Studio Chizu(Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and Mirai) have graced audiences with stories of love, stemming from adoption and martial arts and love that transcends time and space, plus stunning audience members with with their boundless visuals. The very much anticipated movie, BELLE, adds another love story for us to enjoy; a love story that may be as profound as the edges of the digital world but grounded enough to bring to tremble the heart strings.
Everyday Suzu walks the same route to her high school from her home in the rural village. She walks a across the bridge overlooking the river, rides the mass transportation, and then back again, and nothing more. Ever since her mother’s passing, Suzu is unable to break her rigid shell around her. She cannot bring herself to talk to many people; not even her father. Suzu is so heartbreaking shy that cannot sing in the choir. All she could do is hang her hand and relive the painful memories of the past.
It is when she is invited to digital world of “U” that she finds a fresh restart under her online persona as Belle. As Belle, she is able to break free with her singing and soon becomes a mega digital star. One of her concerts, a mysterious persona known ominously as the Beast interrupts as it flees from the digital police force known as the Justice. Immediately Belle compassion for the Beast intertwines their fates together.
Her curiosity of Beast’s identity with the world of “U” quickly becomes a nail-biting chase to find the actual human behind the digital mask. For Beast is in trouble and Belle will do anything in her power to help, both in “U” and in reality.
BELLE is a scrumptious adventure that will satisfy the eyes and soul. Right from the start, the eyes ping pong between the calm rural village to a digital world of luminous palates and dimensions. As our eyes digest these visual morsels, the story weaves into very being. Just like the interface of an avatar, the movie is more than just a retelling of tale as old as time. Even within an infinite coded space, everyone is grounded by some variation of love, besides romantic love. Through these avatars, users are able to create or seek their own form of love. It could be the love of fame/infamy or even as simple as connecting to a soul. As Suzu/Belle navigates within “U”, her experiences help whittle the shell that she created for herself in reality until a pivotal moment reconnects to what is important to her.
Even under the grand adventure, viewers are still treated to sweet and comedic moments. Even in the short amount of time, we get to giddily enjoy the relationship connections. We also delightfully see is that Suzu is not as alone as she thinks she is. For waiting patiently in the shadows are those who care and worry about her. They are just giving her the space that she needs to heal. It all leads to a pretty profound moment so keep some tissues close by.
The movie cannot exist without it’s creative team but there the input of these two creators helped cement what made me giddy through out the movie: background art and costumes.
The visual structure of the world of “U” is created by London-based architect Eric Wong. The architectural background definitely explains the city-like landscape of the world. It’s a neat way to realize that the movie used the real life knowledge of an expert to create a fictional world that already seems familiar. When Belle and the other avatars enter the world, it appears to be organized like central hub of a great metropolis. There are appearances of tall connected structures that stretch in various axis but there is no end to them all. Eric Wong goes into more detail of his design in an interview with Deadline HERE.
What immediately connects viewers to the movie is the character designs. Especially the jaw-dropping designs for Belle. Belle dazzles in bellowing gowns of bursting flowers or prismatic dresses as she sings her heart to the world. The character designs were spearheaded by Jin Kim. Kim’s Disney background creates an aesthetic bridge that is universally familiar. But it is the gowns and accessories that give that wow factor x 3000, all of which will send a large number of cosplayers scurrying to create.
Before watching the film, I came in with an already biased perspective of much love and appreciation for the works from Studio Chizu. Each one has been so different but unified in their sense of connection. There was that worry that Belle may fall short. Did it strive too much with the “Beauty and the Beast” retelling? No. It strove way beyond just a movie retelling a story. Studio Chizu looked deep at that folktale and created it’s own of a folktale. A tale of one person who started off feeling so small and no voice and how they grew to a heartwarming character that we all knew that they would become. Because they already are that awesome.
All in a all, this an absolute must watch. In theaters, at home, watch Belle. Studio Chizu delivers another great masterpiece and it must be experienced.
“I want to encourage the children of the world, to celebrate their future, for they will
carry the future on their shoulders in an ever-changing society.”- Mamoru Hosada (Director)
Select IMAX Preview screenings start January 12, 2022. Nationwide theatrical release on January 14, 2022.
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About STUDIO CHIZU
STUDIO CHIZU was established in April 2011 by director Mamoru Hosoda and producer Yuichiro Saito as a new base for filmmaking. Studio Chizu is a studio specializing in the planning and production of animated films, and the name of the studio reflects the spirit of filmmaking: “to challenge new motifs, themes, and expressions, and to create a new map in the land of animated films, where there are still infinite possibilities. For children and their families around the world, we want to continue to be a “challenger” to create new values and a future for this era.
