Talented anime director Mamoru Hosoda, the brilliant mind behind Summer Wars, The Boy and the Beast and Mirai is back with another feature-length film, Belle (Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime). The film is currently set to open in Japanese theaters this Summer. A new poster for the project has also been released.
Not much is known about the project at this time but the 30 second teaser is definitely sending up strong Beauty and the Beast vibes. However, that's just our best guess, expect more details to be released (including an official synopsis) in the coming weeks.
Hosada is directing the pic at his own studio, Studio Chizu, which he cofounded with Yūichirō Saitō in 2011. Studio Chizu reportedly hinted earlier this year that the film would deal with our increasing reliance on online and virtual landscapes. The film will be Hosada's first project since his universally praised directorial effort on Mirai (2018), which was nominated for a Golden Globe, Academy Award, and the Japan Academy Prize.
Belle will also mark the third straight film that Hosada has written himself. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009) and Wolf Children (2012) were all written or co-written by Satoko Okudera. The Boy and The Beast (2015) and Mirai were written solely by Hosada. There's strong debate among seinen film enthusiasts that Hosada's best works are his collaborative projects with Okudera. However, there's no denying that he's achieved more critical acclaim and awards from the projects that he directed and wrote himself.
Keep it locked to AnimeMojo for our continue coverage on Belle as we await the release of an official synopsis and release date.