First, I should note that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale and Mamoru Hosoda is one of my favorite directors (Wolf Children is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen). Summer Wars is another one of his, as is The Boy and the Beast. The man is a visionary and Belle is the best of everything he’s ever done.

Set between the physical realm and an artificial reality where a person can be anything and anyone they want to be, 17-year-old Suzu Naito has lost her desire to sing after losing her mother in a tragic accident, that Suzu witnessed. At the behest of her best friend Hiro, Suzu joins “U” the alternate reality where her avatar “Belle” becomes a popular idol. During her digital adventures, she meets “The Beast” a user who has caused problems for the net police. It’s later discovered that “The Beast” is actually a middle school student, Kei, who is being abused by his father. It’s a beautifully crafted story with an incredible soundtrack featuring Kylie McNeill as Suzu / Belle.

I loved this film so much that I purchased the Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from Amazon, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Artwork: Housed in a sturdy, beautifully painted outer box, the inner cover (also exquisitely printed) folds out to reveal three discs, which also continue full artwork. The set also comes with stickers, a 60-page art book, and a poster – all of which are absolutely stunning. 

Specs: In addition to the 124-minute feature (in glorious 4k and 1080), Again the OST and score of this anime is phenomenal. Special features include a “Making Of”, a Conversation With Director Mamoru Hosoda, the Music of Belle, and much more! Honestly, with a price tag under $50, it’s a beautiful film to add to anyone’s anime collection. 

More reviews coming soon so…

Stay Tuned!