Belle, a new animated feature film directed by Mamoru Hosoda has taken over theaters, getting lots of praise from the audience. In fact, at its premiere in Japan, it received a fourteen-minute standing ovation. Belle is something special for the anime community, as it bounced around two contrasting design choices as the main character, Suzu, travels between the real world and the world of U.
The film is about a shy girl who has lost the ability to sing in real life, and discovers the world of U. In the world of U, she finds that she's able to express herself freely without any worry of anyone finding out who she is. She quickly becomes the number one Idol in the world but quickly finds herself wanting to help a mysterious beast. One of the reasons the movie is special is because, unlike most films about virtual reality, it doesn't make any social commentary about having a second life. It doesn't shut down the idea of virtual reality and in fact praises it at the climax of the story, with every user of U coming together to help Suzu (Belle) sing as she tries to find the person behind the Beast.
10 Love Live: School Idol Project Embraces A Love For Idols
Love Live: School Idol Project was the first of its kind, and was partially responsible for the boom in Idol culture in anime. It is famous for its use and mix of 3D animation between 2D in its dances, alongside its lovable characters.
Honoka, the protagonist of the show, finds love for idols, and pursues a career in it, building a team and trying to juggle her life as an idol and that of school. As well, Honoka is driven to help her friends, just like Suzu.
9 A Silent Voice Displays Social Anxiety & Shyness
A Silent Voice is a special film in that it feels real. It doesn't do anything to dramatize its story but rather chooses to display heavy topics such as bullying, social anxiety, and imposter syndrome in a very real way.
The protagonist of the story, Shoya, is similar to the protagonist of Belle as they feel outcasted by everyone around them. They find it hard to socialize and talk to people. What makes A Silent Voice beautiful is that Shoya tries to get better and slowly, similar to Suzu, makes friends and embraces who he is.
8 Your Name Displays Two Lovers Traveling Across The Country & Time
Your Name has cemented itself as one of the best anime films of the past decade. It has stunning and beautiful visuals, unlike any other anime, with a unique story. The story is about two high schoolers that switch bodies randomly and their adjustment to each other's lives.
This is similar to the concept of U, as these high schoolers have the chance at living a second life. Over time the high schoolers fall in love with each other, and the male protagonist, Taki, travels across time to save the female protagonist, Mitsuha, even when all hope is lost.
7 Sword Art Online Displays The Wonders of a Virtual Life
Sword Art Online is one of the earliest shows that not only popularized the Isekai genre, but also the topic of Virtual Reality. The story is about Kirito as he gets stuck in the world of Sword Art Online. The story plays more so as a cautionary tale, as it takes a more grim take on the concept of Virtual Reality.
The premise and take of Virtual Reality are that if you die in the game, you die in real life. Though this is probably impossible in the real world, it's still very scary to think about. With the right equipment, virtual reality could be amazing, but also painful.
6 Love Live: Sunshine Displays the Struggles of an Idol
Love Live Sunshine displays the struggles of forming an idol group, alongside the difficulties in becoming the best. Chika, the protagonist of the show, finally finds worth in herself, similar to Suzu, in singing. She finds love in being an idol but constantly struggles in overcoming hurdles, knowing that there is always someone better than her.
The show displays her friends struggling to sing again after an incident in the past that has traumatized them. Belle relates to the struggle of returning to a world of singing after Suzu, as a child lost her mother in an accident, and lost the confidence to sing because of it.
5 Serial Experiments Lain Displays the World of the Wired
Serial Experiments Lain is by no means as wholesome and heartwarming as Belle, but it does have a lot of similarities to it. Serial Experiments Lain, similar to Sword Art Online, is a cautionary tale about the internet and having a second life within it.
What makes this show interesting is that it was created during the growth of the internet. The main character, Lain, is similar to Belle's Suzu, as she's the introverted type who keeps to herself. She is quickly fascinated by the world of the Wire and is consumed by the technology, living a second life in the Wire, similar to Suzu and the world of U.
4 Weathering With You Shows Love Is Worth All The Consequences
Weathering With You is the spiritual successor to the film Your Name. Just like Your Name, it has stunning and beautiful visuals and tells the story of two characters falling in love with each other. Though its protagonists don't travel through time, they choose their love over each other, even though they're jeopardizing Japan.
The female protagonist, Nana, is similar to Suzu, in her inner struggle to choose what is right. Though Nana chooses not to sacrifice herself, she does grow as a person, similar to Suzu, putting her wants and needs first.
3 Zombieland Saga Displays An Idol's Second Chance to Sing
Zombieland Saga is similar to Belle in that they both focus on Idols. The story of Zombieland Saga is more absurd than that of Belle, but it does display the juggling between regular life and the life of an idol. Of course, in this show, a person's regular life is one of a zombie and the struggles to hide that secret.
The main character, Sakura, is similar to Suzu in her desire to be an Idol and get a second chance, whether it be by becoming a zombie or in the World of U.
2 New Game Displays the Creation of Virtual Characters
New Game is a wholesome anime that falls under the Moe Genre. Its main character, Sakura, tries to quickly get used to the work environment of game development.
She's similar to Suzu in that she's socially awkward and loves the idea of being able to play as a persona, even if it's just through a video game. Over the course of the series, she comes out of her shell and becomes more confident in her abilities, even if those abilities are for game development and not singing.
1 Love Live: Superstar Displays the Want to Sing!
Love Live: Superstar is similar to Belle in that the main focus of the show is on idols. Kanon, the protagonist of the show is very similar to Suzu in that she wants to sing. Kanon has a beautiful voice, however, when it comes to actually singing in front of a crowd, she becomes intimidated and stumbles.
The story of Love Live: Superstar is of Kanon overcoming her anxieties and finally being able to project her voice and sing.