Belle

Synopsis

U is a massively popular social media platform where users can craft a new digital identity and start fresh. Among its five billion users, a newcomer named Belle is drawing significant attention for her enchanting singing voice, gradually winning over the hearts of many listeners. Yet, in this world where everyone hides their true selves behind virtual personas, curiosity grows about the real identity of this mysterious girl. A shy country girl, Suzu Naitou, has lost the ability to sing due to a past trauma; every attempt leads to a breakdown and makes her sick. But when Suzu joins U, she regains her voice. Using the alias Belle, her singing quickly rises to fame, earning both adoration and hostility. Meanwhile, rumors circulate in U about a chaotic monster known as Dragon. After an unexpected encounter at a concert, Belle realizes he is not as evil as the legends claim. Now, both online and in real life, Suzu must face the challenges of identity, fame, and opening her heart.

Background

Inspired by the 1756 French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on July 15, 2021 and was received with a standing ovation of 14 minutes. It was the third highest-grossing movie at the Japanese box office in 2021, earning 6.53 billion yen as of December 12, 2021. Belle was drawn by Jin Kim, the character designer of popular Disney productions such as Tangled and Frozen. Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime had five nominations at the 49th Annie Awards, including one for Best Independent Animated Feature, making it the Japanese anime film with the most nominations ever received in the history of these awards. A novel adaptation was issued by Kadokawa Bunko on June 12, 2021.