High-school student Suzu lives with her father in a Japanese village. Her mother died drowning while trying to save a stranger, reflecting a selfless ideal that is central to the story. Since her mother’s death, Suzu has been like a shadow. Then she finds U, a virtual world with 5 billion members on the Internet where everyone’s avatar reflects their secret strengths. She becomes Belle, a singer who is famous, stylish, and adored. She then meets Dragon, an MMA-fighting cow monster who joins her on a quest for their true selves. Beauty and the Beast meets The Matrix in Mamoru Hosada’s explosively colourful animation.