Little Amélie or the Character of Rain () is a 2025 independentInside the companies behind Oscar nominees 'Arco' and 'Little Amelie or the Character of Rain' – Los Angeles Times animated fantasy drama film, directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han.Peter Debruge, "‘Little Amélie’ Review: A White Girl Raised in Japan Shares Her Unforgettable Worldview in Colorful French Cartoon" . Variety, 5 July 2025. Produced by Maybe Movies and Ikki Films, it is an adaptation of the novel The Character of Rain () by Amélie Nothomb.Ross Bonaime, "'Little Amélie or the Character of Rain' Is One of the Year's Best Animated Movies - TIFF 2025 Review" . Collider, 15 September 2025.
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May, and it was theatrically released in France on 25 June. It received widespread acclaim for its emotional, audiovisual, and thematic merits. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
Synopsis Amélie is born in a vegetative state to a Belgian family living in Kobe, Japan. Amélie believes her condition makes her a god to everyone around her. On her second birthday, an earthquake occurs that causes Amélie to break free of her vegetative state and move around freely. She soon becomes frustrated and rejective of her family, causing her father Patrick to call for a nanny. At the suggestion of landlady Kashima-san, Nishio-san arrives to the household, alongside the family's grandmother Claude to stay for a while. Claude provides white chocolate to Amélie, calming her down. Amélie begins to bond with the family, except for her older brother, André.
After Amélie learns her first word, "vacuum cleaner" (aspirateur in French), Claude goes back to Belgium, upsetting Amélie. Nishio later finds Amélie, and reads to her a book about yōkai, starting a friendship between the two, to Kashima's chagrin. During their time together, Nishio shows Amélie a school of koi near a garden, teaches her the kanji word for through a fogged window, and explains how she had lost her family in World War II. Later, Patrick learns of Claude's death and has to go to Belgium for two months, with Amélie sad yet confused about the concept of death. Upon Patrick's return, the family sans Nishio goes out to play in the beach. Amélie is reluctant to leave, but Nishio encourages her by recounting the memories of when she had visited as a child. Once there, Amélie takes and opens a jar, hoping to fill her beach experiences for Nishio. While staring curiously at the sea creatures, Amélie is caught up in the waves and nearly drowns. André saves her, finally earning him her respect. Returning home, Amélie shares the jar with Nishio; she thanks Amélie.
On Amélie's third birthday, she finds Nishio at the home of Kashima, who scolds Nishio for bonding with Amélie and asks if she had forgotten her own family. Amélie is caught listening to their conversation. While bringing her back to her family, Nishio is denounced by Kashima in front of Amélie's family. Nishio resigns as their nanny, leaving Amélie to celebrate her third birthday alone. Amélie is given her birthday present; three koi. However, Patrick informs Amélie that the family will soon be moving back to Belgium, further upsetting her.
One day while feeding her koi, Amélie throws herself into the pond. She ends up meeting Claude, who informs her that her time is not over. Amélie sees an outside vision of her past memory of accompanying Nishio near the window, who tells her to wake up. Amélie finds herself in a hospital, having been saved by Kashima and Nishio. Much later, the family enjoys winter, and now knowing how precious her time is with Nishio, Amélie officially recognizes that she is not a god, but a human.
Cast French language Loïse Charpentier narrates as Amélie Emmylou Homs voices Amélie's dialogue as Nishio-san as Kashima-san Cathy Cerdà as Claude, the grandmother as Patrick, the father Laetitia Coryn as Danièle, the mother Haylee Issembourg as Juliette Isaac Schoumsky as André François Raison as Doctor and radio voice
English language The English language cast as dubbed for the U.S. release by NYAV Post and GKIDS.Jamie Lang, ‘Little Amélie’ Gets English Language Trailer, Hits Select Theaters Tomorrow (EXCLUSIVE). Cartoon Brew, 30 October 2025.
Lily Gilliam narrates as Amélie Lucille Ainsworth voices Amélie's dialogue Francesca Calo as Nishio-san Page Leong as Kashima-san Jayne Taini as Claude, the grandmother Brent Mukai as... Patrick, the father the radio announcer Jessica DiSalvo as Danièle, the mother Avril Kagan as Juliette Rhodes Carroll as André Michael C. Pizzuto as the doctor
Distribution Little Amélie or the Character of Rain premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2025 in the Special Screenings section.Georg Szalai, "How ‘Little Amélie’ Lets Us See the World Through an Animated Young Girl’s Eyes" . The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2025. It was released in France on 25 June 2025 and distributed by distribution company Haut et Court. On 5 June, GKIDS acquired North American distribution rights, and a limited theatrical release starting 7 November.
The film had its North American festival premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
Reception On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 82/100 based on 20 critics, indicating "universal acclaim" reviews.
Accolades Award / Film Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Cannes Film Festival 24 May 2025 Camera d'Or Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han Annecy International Animation Film Festival 14 June 2025 Cristal Award for Best Feature Film Little Amélie or the Character of Rain Drew Taylor, "Annecy-Winning ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain’ Gets Theatrical Release Date, Trailer | Exclusive". TheWrap, 3 September 2025. Audience Award San Sebastián International Film Festival 27 September 2025 City of Donostia / San Sebastián Audience Award for Best European Film Seville European Film Festival 15 November 2025 European Film Academy Selection – Audience Award Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 7 December 2025 Best Animation Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 7, 2025 Best Animated Film Michigan Movie Critics Guild December 8, 2025 Best Animated Film Chicago Film Critics Association December 11, 2025 Best Animated Feature San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleDecember 14, 2025 Best Animated Feature Indiana Film Journalists Association December 15, 2025 Best Animated Film New York Film Critics Online December 15, 2025 Best Animation Seattle Film Critics Society December 15, 2025 Best Animated Film San Diego Film Critics SocietyDecember 15, 2025 Best Animated Film Austin Film Critics Association December 18, 2025 Best Animated Film Florida Film Critics Circle December 19, 2025 Best Animated Film Online Association of Female Film Critics December 19, 2025Best Animated Feature Women Film Critics Circle December 21, 2025 Best Animated Female Amélie North Texas Film Critics Association December 29, 2025 Best Animated Film Little Amélie or the Character of Rain New Jersey Film Critics CircleDecember 31, 2025 Best Animated Feature Alliance of Women Film Journalists December 31, 2025 Best Animated Feature Puerto Rico Critics Association January 2, 2026 Best Animated Feature Critics' Choice Movie Awards 4 January 2026 Best Animated Feature Columbus Film Critics Association January 8, 2026 Best Animated Film Astra Film Awards 9 January 2026 Best Animated Feature Greater Western New York Film Critics AssociationJanuary 10, 2026 Best Animated Film Golden Globe Awards 11 January 2026 Best Animated Motion Picture North Dakota Film SocietyJanuary 12, 2026 Best Animated Feature Music City Film Critics AssociationJanuary 12, 2026 Best Animated Film Utah Film Critics Association January 17, 2026Best Animated Feature Lumière Awards 18 January 2026 Best Animated Film London Film Critics Circle Awards February 1, 2026 Animated Feature of the Year Annie Awards February 21, 2026 Best Feature Best Character Animation – Feature Juliette Laurent Best Direction – Feature Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han Best Music – Feature Mari Fukuhara Best Storyboarding – Feature Nicolas Pawlowski Best Writing – Feature Liane-Cho Han, Aude Py, Maïlys Vallade, Eddine Noël Best Editorial – Feature Ludovic Versace Satellite Awards March 8, 2026 Best Motion Picture – Animated or Mixed Media Little Amélie or the Character of Rain Academy Awards March 15, 2026 Best Animated Feature
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