Belle by Mamoru Hosoda Premieres at Cannes 2021

Belle, the animation film by the Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda will be presented in world premiere during the 74th Festival de Cannes in the Cannes Premiere section. Following Wolf Children (2012), The Boy and the Beast (2015), and Mirai (2018), it is the first official Selection for Mamoru Hosoda.

Produced by Studio Chizu (now celebrating its 10th anniversary),  Mamoru Hosoda explores again the subject of virtual worlds.

Suzu is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U,” a virtual world of 5 billion members on the Internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest to become who they truly are - Film Synopsis

Watch Belle trailer

Belle is the film that I’ve always dreamt to create, and that I can make today thanks to the culmination of my previous films. In this one, I explore romance, action, and suspense as well as deeper themes such as life and death. I hope that it will be a big entertaining show - Mamoru Hosoda

Belle is the third animation feature presented this year at the Festival after Ari Folman’s Where is Anne Frank and The Summit of the Gods by Patrick Imbert. Belle will be screened on Thursday, July 15th at the Festival de Cannes.

The film will be released in French cinemas on December, 29th 2021. GKIDS handles the North American rights for the film. International Sales by Charades.