From Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children and Summer Wars, comes Belle, a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media. 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, this critically acclaimed animated film is hailed as a breathtaking adaptation of a fairytale classic.
Belle will be available on all major digital platforms on May 3, as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack May 17 and a Target-exclusive Steelbook edition May 17 from GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory. The Blu-ray + DVD and Steelbook editions also include a number of bonus features, including a conversation with director Hosoda, the featurettes The Making of Belle, The Music of Belle, Finding the Voice of Belle, Hosoda Draws Belle, Scene Breakdowns, and more!
Digital versions of the film will be available both in the original Japanese and as an English dub, and the Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and Steelbook editions will contain both Japanese and English versions. Belle boasts a star-studded English voice cast including Chace Crawford, Manny Jacinto, Kylie McNeill and Hunter Schafer.
Pre-orders are now open at ShoutFactory.com and GKIDS.com/store.
Synopsis: 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 the online persona of 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.
The film’s Japanese creative team worked with a roster of international talents: Character designer Jin Kim (Moana, Tangled, Frozen) designed Belle. Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells) contributed artwork for the various virtual fantasy worlds within the film. Up-and-coming British architect /designer Eric Wong designed the virtual world of “U.” Taisei Iwasaki (Blood Blockade Battlefront, Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo) composed original songs and score, led multiple composers and produced the film’s music. Other composers include the critically acclaimed Yuta Bandoh (Yuri on Ice) and BAFTA nominee Ludvig Forrsell (Death Stranding). The film’s main theme “U” was performed by Japanese act millennium parade, led by composer Daiki Tsuneta.
Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Bonus Features
- The Making of Belle*
- A Conversation with Director Mamoru Hosoda
- The Music of Belle
- Hosoda Draws Belle
- Scene Breakdowns
- Finding the Voice of Belle
- Mamoru Hosoda at Animation Is Film
- Design Gallery*
- Kylie McNeill Performs “Gales of Song”*
*Only available on the Blu-ray disc.
