Belle

Belle (Japanese: 竜とそばかすの姫, Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime, lit. "The Dragon and the Freckled Princess") is a 2021 Japanese animated science fantasy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. Inspired by the 1756 French fairytale Beauty and the Beast, it tells the story of Suzu Naito, a 17-year-old high school student living in Kochi Prefecture, who becomes the singing sensation Belle in the virtual world of "U". In "U", she can sing again and quickly gains fame. She encounters a mysterious dragon-like creature, leading them on an adventure. The film explores themes of online identity, the boundaries between reality and virtuality, and teenage psychological trauma. It premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim and has been released globally to widespread praise.