Written and directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, co-written by Aude Py and Eddine Noël, the world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a deep attachment to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family’s idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan. Voiced by Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grosbois, Yumi Fujimori, Cathy Cerda, Marc Arnaud and Laëtitia Coryn.
So often with films led by children, with such precocious, headstrong, obstinate personalities, it can become grating or irritating, but not with Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Aude Py and Eddine Noël brought to life Amélie Nothomb’s The Character of Rain and its leading lady with charm and captured that Amélie is a force of nature. She’s a wonderful leading character with all of her curiosity and desire for knowledge, her refusal to be pandered to and fierce loyalty.
Not only is she endearing to watch, she’s also the perfect conduit for this story of identity and discovering life’s joys and its hardships. Vallade and Han do a wonderful job with their direction of capturing a childlike perspective. Their style embodies that feel of learning and stumbling through the early days of life, trying to understand. It never feels like adults telling a child’s story, it impressively and consistently feels like Amélie telling her own tale.
A tale that’s portrayed with beautiful animation, it has the style of a painting come to life. Blending the traditional with the modern to reflect its era and setting. It’s a perfect mix to capture its tale of growing up in a culture that differs from your heritage. Portraying how those children are left in a state of confusion, loving their home but never being seen as part of it by society, especially one that still harbours resentment, anger and hatred towards the home of your parents. It’s a complex topic to explore in a less than eighty-minute animated feature but the filmmakers were definitely up to that challenge. In some ways, particularly the tone, it reminds of I Lost My Body, gentle and vulnerable.
Loïse Charpentier’s portrayal of Amélie is sweet yet powerful. She fills the character with energy and a surprising wit for her age which is really enjoyable. She creates a very warm, touching connection Victoria Grosbois’ Nishio-san. However, it was undoubtedly a misstep to cast a French actress in a Japanese role, a choice that will disappoint a lot of viewers. Kashima-san’s Yumi Fujimori is also a French actress, but she has the heritage and connection to the culture that makes her an appropriate fit for the role, as well as giving a great performance.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is beautifully animated, has a big heart and is touching to watch unfold. Its story of discovering the joys of life while also wading into its difficulties is well written. Loïse Charpentier’s Amélie is charming and is such a relentless ball of curiosity and energy, she’s hugely enjoyable to watch. However, it is hard to ignore in 2026 the choice to not cast a Japanese actress in such a pivotal role, leaving a bittersweet note to the experience.
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