Belle

Eighth feature film by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film for 'Mirai'. Inspired by the 1756 fable tale 'Beauty and the Beast' by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, as well as the 1991 animated feature film 'Beauty and the Beast', directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise for Disney.

Suzu is a high school student who lives in Kôchi, a small town in Japan with her father. No one knows that she leads a double life in U, a virtual world where her avatar, Belle, is a renowned singer, world famous and whose songs are heard throughout this virtual world.

However, at one of her concerts, a mysterious and fearsome beast appears in U. This will completely affect Suzu and her alter ego, since both identities will come into conflict, which will mean that their lives will change forever, especially since Belle will seek find the beast, with whom he will establish a friendship that will transform into something much deeper. But the teenage girl will not be the only one looking for the beast, she will also be an avatar named Justin, who will seek to defeat him.

'Belle' had its premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 14-minute standing ovation. It was nominated for five Annie Awards, including a nomination for Best Independent Animated Film. The five nominations made it the most nominated Japanese film at these awards, beating 'Spirited Away', 'Millennium Actress' and 'Weathering with You'.