Mamoru Hosoda has directed and animated some of the best anime films ever – The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Mirai just to name a few. His latest film, Belle, has been extolled by fans of his work ever since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Belle is a futuristic take on the classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, and is a visual spectacle, to say the least. The distribution company, GKIDS, has uploaded the English-dubbed trailer and opening scene online.
The film is set in a future where people have access to a fully realised virtual reality or metaverse, hence the characters have to navigate the idea of dual identities that are both substantial parts of their lives. Thus, it touches on highly relevant and prescient sci-fi themes. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a wild ride.
Belle is set to be released in US theatres on 14 January with IMAX previews starting on 12 January.
Brandon shapeshifts between being a nerd and a geek like Mystique, but with fewer options. He reads an unhealthy amount of comics and manga, while playing a healthy amount of board games and video games.
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