GKIDS brings Oscar-Nominated Director Mamoru Hosoda & Studio Chizu’s “BELLE” to theaters nationwide on January 14, 2022.
Opens theatrically and on IMAX screens in both its original Japanese language and all-new English dubbed version on January 14, 2022, with exclusive IMAX previews in select markets beginning January 12, 2022.
GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award-nominated animated features will bring BELLE to cinemas nationwide starting January 14, 2022. BELLE, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda and Japan’s Studio Chizu, is an original story written and helmed by the celebrated director whose previous films include Mirai, The Boy, and the Beast, Wolf Children, Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and others. Hosoda is joined by a long-time producing partner and Studio Chizu co-founder Yuichiro Saito, as a producer on the title. GKIDS has also announced IMAX preview shows of the film to begin on January 12, 2022, in select markets, ahead of the film’s nationwide theatrical opening on January 14. Tickets for IMAX showings and select markets are on sale now at BelleFilm.com.
BELLE made its critically-acclaimed world debut at the Cannes Film Festival and its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival. GKIDS will release it theatrically in both its original Japanese language and a new English dubbed version and will qualify the film for 2021 awards consideration.
On BELLE, the Japanese creative team worked in collaboration with a roster of international talents. Character designer Jin Kim, the artist behind several iconic Disney features including Moana, Tangled, and Frozen, designed the titular Belle. Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells) also join the team, contributing artwork for the various virtual fantasy worlds within the film. Hosoda continues his film collaborations with architects, and is joined by up-and-coming British architect and designer Eric Wong, who designed the virtual world of “U.” Rounding out the team, composer Ludvig Forssell, best known for his collaborations with video game auteur Hideo Kojima (Death Stranding, Metal Gear Solid V), joined the score team for the film.
SYNOPSIS: From the celebrated Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars, and more, comes a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media. 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 her online persona as 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.
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