From the mind that brought you the award-winning films Mirai and Wolf Children, Mamoru Hosoda plans to bring another hit with his upcoming Belle anime movie. It was recently announced more actors have been added to the cast.
As revealed on the official Belle website (via Funimation), five more actors will be providing their voices to the upcoming film. This includes Sachio Nakao as Hatanaka, Fuyumi Sakamoto as Okumoto, Yoshimi Iwasaki as Nakai, Ryoko Moriyama as Yoshitani, and Michiko Shimizu as Kita. The five characters make up the choir team that looks after Belle’s protagonist, Suzu.
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While the voice actors for the movie’s main characters, Suzu and Ryu, have yet to be revealed, a pretty large portion of Belle‘s cast has been announced. Here is the cast so far:
- Ryo Narita as Shinobu Hisatake
- Shota Sometani as Shinjiro Chikami
- Tina Tamashiro as Ruka Watanabe
- Rina Izuta as Hiroka Betsuyaku
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Justian
- Mamoru Miyano as Muitaro Hitokawa / Tokoraemaru
- Mami Koyama as Swan
- Kenjiro Tsuda as Jelinek
- Sachio Nakao as Hatanaka
- Fuyumi Sakamoto as Okumoto
- Yoshimi Iwasaki as Nakai
- Ryoko Moriyama as Yoshitani
- Michiko Shimizu as Kita
Belle: Ryu to Sobakasu no Hime is written and directed by Hosoda. The film’s crew also includes character designer Jin Kim (Frozen, Moana, Big Hero 6), as well as directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart of Cartoon Saloon (Wolfwalkers). It will be produced by Studio Chizu.
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Similar to some of Hosoda’s previous works, like Summer Wars or Digimon, it will explore humanity’s relationship with a virtual world. Studio Chizu says it is “…a tale of hope and courage that will be an inspiration for everyone around the world.”
Belle is scheduled for a July 16 release in Japan.
