BELLE

Japan, 2021, 124 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Marmoru Hosoda.

Japanese animation, film and television as well as computer games, has constantly developed and become more popular over the decades. Studio Ghibli has been dominating in films. However, Belle comes from Studio Chizu, writer-director, Marmoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Boy and the Beast). His imagination is vast in both the narrative and the visuals of Belle.

As the title indicates, this is a variation on the Beauty and the Beast tale. And, it is very much a 21^st-century variation. Immediately, the audience is introduced to a cyber world, a cyber-universe, influence of such imaginations as The Matrix. While we live in the real world, very ordinary when it is finally shown, there is a technologically and structured universe, called U, where humans can create their avatars and live and enthuse vicariously in this U world via the avatars.

One of the popular celebrities of U is Belle, beautiful, like a princess, dignified, charming all the avatars with her singing. (And, by way of animation variation, there are all kinds of strange looking comic creatures as the avatars.)

In real life, Belle is a young girl from a village, Suzu, a sad girl, living with her father and the dread memories of how her loving mother plunged into icy waters to rescue a stranded little girl – and lost her life. Suzu is melancholic, goes to school and observes the successful students, is reluctant to participate in the activities of a group of women who are like guardian angels to her, a choir. She also has a young friend who is a computer nerd, always at her screen, controlling Belle.

The complication is when another avatar arrives, the Beast (resembling the Disney character). He is in conflict with Belle, all the avatars watching. In the meantime, there is a young friend from school days who is her protector, a rather comic character who is a kayak champion, and all of them want to help Suzu. Suzu is finally revealed as Belle, Suzu being without her avatar, singing as herself.

And the culmination of the film is Suzu’s mission, taking the courage to travel by train to Tokyo, search for and rescue two children bullied by their father, a boy with the avatar of the Beast, and Suzu trusted by him, becoming a true heroine, but in herself rather than depending on her avatar.

1. The reputation of Japanese animation? The director, his career, themes, visual style, action stories, myths?
2. The visuals of the animation, vast, bright, colourful, vistas, the U world and its visuals, the characters, within U? The contrast with real life, at home, school, the city, the neighbourhoods? The visit to Tokyo, the buildings, the streets?
3. The musical score, the range of songs? Illustrating Belle’s character and impact?
4. The premise of the story, the influence of such stories as the Matrix, the Internet world, the avatars, the visualising of the avatars on screens, their behaviour? Concealing and revealing the actual characters? The celebrity, Belle as a celebrity, her appearance, her manner, her presence, singing, the response of the avatars?
5. Suzu and her story, her devotion to her mother, at the water, the stranded child, her mother going into the water to save her, drowning, the child saved? Suzu and her memories, resentments towards her mother and the self-sacrifice? Growing up morose? With her father and his devotion? Her friend from the age of six and his wanting to protect her? The kayak champion and his awkwardness, friendship? The computer nerd, with her glasses, computers, friendship, creating Belle? Managing her? The girl with the band, playing the instrument, her friendship and support? The choir ladies and their invitation to susu, their being like guardian angels?
6. Suzu, her singing, reluctant in real life, happy as Belle? The fans, the effect on Suzu?
7. The encounter with the beast, the reworking of the Beauty and the Beast theme? Interactions, songs, the violence of the beast, the fall and his disappearance?
8. Suzu, her concern, the mystery of the Beast?
9. Suzu revealed as Belle, with the avatars, her singing, winning them over?
10. The quest, the friend and his protection, always present? The kayak champion and his contribution? The girls? The choir ladies?
11. At the computer, the bullying father, the children, his treatment, their trying to escape, pursuing them into the street? Suzu, the train, going to Tokyo, finding the buildings, seeing the children in the street, their mistrust, her confrontation with the father, staring him down, his backing away, the rescue of the children? The boy in black – and the avatar of the Beast?
12. Suzu, her achievement, self-acceptance, singing, with her friends, with the choir ladies?
13. Social media age variation on Beauty and the Beast?