Belle, the fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media from the acclaimed Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu (Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars), will be celebrated with a deluxe 4K release, coming August 30 from GKIDS with distribution by Shout! Factory.
A three-disc set, Belle Collector’s Edition will include the film in UHD + Blu-ray, available both in the original Japanese and with an English dub, with a bonus disc of exciting new special features — all wrapped up in beautiful deluxe packaging.
The extensive bonus features on Belle Collector’s Edition include those from the Blu-ray release, as well as several new captivating offerings, such as new special dialogues with cast, a new interview with Takeru Satoh, a new Eric Wong interview, and more.
The release is available to pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and GKIDS.com/store.
On Belle, the Japanese creative team worked in collaboration with a roster of international talents. Character designer Jin Kim (Moana, Tangled, Frozen) designed the titular 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. And up-and-coming British architect and designer Eric Wong designed the virtual world of “U.”
Taisei Iwasaki (Blood Blockade Battlefront., Studio Ghibli’s Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo) along with composing original songs and score, led multiple composers and produced the film’s music entirely. Other composers include the critically acclaimed Yuta Bandoh (Yuri on Ice) and BAFTA nominee Ludvig Forrsell (Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding). The film’s main theme “U” was performed by groundbreaking Japanese act millennium parade, led by the composer of the song, Daiki Tsuneta.
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.
Belle boasts a star-studded English voice cast including Chace Crawford, Manny Jacinto, Kylie McNeill and Hunter Schafer.
Lauded by critics around the globe following its world premiere at the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival, and North American premiere at the 59th Annual New York Film Festival, this stunningly animated film is a breathtaking adaptation of a tale as old as time that was nominated for five Annie Awards including Best Independent Feature.
Belle Collector’s Edition bonus features:
- NEW Behind the Japanese Dub
- NEW Promo Events with Hosoda and Cast
- NEW Special Dialogues with Cast (Kaho Nakamura, Takeru Satoh, Lilas Ikuta)
- NEW Interview with Takeru Satoh
- NEW Eric Wong Interview
- The Making of Belle
- A Conversation with Director Mamoru Hosoda
- The Music of Belle
- Hosoda Draws Belle
- Finding the Voice of Belle
- Scene Breakdowns
- Mamoru Hosoda at Animation Is Film
- Design Gallery
- Kylie McNeill Performs “Gales of Song”
- Trailers
Belle was released on all major digital platforms on May 3, and as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and in a Target-exclusive Steelbook edition May 17. (More info here.)
