The movie no one watched, But You should
- Evan Roberts
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
You may know these movies by Mamoru Hosoda.
They have all been well received in the world of anime. There is another movie by Hosoda that got a raw deal. Even though it was watched and enjoyed by many, and the critics gave it an "ok" rating, it didn't receive the fanfare it probably should've. This movie, Belle, was essentially the anime version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
In Belle, "Beauty" is Suzu, a young girl with a love for music. After her mother is tragically killed rescuing someone from a tsunami, Suzu loses her ability to sing and becomes a recluse. She escapes into the digital world of U as an avatar with a beautiful voice and becomes a popular icon in the U music world.
The "Beast", also known as Dragon, is a brute who is mad at the world and takes his anger out on everyone. Belle encounters him while Dragon is being chased by the police at one of her concerts. She is intrigued by him and appalled by the wounds on his back. She decides to learn more about him so she can find him help. I could go into more details, but I prefer to stay out of spoiler land and have you watch the movie.
The film, a blend of 2D and 3D styles of animation, is animated by Studio Chizu, which is known for working alongside Mamoru on a multitude of other projects. Many of the film's fans and critics gave both studios great ratings. This doesn't happen very often, so you know it's got to be good animation. But, don't just take my word for it, take a moment to watch a short clip of Belle's animation.
One can't review Belle without mentioning the soundtrack. It is one of the main reasons a person should be going to see this film-it's a musical! The soundtrack is composed by three composers, not one or two. This doesn't happen very often, so right from the get-go, you know it should be interesting. Composers Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, and Yuta Bandoh bring Belle to life with an electro-pop orchestral mix. There is no doubt you will find one or more songs to like. The songs are sung by Belle herself, Kylie McNeill, who actually jumpstarted her singer career with this musical. But, just like in the animation and art department, don't just take my word for it. Take a listen to a little snippet of the music score.
Belle, anime's answer to Disney's Beauty and The Beast, is delightfully animated and has a beautiful music score. It is my opinion that it didn't receive the fanfare that it should've. I hope that after viewing the video clips and listening to a clip of Belle singing, you will consider checking it out to see what you think. You can find it streaming on HBO Max or rent or buy it on Google Play, Apple TV, and Fandango. I really think you will enjoy it!
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