The first terrestrial broadcast of “Belle” by Studio Chizu and director Hosoda Mamoru was announced to be broadcast on NTV’s “Friday Roadshow” on July 8. On the previous week, which is July 1, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” that brings fame to director Hosoda, will be broadcast, and you will be able to enjoy the world of director Hosoda for two consecutive weeks. Prior to the broadcast, a special commentary from director Hosoda Mamoru has been released.

“The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”, which will be broadcast on July 1, is a youth story that depict the lively summer of the main protagonist, the high school girl Makoto, who suddenly obtained the time leaping ability. Makoto made use of the ability to solve her daily trivial dissatisfaction and desire, but she remember a precious memory after founding out the true meaning of “the precious moments in life”.

This movie started off with 6 cinema during the release, but it gained fame and become a long run movie, and won the Animation of the Year during the “Japan Academy Prize”. Other than that, it has also won the Special Distinction for Feature Film at “Annecy International Animated Film Festival”, which shows that this is the work that brought fame to director Hosoda Mamoru as it won numerous local and oversea awards.

On July 8, the first terrestrial broadcast of “Belle” will be broadcast. This movie is a big hit that recorded a total of 6.6 billion JPY and was the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021. This greatest work of director Hosoda is popular worldwide as it was even chosen as the “Cannes Premiere”, the official selection of “Cannes Film Festival”.

The story is the biggest compilation of director Hosoda Mamoru’s works as it takes place in the Internet world that was depicted in “Summer Wars” and it feature the high school girl as the main heroine for the first time since “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”. This is a story of bravery and hope of the main protagonist, who has a trauma that was caused by her mother death, struggling and trying her best to head to the future after she found an important existence to her on the internet virtual world, “U”, which has over 5 billion people and it can be known as the “another reality”.

The first terrestrial broadcast of “Belle” is at 9 PM, on July 8 without any cuts. “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” will be broadcast on the previous week, at 9PM, July 1 without any cuts as well.

＜Below are the full commentary＞

Director Hosoda Mamoru

After I heard that “Belle” will be getting its first terrestrial broadcast on Friday Roadshow, it make me felt happy as a lot of people will be able to watch it. “Belle” is the modern story of “Beauty and the Beast” that take place in the Internet. The story is filled with action scenes, suspense, romance, as well as the young girl trying her best to save a person in the end. It a perfect story for summer, so I hope you will be able to enjoy it.

(C) “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” Production Committee 2006
(C) 2021 Studio Chizu