Original title: Ryû to sobakasu no hime

Suzu is a shy 17-year-old high school student living closed off in a mountain village with her father. But when she enters "U", a virtual world, she becomes Belle, a world-famous singer with over 5 billion followers. Timid Suzu finds this double life difficult. Soon she meets a mysterious creature – both fascinating and frightening. Together, they embark on an adventure which brings Belle to find who she really is.

"Exuding gentle humanity and a sense of wonder that characterize animation master Hosoda's oeuvre, Belle taps into contemporary issues of bullying and adolescent angst, short-circuiting them within the digital realm. A visual and musical splendor, Hosoda's latest work is an unforgettable big-screen experience, where Disney's Beauty and the Beast is filtered through Hosoda's anime-spectacular vision. Belle is a testament to the power of kindness, empathy and imagination, in creating a better, more authentic version of ourselves – virtual or IRL." (Andrei Tănăsescu)

Director's biography:

Mamoru Hosoda (b. 1967, Japan) started his career as animator for Toei Animation company. He debuted as a director in 1999 with cult animation film Digimon Adventures. His international recognition came in 2018 with Mirai ("Kino Pavasaris"), which premiered in Director's Fortnight in Cannes, and was nominated for Best Animated Film category in Oscars.