After a little delay, the deluxe edition of Mamoru Hosada’s enchanting Belle is finally here. So, today is a bit of a treat. Not only do we have the wondeful collectors edition in our possession, we also had the chance to talk to one of the minds that made the virtual reality world of “U” a beautiful reality. However, there’s a slight twist. While Belle delved deep into the technological advancements surrounding “U”, my technology at home betrayed me. I had the amazing opportunity of talking to Architect Eric Wong, who created “U”, about the process behind such an endeavour. It was an absolute treat… Unfortunately, the footage was lost. More on that later. But for now, lets focus on the positives and dive into Hosoda’s Belle.
Being presented in a stunning (and rather large) box, the deluxe edition features a lovely cover of Belle and the Beast. What’s inside is even more impressive though. Inside, you’ll find an A3 poster of the film which will definitely be going on my wall. This particular edition came with both the 4K edition and blu ray edtion. Now, when I saw it in cinema I was already blown away by the overall look of Belle, but I simply wasn’t prepared for the 4K version. It is absolutely fantastic. “U” is already a rich and vibrant oasis, but the details really pop in Ultra-High-Definition.
One of the treasures that I was patiently waiting for in this boxset, issue 654 out of 3000, was the soundtrack. Belle‘s soundtrack is utterly brilliant. I’ve had the priviledge of watching both sub and dub, and honestly, it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite. The songs are just enchanting and the two versions translate so well. “A Million Miles Away” is probably my favourite song in the entire film, and it wasn’t an easy choice either. But there’s something about that entire scene where Suzu is unmasked in front of everyone that gives me goosebumps. I’ve watch Belle four times now, and I still have the same reaction. Being able to just sit down and listen to the soundtrack in its entirety without any interruptions was magical. It’s a very powerful soundtrack that is further empowered by the voices of both Nakamura Kaho and Kylie McNeill.
What? There’s more? Yes, this edition is absolutely stacked. There are also 16 double-sided art cards and a 60 paged booklet that provides some interesting and insightful interviews from the cast and crew. Just getting a glimpse at the work and combined effort that went into making Belle really changed my perspective on things. There’s this extra layer of appreciation which really added to the experience of rewatching Belle– despite having watched it three times already. It felt like a new experience where I was able to spot new things, and the songs became attached by a newfound meaning.
Here is a full breakdown of what’s on each additional disc. There’s enough to keep you entertained for hours and I loved every moment of it all…
Bonus Blu-ray disc 1 – contains:
– The Making Of BELLE
– Interviews with director Mamoru Hosoda
– Interview with Kaho Nakamura and Takeru Satoh
– Interview with Kaho Nakamura and Lilas Ikuta
– Even more interviews with Mamoru Hosoda, Kaho Nakamura and Daiki Tsuneta
– Voice Recordings – Behind the Scenes
– Collection of Stage Greetings
– Collection of Cast Interviews
– Takeru Satoh talks about the charm of BELLE
Bonus Blu-ray disc 2 – contains:
– A conversation with Mamoru Hosoda
– Interview with BELLE composer Taisei Iwasaki
– BAFTA interview with director Mamoru Hosoda
– Interview with director Mamoru Hosoda and designer Eric Wong
– Design Gallery
– Finding the voice of Belle
– Hosoda draws Belle
– Kylie McNeill sings “Gales of Song”
– The Music of BELLE
– Scene breakdown – Ballroom
– Scene breakdown – Train station
– Trailers
My love and appreciarion for Belle increased after my chat with Eric Wong. Before Mamoru Hosoda selected Eric Wong to design “U”, Eric was working a full-time job as an architect. However, that wasn’t going to stop him from working with one of his favourite anime directors. Quite the opposite, actually. On top of his full-time job, Eric spent his nights designing the industrialised and vast virtual city. Wong based the overall concept on a tessellating metropolis, a landscape full of repeating patterns and structures that could combine and fit together. What’s fascinating about this is that Wong had to design each individual piece in order for it all to fit together.
Hard work and immense care was poured into each geometric element of “U”. Whether it was the size and shape of the moon, the idea of whales being present, or the shape of the castle. Everything had a reason and a purpose. What’s even more baffling is that Wong had to build “U” based on just a few key words given to him by the director. Basing his design on the imagery associated with a harp, “U” became a construct of straight lines, much like the strings of a harp. Isn’t that brilliant? Eric was kind enough to show me some of his early drawings and creations, and I was in absolute awe.
We spoke for just under 40 minutes and I wish I could share the footage with you. Wong spoke with such an awareness, whereby he acknowledged that every aspect was important, and each corner of “U” would help establish it as a legitimate and authentic world. So, everything had to have meaning. Virtual worlds are an interesting thing, especially since there are so many in popular culture… The Oasis, Oz, and now “U”. What separates Belle‘s fictional world is that rather than being “just a background”, “U” felt very much like a character in its own way. It was given just as much thought as the wonderful characters that populated the film, and was given a sort-of autonomy that allowed the world to exist without exposition and explanation. Wong worked on “U” for months and I think it’s safe to say that his hard work paid off.
I’ll treasure our discussion, despite it being lost in the aether, and I know that each time I watch Belle, and believe me there will be more viewings, I’ll be looking out for brand new details.
Belle is available right now on DVD and Blu-Ray. You can pick up an exclusive Blu-Ray at HMV which comes with a beautiful alternative cover art, or you can join our ranks and be a proud owner of the deluxe edition.
