Belle (2021 film)

Belle is a 2021 Japanese animated musical science fantasy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu.

Belle is a 2021 Japanese animated musical science fantasy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. It follows high school student Suzu Naito, who enters a virtual world called U and becomes the singer Belle while trying to understand a mysterious figure known as the Dragon. The film is inspired by Beauty and the Beast and was released in Japan in 2021 and internationally in 2022.

Plot

Belle follows Suzu Naito, a teenage girl coping with grief and social isolation who discovers a virtual world called U. There she becomes Belle, a singing avatar whose rise to fame leads her into contact with the Dragon, a mysterious and troubled user.

Production

The film was written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. It is a Japanese animated feature loosely inspired by the Beauty and the Beast tradition.

Release

Belle premiered in Japan in 2021 and was released internationally in 2022. Coverage and streaming listings show availability through major digital and subscription platforms, though availability varies by region and time.

English-language cast

The English dub features Kylie McNeill as Suzu/Belle, with Paul Castro Jr., Manny Jacinto, Nathaniel Franceshu, Chace Crawford, Julia Kaye, and others in supporting roles.