One of the most anticipated anime movies of 2021 has got to be the latest venture from Mamoru Hosoda, Belle. Set to premiere in Japan next month, fans have been anxiously awaiting any update regarding when those of us in North America would get to watch the movie in theaters or at home. Well, wait no longer. GKIDS is here to rescue us all!
In a brand new trailer released by the distributor, not only did they announce that they have licensed the movie for North America, but they will also release it this winter, intending to get it nominated for awards. Good luck to them!
The movie will tell the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in rural Japan. One day, she joins the online community “U”, where literally billions of people around the world gather. She soon becomes one of the most popular singers in the virtual world. In a statement to Variety made back when the first promotional video was released in February 2021, Hosoda stated that this is the movie that he’s always wanted to make and he’s only able to make this movie because of the “culmination of my past works.”
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this movie is that the lead character Suzu/Belle will be played by singer-songwriter Kaho Nakamura who has absolutely zero previous experience within the anime industry. She got the role at the insistence of director Hosoda.
Other, previously announced, cast members include (character names first):
Shinobu Hisatake: Ryo Narita — the childhood best friend of the main character Suzu
Shinjiro Chikami: Shota Sometani — the only member of the school’s canoeing team
Ruka Watanabe: Tina Tamashiro — A seemingly perfect girl who attracts attention
Hiroka Betsuyaku: Rira Ikuta — Belle’s “producer” and the one who introduces Suzu to the online world “U”
I have to admit that while I can say that I am more than a little experienced with anime television series; I haven’t watched a ton of anime movies which include the works of Hosoda and other directors who became uber-famous within the last decade. Belle looks like it will be an amazingly fantastical ride, however, so I’m excited to check this one out once it hits theaters in North America this winter.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Crunchyroll News
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