MAMORU MIYANO

BELLE (2022)
Starring Kaho Nakamura, Takeru Satoh, Tina Tamashiro, Shota Sometani, Ikura, Ryo Narita, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Kenjiro Tsuda, Mami Koyama and Mamoru Miyano. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda.

Suzu is a high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U”, a virtual world of 5 billion members on the internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest to become who they truly are.

FIREWORKS (2017)
Starring Suzu Hirose, Masaki Suda, Mamoru Miyano, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Yuki Kaji, Kana Hanazawa, Takako Matsu and Shintarou Asanuma. Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and Nobuyuki Takeuchi.

One summer day in a seaside town, two students, Norimichi and Yusuke, meet their crush, Nazuna at the pool. The boys have a swimming race to impress Nazuna. Norimichi loses, but finds a mysterious ball in the water. Yusuke wins, and is asked by Nazuna to go watch the fireworks together. While the boys argue whether fireworks are round or flat when viewed sideways, Nazuna tells Norimichi she was going to ask out whoever won the match. However, her true aim was to run away and “elope” with the winner, to get away from her mother’s remarriage.

Nazuna, in front of Norimichi’s eyes, resists her mother’s orders. Norimichi, powerlessly watches the situation, unable to help. “If only I’d won the race…” Irritated, Norimichi throws the ball he found in the water, and then… He finds himself back in the moment of the race. With that day repeating over and over again, what answers will Nazuna and Norimuchi find? And, are fireworks round or flat when viewed sideways?