If you were looking for something to watch today, then look no further than Mamoru Hosoda’s Latest Film, Belle.
Belle was added to HBO Max earlier this morning. According to Hosoda, The film was inspired by the original Beauty and the Beast story written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756 and took cues from the 1991 Disney Animated Film.
The film has been lauded by critics around the globe following its premiere at the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival and nominated for five Annie Awards including Best Independent Feature.
According to Anime News Network, BELLE opened in Japan in July 2021. The film also had IMAX screenings in 38 theaters throughout Japan, which made BELLE the first of Hosoda’s films to have IMAX screenings. The film has earned a cumulative total of 6.53 billion yen (about US$56.9 million) as of December 12th. The film was Hosoda’s highest-grossing film. MX4D screenings for the film opened on October 22nd.
GKIDS began screening the film in English and in Japanese with English subtitles in the U.S. on January 14th. GKIDS and Shout! Factory then released the film on digital platforms on May 3rd and on Blu-ray discs on May 17th.
The movie was scheduled to premiere on Japanese Television on NTV, but due to the assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, it was moved to September 23rd.
“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.“
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