Geek Culture
What We Love About Mamoru Hosada’s Belle Movie

Mamoru Hosoda’s new film, Belle, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on July 15th, 2021. It was a last-minute rush addition and was announced less than two weeks before its debut. At the festival, Hosoda received a 14-minute standing ovation due to its excellence.
When we first saw Belle, we were moved to tears. It was easy to see why the Film Festival audience was so impressed with it. The question is, what makes Belle so special?
A Film Set in the Present Internet Age
The story follows the heroine Suzu, who starts as a shy high school student. She becomes a participant in the online social media platform called “U” with billions of users. When Suzu becomes one of the most popular avatars on “U,” she meets a violent dragon avatar.
The film straddles with the imaginary and backdrop of the Internet to explore the process of overcoming one’s own demons. Through the story, Suzu finds inner strength and makes the best out of the scary real world, and comes to grips with how the Internet fits in her life.
Her Incredible Flowered Idol Dress
To everyone’s surprise, including hers, Suzu’s avatar becomes a sensation practically overnight with millions of followers. In one of her most beautiful sequences, she’s shown in a floor-length, red gown that’s adorned in red roses, lotuses, and gerbera daisies that float off of her.
As the dress morphs as she sings, the experience can only be described as “magical.” It’s hard to resist the urge to run out of the house and buy flowers just to mimic this part of the movie. If you’re interested in doing so yourself, purchase some from Bouqs discount flower selection.
A Remix on the Beauty and the Beast
The 18th-century French novel La Belle et la Bete (Beauty and the Beast) is effortlessly retold in a modern setting. It’s easy to see the parallels between the character literally named Belle as a stand-in for Belle and the dragon avatar shunned by online society as the Beast.
Mamoru Hosada himself stated that the Disney film “Beauty and the Beast” actually revitalized him and gave him the encouragement he needed to get back into animation. It’s likely that if he hadn’t seen that film, we wouldn’t have Belle, Digimon: The Movie, and Summer Wars.
Stunning Detail Found All Over
The world of “U” is a total feast for the eyes. There are so many screenshots that feature Belle staring across the Internet scape filled with chat balloons and technicolor. Viewers are immediately taken aback by the animation and the quality of the music and voice actors.
Music plays a significant part in Belle, who’s voiced by singer-songwriter Kaho Nakamura. The main theme, “Millenium Parade,” is so incredibly catchy it garnered 2.1 million views 3 days after its official release. The entire voice cast is stellar and brings their A-game throughout.
Technique From a Creative Veteran
Mamoru Hosada has an animation technique that’s immediately recognizable by fans. His 2D design uses cel-shading, which has an absence of shadows. What it does lack in shading, it makes up for bright colors. Over the years, Hosada has added CGI to his repertoire.
Hosada doesn’t follow trends and tries to break the mold where he can. In Belle, he marries hand-drawn 2D with CGI, motion capture, and a bunch of other techniques to create this unique, creative style. The final effect elicits warm, nostalgic feelings no longer found in western films.
Geek Culture
Eternights Takes Advantage of the Apocalypse on PS5, PS4

Eternights, a post-apocalyptic dating and action game, features dangerous Infected. In a new trailer, we saw the intriguing mix of scavenging and dungeons.
Combat and dating look decent. While trite, there is a Persona-esque time management element, with players never having enough time to do everything. Minigames can provide powerful battle bonuses.
Eternights, your thoughts? Do you like dating and demons?
Gaming
Friday the 13th PS Store Axes Game

Friday the 13th The Game’s license expires on December 31, a Sunday. The game will no longer be sold physically or digitally after that date.
Players who buy the game before the deadline can play for another year, with game servers running until at least Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
— Friday The 13th Game (@Friday13thGame) June 8, 2023
The PS4 game was released in 2017 on a Friday, but not the 13th. We imagine the hardcore have had their fill by now. If not, a year should be enough to finish up.
The Game? Do you want to rejoin?
Gaming
Banishers Ghosts of New Eden on PS5 Star-Crossed Lovers Fight the Supernatural

Banishers Ghosts of New Eden, a supernatural, alt-history tale of ghosts, spectres, and love without limits on PS5 in 2023, got new gameplay at Summer Game Fest.
Strange developer Don’t Nod follows star-crossed Banishers Antea Duarte and Red mac Raith in New Eden, 1695. Banishers are 17th-century Ghostbusters, and Antea is fatally wounded and trapped in a nightmare state after that “one last job” goes wrong. The couple searches North America’s wilderness for supernatural answers. Nice, right?
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden: your thoughts? Do you like this action-packed story from Don’t Nod?
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