by Mamoru Hosoda’s latest work, “Ryu to Soba Kasumi no Hime,” was released nationwide on January 14 (local time) under the English title of “Belle” about half a year after it was released in Japan, and ranked 6th in the box office for the first time.
“Ryu to Soba Kasumi no Hime” is an original feature-length animation depicting the growth of a girl named Tin in a virtual world of vast internet space. Voted by 187 critics and journalists worldwide, it ranked 42nd in the 2021 Best 50 Movies. In addition, he was nominated for the Best Feature Indie Film at the 49th Annie Awards, which is said to be the Academy Award for the anime world and has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and overseas.
The main character, Suzu / Bell, was played by Kaho Nakamura, who is active as a singer-songwriter, and sang songs in the play and wrote some lyrics. In the English dubbed version, Kylie McNeil is in charge of the role’s voice.
Tin, a 17-year-old high school girl, lost her mother in an accident when she was young and lived with her father in a rural town rich in nature in Kochi prefecture. Tin, who loved to sing with her mother, couldn’t sing because of her mother’s death, and she began to close her heart to the real world. However, one day, she was invited by her friend to participate in the virtual world “U,” where more than 5 billion people gather all over the world, and she is an avatar named “Bell” and “U.” Step into the world. Tin, who was able to sing naturally in her virtual world, became a focus of attention from all over the world as she performed her songs as her bell. In front of such a tin, a mysterious existence in the shape of a dragon, feared in the world of “U,” appears.
It was screened at about 1300 theaters nationwide, and the movie critic site “Rotten Tomatoes” recorded a high degree of satisfaction with 96% of critics and 94% of spectators (as of January 18). With a good reputation from the major US media, The New York Times chose this work as the “Critic’s Pick” to select excellent works, “Most of the developments in this story are familiar, all of which are familiar. It doesn’t always work well, but it’s still an unwavering impression.
” The Los Angeles Times called this work “a modern version of beauty and the Beast’reconstructed in the world of music and virtual,” and “despite the awkward and complicated story, Director Hosoda skillfully quiets and moves. I balanced it and made it a lesson in the end. “
