- Director: Mamoru Hosoda
- Year: 2021
Overview
Suzu Naito is a shy high school student living in a rural village who struggles to sing after her mother's death. She doesn't want to live in grief forever, so she joins the massive virtual world known as "U" under the avatar Belle. In "U", Suzu's singing talent makes her a global sensation, but she remains anonymous. During one of her concerts, a beast-like avatar known as the Dragon disrupts the show while fleeing vigilantes. Suzu feels drawn to the Dragon and seeks to uncover his real-world identity. She eventually tracks him down to save two abused brothers from their father.
Takeaways
The virtual world of U lets people escape their real lives and connect without their usual social struggles. The app translates a person's inner pain into incredible digital talents, which is how Suzu becomes a superstar. However, self-appointed internet police try to control everyone by exposing their real identities. Suzu eventually realizes that singing online can't solve real-world problems like family abuse. She has to step away from her famous Belle persona to help two boys in person, showing that standing up for someone in real life is what actually makes a difference.