャルタイアップサイト|date=2021-07-24|access-date=2021-07-24|language=ja|archive-date=2022-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116113612/https://www.attaka.or.jp/ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime/#fv-point|url-status=live}}</ref>


''Belle'' was included in a high school art textbook released in Japan as a teaching example of animation production, and passed the audit of [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]] in March 2023. This textbook will be used as a high school art textbook to be launched in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3W6VBGR3WUCVL03M.html?iref=pc_ss_date_article|script-title=ja:算数に大谷翔平、書道にYOASOBI 来春からの小学校教科書に|publisher=[[Asahi News]]|author=|date=2023-03-28|accessdate=2023-04-02|language=ja|archive-date=2023-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402225458/https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3W6VBGR3WUCVL03M.html?iref=pc_ss_date_article|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hochi202303">{{cite web| language=Ja| publisher=[[體育報知]]| url=https://hochi.news/articles/20230328-OHT1T51163.html?page=1|script-title=ja:大谷翔平、小学校の教科書でも引っ張りだこ…打撃で算数の活用法紹介| accessdate=2023-03-29| archive-date=2023-04-03| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403193350/https://hochi.news/articles/20230328-OHT1T51163.html?page=1| url-status=live| date=March 29, 2023}}</ref><ref name="JE202306">{{cite web| language=Ja| publisher=[[教育新聞]]| url=https://www.kyobun.co.jp/feature/pf20230608/|script-title=ja:大令和6年度使用 高校教科書特集| accessdate=2023-06-08| archive-date=2023-06-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608193350/https://www.kyobun.co.jp/feature/pf20230608/| url-status=live}}</ref>
''Belle'' was included in a high school art textbook released in Japan as a teaching example of animation production, and passed the audit of [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]] in March 2023. This textbook will be used as a high school art textbook to be launched in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3W6VBGR3WUCVL03M.html?iref=pc_ss_date_article|script-title=ja:算数に大谷翔平、書道にYOASOBI 来春からの小学校教科書に|publisher=[[Asahi News]]|date=2023-03-28|access-date=2023-04-02|language=ja|archive-date=2023-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402225458/https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3W6VBGR3WUCVL03M.html?iref=pc_ss_date_article|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hochi202303">{{cite web| language=Ja| publisher=[[體育報知]]| url=https://hochi.news/articles/20230328-OHT1T51163.html?page=1|script-title=ja:大谷翔平、小学校の教科書でも引っ張りだこ…打撃で算数の活用法紹介| access-date=2023-03-29| archive-date=2023-04-03| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403193350/https://hochi.news/articles/20230328-OHT1T51163.html?page=1| url-status=live| date=March 29, 2023}}</ref><ref name="JE202306">{{cite web| language=Ja| publisher=[[教育新聞]]| url=https://www.kyobun.co.jp/feature/pf20230608/|script-title=ja:大令和6年度使用 高校教科書特集| access-date=2023-06-08| archive-date=2023-06-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608193350/https://www.kyobun.co.jp/feature/pf20230608/| url-status=live}}</ref>


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
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[[Category:Animated films set in schools]]
[[Category:Animated films set in schools]]
[[Category:Animated science fantasy films]]
[[Category:Animated science fantasy films]]
[[Category:Anime with original screenplays]]
[[Category:Anime films with original screenplays]]
[[Category:Films about child abuse]]
[[Category:Films about child abuse]]
[[Category:Films about domestic violence]]
[[Category:Films about domestic violence]]
Line 787: Line 451:
[[Category:Animated films based on Beauty and the Beast]]
[[Category:Animated films based on Beauty and the Beast]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mamoru Hosoda]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mamoru Hosoda]]
[[Category:Films set in Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Films set in Kōchi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Films set in Kōchi Prefecture]]
[[Category:IMAX films]]
[[Category:IMAX films]]
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[[Category:Japanese teen drama films]]
[[Category:Japanese teen drama films]]
[[Category:Middle school films]]
[[Category:Middle school films]]
[[Category:Nippon TV films]]
[[Category:Nippon Television films]]
[[Category:Science fiction musical films]]
[[Category:Science fiction musical films]]
[[Category:Teen musical films]]
[[Category:Teen musical films]]

Latest revision as of 18:10, 27 November 2024

Belle
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanji竜とそばかすの姫
Literal meaningThe Dragon and the Freckled Princess
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnRyū to Sobakasu no Hime
Directed byMamoru Hosoda
Written byMamoru Hosoda
Produced by
Starring
Edited byShigeru Nishiyama
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release dates
  • July 15, 2021 (2021-07-15) (Cannes)
  • July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16) (Japan)
Running time
121 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office$64.7 million[1]

Belle (竜とそばかすの姫, Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime, literally The Dragon and the Freckled Princess) is a 2021 Japanese animated science fantasy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. The story is inspired by the 1756 French fairytale Beauty and the Beast by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont as well as the 1991 Disney animated film.[2]

Belle premiered on July 15, 2021, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival,[3] where it was well received by critics with a standing ovation that lasted fourteen minutes.[4] The film was additionally dubbed into foreign languages (English, Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, German and Polish). It was released theatrically in Japan on July 16, 2021. Belle is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for ¥6.53 billion in box-office rankings as of December 12, 2021.[5][6]

Plot

[edit]

Suzu Naito is a third-year high school student living in the rural Kōchi Prefecture of Japan, with a lost passion for singing and songwriting. As a child, Suzu witnessed her mother rescue a girl from a flooding river at the cost of her own life and thus resents her for "abandoning" her for a stranger's child. Suzu remains in contact with a group of older choir teachers who were her mother's friends but is alienated from most of her classmates, except her childhood crush and self-appointed protector Shinobu Hisatake, popular girl Ruka Watanabe, sportsman Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami, and her genius best friend Hiroka "Hiro" Betsuyaku.

At Hiro's insistence, Suzu signs into the popular virtual world "U" and is appointed a beautiful avatar with freckles (through the AI engine's biometric analysis[7]), whom she names "Bell", the English translation of her own name. Upon logging in, she finds herself capable of singing again. With the assistance of Hiro, who appoints herself Bell's manager and producer, Bell becomes a hit on U's music charts, and people start referring to her as "Belle", meaning "beautiful" in French.

During one of Belle's concerts, an infamously strong and near-unbeatable user, "The Dragon" (or "The Beast"), arrives, fleeing from the Justices, a vigilante group led by the self-righteous Justin, who fight the Dragon and accuse him of disturbing the peace of U. Justin plans to unveil the Dragon's identity to the public using a specialized program mostly reserved for U's owners. Intrigued by the Dragon, Suzu begins to gather information about him. She discovers that he is popular amongst children, who consider him to be their hero. She meets the Dragon and his five guardians AIs. Belle and the Dragon grow close. In the real world, Ruka confides to Suzu that she has a crush on Kamishin. Suzu helps the two confess their feelings.

In U, Justin captures and interrogates Belle, threatening to unveil her identity to the world if she refuses to cooperate. The Dragon's AIs rescue Belle, but their intervention allows Justin and his group to locate the Dragon's castle and burn it down. The Dragon flees before Belle can find him. Suzu and Hiro work to find out the Dragon's real identity before Justin can and warn him. They find out the Dragon is a third-year junior high school student named Kei who is being physically and verbally abused by his father; Kei's protectiveness over his younger brother, Tomo is what gives the Dragon his unbeatable strength in U. Suzu contacts Kei offering help. Kei does not believe that she is Belle, and generally distrusts everyone who offers him help, since nobody has ever followed through. Shinobu, Ruka, Kamishin, and the choir teachers reveal their knowledge of Belle's true identity and urge Suzu to sing to gain Kei's trust. Suzu unveils herself to the world in the U and sings. Tomo convinces Kei to trust her and they try to contact her again. When Kei's father sees that evidence of his abuse has been posted online, he terminates their internet connection before Kei can tell Suzu their address.

Using context clues, Ruka and Kamishin deduce that Kei's hometown is Kawasaki, Kanagawa, near Tokyo. Since authorities cannot intervene on abuse charges until 48 hours have passed, Suzu locates Kei and Tomo on her own and protects them from their father. The next day, she and her father warmly greet each other at the station. Shinobu praises Suzu for her bravery and deciding she no longer needs his protection, finally feels free to pursue the relationship he has always wanted with her. Finally understanding her mother's selfless actions, Suzu makes peace with her death.

Voice cast

[edit]
Character Cast Summary
Japanese English[8]
Suzu Naito / Belle Kaho Nakamura[9] Kylie McNeill A third-year high school student who lost the will to sing after the death of her mother. She is known as Belle in U.
Kei / Dragon Takeru Satoh[10] Paul Castro Jr. A third-year middle school student who is being abused by his father. He is known as the beast in U.
Tomo / Angel HANA Bentley Griffin Kei's innocent and frail younger brother. He is known as the Angel in U.
Hiroka "Hiro-chan" Betsuyaku Lilas Ikuta Jessica DiCicco Suzu's best friend and manager of her identity as Belle.
Suzu's father Kōji Yakusho[11] Ben Lepley Suzu's widowed father whom she feels distant from.
Shinobu Hisatake Ryo Narita Manny Jacinto Suzu's crush since elementary school.
Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami Shota Sometani Brandon Engman Suzu's friend who has a passion for canoeing.
Ruka Watanabe Tina Tamashiro Hunter Schafer The popular girl in Suzu's class.
Justin Toshiyuki Morikawa Chace Crawford The leader of the Justices, a group of corps that are proclaiming themselves the unofficial protectors of justice and order within the virtual online space of "U".
Okumoto Fuyumi Sakamoto Ellyn Stern
Jellinek Kenjiro Tsuda Andrew Kishino
Swan Mami Koyama Noelle McGrath
Muitarō Hitokawa / Tokoraemaru Mamoru Miyano David Chen
Kita Michiko Shimizu Jessica Gee George
Yoshitani Ryoko Moriyama Barbara Goodson
Hatanaka Sachiyo Nakao Martha Harms
Nakai Yoshimi Iwasaki Wendee Lee
Suzu's mother Sumi Shimamoto[12] Julie Nathanson
Kei and Tomo's Father/Kakeshi Kun Ken Ishiguro Kiff VandenHeuvel
Peggie Sue ermhoi Cristina Vee

Production

[edit]

While Studio Chizu worked on the project, they had help from veteran Disney animator and character designer Jin Kim and Michael Camacho on the design of Belle and studio Cartoon Saloon for the background work of the world of U.[13][14]

Hosoda initially intended for Belle to be a musical, but considered the idea difficult due to Japan not having a culture of making musicals. However, he still wanted music to be central to the film, so he searched for a protagonist who could sing. He stated that he preferred the same person doing both speaking and singing voices to make it convincing and searched for a singer who could express their feelings through song and move people, even if they don't understand Japanese. He then found Kaho Nakamura, whom he considered relatively unknown, but a perfect choice for the role. Hosoda stated that Nakamura was also involved in writing lyrics, so she could feel the lyrics she was singing.[15]

Release

[edit]

GKIDS acquired North American distribution rights in June 2021, and released the film theatrically with a nationwide release date of January 14, 2022,[16] and previews in select IMAX theaters on January 12,[17] [18]

Sale rights to the film outside Japan were handled by French company Charades who pre-sold the rights internationally, including Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, Anime Limited in the UK,[19][20] Ireland and France (with Wild Bunch), and Koch Media in Italy and German-speaking territories. The deal size was due to the popularity of Japanese anime and the international status of Mamoru Hosoda.[21]

Music

[edit]
Main article: Belle (2021 soundtrack)

The music for the series was composed by Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, and Yuta Bandoh. The soundtrack album was released on August 18, 2021, by Ariola Japan.[22][23]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Belle is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for ¥6.53 billion in box-office rakings as of December 12, 2021.[5][6]

In the film's U.S. opening weekend it made $1.6 million from 1,326 theaters, and a total of $1.8 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Day holiday frame.[24][25] The film dropped out of the box office top ten in its second weekend with $570,213.[26] The film was released on May 17, 2022, on DVD & Blu-ray by GKids (through its distribution partner Shout! Factory).[27]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 129 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "A remarkable story brought to life with dazzling animation, Belle finds writer-director Mamoru Hosoda setting a brilliant new benchmark."[28] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[29] American audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film an 86% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.[30]

At the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, the film received a 14-minute-standing ovation.[31][32] Joe Morgenstern wrote for The Wall Street Journal that "There's too much plot for the film to manage, but its heart, and sumptuous art, are so firmly in the right place that its appeal comes through sweet and clear."[33] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times praised the visual quality, character development, worldbuilding, and called the film "unfailingly touching."[34] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times praised the visuals and story, writing "It’s a tale as old as time and as newfangled as TikTok, in which the virtual world, though packed with fantasy and artifice, can bring startling truths to the surface."[35]

Accolades

[edit]

The film has received five Annie Award nominations, including one for Best Independent Animated Feature. Its total makes it the second most nominations for a Japanese anime film ever at the awards, tied with Ghost in the Shell (1995), and behind Suzume (2022) and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sitges Film Festival October 6, 2021 Best Feature Belle Nominated [36]
[37]
Grand Honorary Award Mamoru Hosoda Won
Locarno Festival August 9, 2021 Locarno Festival Kids Award Belle, Mamoru Hosoda Won [38]
[39]
Animation Is Film Festival October 26, 2021 Special Jury Prize Belle Won [40]
Fancine2021 November 18, 2021 Best Feature Film Nominated [41]
[42]
Best Sound Design Won
Public's Choice Award For Best Feature Film Won
Gato Rabioso Award Won
Utopiales2021 November 30, 2021 Cinema International Feature Film Competition Jury Prize Won [43]
Detroit Film Critics Society December 6, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [44]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 15, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [45]
Audience Award Best Feature Won [46]
Hawaii International Film Festival December 3, 2021 Audience Award Best Feature Won [47]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards December 18, 2021 Best Animated Film Runner-up [48]
New Mexico Film Critics December 21, 2021 Best Animated Feature Runner-up [49]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 22, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [50]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle January 10, 2022 Best Animated Feature Nominated [51]
Austin Film Critics Association January 11, 2022 Best Animated Film Nominated [52]
Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance Kaho Nakamura Nominated
Crunchyroll Anime Awards February 9, 2022 Best Film Belle Nominated [53]
Gold Open February 23, 2022 Gold List Best Animation Feature Belle Honorable Mention[note 1] [54]
VFX-Japan Awards March 3, 2022 Excellence Award - Animated Theatrical Film Category Belle Won [55]
[56]
Japan Academy Film Prize March 11, 2022 Animation of the Year Belle Nominated [57]
Outstanding Achievement in Music Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, Yuta Bandoh Won
Annie Awards March 12, 2022 Best Animated Feature — Independent Belle Nominated [58]
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production Ryo Horibe, Yohei Shimozawa Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production Mamoru Hosoda Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Alice Dieudonné, Almu Redondo, Maria Pareja Nominated
Anifilm May 18, 2022 The Best Feature Film for Children Belle Won [59]
Cartoons on the Bay June 4, 2022 Best Writing Award Won [60]
Animafest Zagreb July 9, 2022 Best Animated Feature Nominated [61]
Uruguayan Film Critics Association December 16, 2022 Best Animated Feature Won [62]
Golden Tomatoes Award 2022 January 13, 2023 Best Animated Movies 6th place [63]
Best Foreign-Language Movies 9th place [64]
Best Wide Release Movies 13th place [65]

Cultural influence

[edit]

After the release of the film, Ochi, Kōchi in Kōchi Prefecture, which served as the prototype for filming, was certified by the Anime Tourism Association as one of the "88 Japanese Anime Mecca I Want to Visit".[66][67] The Kochi Prefectural Tourism Bureau plans movie sightseeing routes to attract tourists with movie locations.[68]

Belle was included in a high school art textbook released in Japan as a teaching example of animation production, and passed the audit of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in March 2023. This textbook will be used as a high school art textbook to be launched in 2024.[69][70][71]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tied with《Flee (film)》

References

[edit]
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