Belle (2021)
2021 • TMDB 7.6 • 2h 1m • Animation, Science Fiction, Drama, Music
Overview
Seventeen-year-old Suzu lives quietly in a rural Japanese town, still grieving the mother she lost as a child and unable to sing the songs she once loved. Everything changes when she logs into U, a virtual world shared by billions, and discovers that behind her avatar, Belle, her voice returns — powerful, luminous, and adored by millions. As Belle’s fame explodes across U, Suzu crosses paths with a mysterious, dragon-like figure known only as the Dragon, whose violent outbursts hide a painful secret. Drawn to him, she begins to confront her own wounds and the courage it takes to be seen as herself, online and off. Mamoru Hosoda directs a dazzling musical fantasy that pairs hand-drawn beauty with a soaring soundtrack, turning a modern fairy tale into a story about grief, connection, and finding your voice again.
Director & Cast
- Director: Mamoru Hosoda
- Kaho Nakamura as Suzu Naito / Belle (voice)
- Ryo Narita as Shinobu Hisatake (voice)
- Shota Sometani as Shinjiro ‘Kamishin’ Chikami (voice)
- Tina Tamashiro as Ruka Watanabe (voice)
- Lilas Ikuta as Hiroka ‘Hiro’ Betsuyaku (voice)
- Ryoko Moriyama as Yoshitani (voice)
- Michiko Shimizu as Kita (voice)
- Fuyumi Sakamoto as Okumoto (voice)
- Yoshimi Iwasaki as Nakai (voice)
Why Watch Belle?
Belle is Hosoda’s most visually spectacular film, a Beauty and the Beast for the social-media age that never loses sight of the lonely girl behind the avatar. Its songs are genuinely thrilling, its virtual world is jaw-dropping, and its emotional core — a teenager learning to sing again after loss — lands with real force. It is a rare blockbuster anime that is both a feast for the eyes and a story with something to say.
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer on YouTube: BELLE – Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu [Official Subtitled Teaser Trailer]
Where to Watch
Belle streams in the US on HBO Max and the HBO Max Amazon Channel, and with ads on Philo. It is also available to rent for $3.99 on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home, and to buy for $8.99 on Amazon Video, $12.99 on Fandango At Home, or $13.99 on Apple TV Store. Check current availability on JustWatch US.
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Poster: TMDB. Rating and runtime verified on TMDB. Streaming status checked on JustWatch US, October 29, 2026.
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