Mamoru Hosoda’s new film ‘Belle’ gets a release date: Everything to know

Mamoru Hosoda has long built worlds that feel both intimate and expansive, and Belle extended that signature approach into a sleek digital realm. The film centers on Suzu, a reserved high schooler living in rural Japan who reinvents herself inside the virtual platform U as the dazzling singer Belle. The latest trailer teased a striking visual palette and a Beauty and the Beast–style bond between Belle and a mysterious figure known as the Beast. Hosoda’s earlier films such as Mirai, Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and Summer Wars already demonstrated his knack for mixing heartfelt drama with inventive animation, and Belle promised more of the same.

Japanese animation studio behind Belle

Studio Chizu, the independent outfit Hosoda and producer Yuichiro Saito launched after leaving Madhouse, handled production. The studio was created so the pair could pursue the personal stories they wanted to tell, and it earned three Japan Academy Prizes for Animation of the Year along the way. Previous releases include Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast, and Mirai. Belle continued that award-winning streak and later led directly into the studio’s next project, Scarlet. The team again drew on an international roster of talent: Jin Kim, known for Disney’s Moana and Frozen, shaped the character design for Belle; Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart contributed fantasy-world artwork; British architect Eric Wong helped craft the look of U; and Ludvig Forssell, who scored Death Stranding, composed the music.

Belle’s North American release

GKIDS, the New York distributor that had already brought Mirai to U.S. theaters, secured North American rights. Japanese audiences saw the film on July 16, 2021, while the GKIDS rollout arrived January 14, 2022. Both the original Japanese version and an English dub screened theatrically, and the picture posted Hosoda’s strongest North American opening to date. The film ultimately became his highest-grossing release in the region at the time.

Box Office Performance

Belle finished its worldwide run with roughly $64.7 million. In Japan it ranked as the third-highest-grossing domestic title of 2021, earning ¥6.53 billion. Its North American debut cleared $1.5 million, the best opening weekend Hosoda had seen stateside, confirming the director’s growing audience beyond festival circles.

Awards and Recognition

The film earned an Annie Award nomination for Best Independent Animated Feature and was also nominated for the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year. It premiered to a standing ovation at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, an early sign that Hosoda’s blend of spectacle and emotional depth had connected with critics and industry peers alike.

Home Media and Streaming

GKIDS issued Belle on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD with an extensive set of bonus features, while Japanese distributors offered comparable collector editions. Both language versions remain available for digital purchase or rental, and the film streams on Max, giving new viewers easy access to the virtual concert sequences and Hosoda’s layered storytelling.

Hosoda's Subsequent Work

Hosoda returned to Studio Chizu for Scarlet, which opened in Japan in November 2025 and reached North American theaters in February 2026 through Sony Pictures Classics. The project continues the studio’s focus on character-driven fantasy while expanding Hosoda’s reach into new distribution partnerships. Belle remains a pivotal chapter in that ongoing trajectory, bridging the director’s earlier domestic successes with his current international profile.