Belle Is Like No Anime You’ve Ever Seen

*SPOILER FREE* Belle, the new anime film from Mamoru Hosoda, dropped in US theaters today. And ho boy, are you in for something. Here is my reaction and detailed review. Call it an analysis if you want friends :)

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[MinjaBear]

Some say that the relationship between suzu and the beast is really underdeveloped and it doesn’t make sense why she cared for him but I feel like it was about understanding why her mother sacrificed her life to save a stranger.
She didn’t know the beast, but she saw someone in need of help.

[Vylias-]

My only complaint about the film is the ending feels a bit unresolved on how things are left for you to imply on what happens to Dragon/Beast and his brother.

[grimmer]

I just came back from the movie theater after watching this film. This is the first anime film I watched in the theater and let me tell you it was such a beautiful experience. I’m really glad to have watched this movie.

[spacekid]

Throughout the movie I was asking myself, "Is this a romance?" "is this a coming of age story?" It was all over the place. Nothing stuck. Still, I enjoyed it.

[saljpal]

The visualization and music was truly stunning, my only complaint is that they didn't give enough character development to the other characters besides Suzu.

[VerchielxKanda]

My one complaint about the movie is that we didn't get to see what Peggy-Sue really looked like after she saw Belle as Suzu and said "She's just a normal girl. Just like me."

[republicgamer]

I just watched it tonight and I can say that every he said was true, I can confirm everyone was dead silence and was crying near the end of the movie

[shonenbag]

The film isn't well written intellectually.
However that doesn't matter. It hits on an emotional level. It works. I've never lost a parent, I've never been a high school girl in Japan, I've never gone viral, but I had so much empathy for Suzu for exactly 2 hours. I cried because I was so moved.
Belle is proof of the power of art on an emotional level.

[TravelingKeeper]

One of my favorite parts of Belle. Was when she finished sing "Gale of Songs" and the next day when it took off and she started to get a ton of followers. It showed you the different covers of the song people were creating of it. From Techno, to Rock, to Jazz, to R&B. It was really cool seeing how quick she was getting recognized. I also want a soundtrack of all the different versions of that song. Lol

[spiderdude]

I feel like this movie also fell victim to a REALLY aggressive marketing campaign. It kinda set it up as something it's not. But like...if you go into it without any preconceived notions of what kind of experience it was shown as is the best way to approach viewing this film. It's a really special experience.

[castlegarden]

Belle is by no means a musical in the traditional narrative sense, since every single song is very literal and happens within the world of the story.

BUT it's better at using music to push the story forward than movie musicals like La La Land or Greatest Showman. The music manages to actually convey Suzu's thoughts and feelings and doesn't bring the story to a screeching halt.

[moriodagiri]

The point of Suzu caring for the AKA dragon, someone she barely knows. Led her to understand the action her mother took back when she was a kid.

[kimmirandaart]

I cried three times watching this movie, I could even hear people sniffling in the row behind me! Gorgeous art and gorgeous music!

[Em-bepl]

BELLE WAS INCREDIBLE. I saw it in the theatre and the art and story was so beautiful. At first, I thought it was going to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling, based on the fact Suzu named her avatar Belle and the story with her and the Beast.
But it was SO much more than that. It was so beautiful and the english dub vocals were HEAVENLY. It was a tear jerker for sure and it was such a good story

[rafelt]

One word to describe this movie is "beautiful"

I cried the moment "A Million Miles Away" starts playing, it's so powerful... It's really a beautiful movie worth your time to watch...

Even though I kinda disappointed in the ending because it kinda left a little bit of details to me...

[LizChanFish]

(Possible spoilers just in case)
I'm definitely on board with the entirety being a beautiful experience. The music and animation were really engaging and is what kept me from not looking away to multitask for once.

Although, there were so many little things that were left unsaid or unclear, to the point where I would've preferred another half to whole hour to truly round off everything that was presented.

(And why did they make an exact replica of the Beast yelling at Belle to leave scene...? Kind of took me out of the moment since it was boarded/staged the same way as the Disney version.)

[bioanim]

I just got back from the theater and while the plot wasn't my favorite, the sound and animation were absolutely worth it. I want to go see it a second time since the theater I went to was rather small. But the vocals and combo of 2D and 3D animation is seriously breathtaking. I really wish they didn't go through with the beauty and the beast plot and more focused on suzu finding confidence and building relationships after her loss. It's sad that this is rumored to be Hosoda's last movie, I would like to see what else he comes out with

[madi]

No one was moving after the film ended, we all just sat there and continued to absorb what we had just watched. I MUST see this again.

[melissaq]

This director is something else. Its a great movie and wonderfully directed. Also Studio Chizu never fails to amaze with its mix of animation and CGI tech

[jakeryan]

The singing was great! The whole hidden internet celebrity thing was great! The comedy between her high school friends and the romance was great....On the flip side the beast and his subplot was TERRIBLE and completely out of place. The film could have removed his entire arc, and character and it would have only slightly changed the plot and it would have been better off. "Spoiler"...

What father in his right mind would allow his high school age daughter to go across the country and confront an abusive man of an unknown family?! Well Suzu's nonexistent dad does just that after receiving only a couple text messages from her. That subplot also ends is the stupidest way. The angry dad gets scared away, the girl hugs the boys, and suddenly everything is resolved? !! The VERY next scene she is back at home and they all go walking along the river. The End...it made no sense.