French Animation Gem: 'Little Amélie' Blends Childhood Wonder and Reality

Scientific evidence shows that the human brain develops at its quickest between birth and five years old, a period notoriously challenging to portray in film. Movies like Look Who’s Talking and The Boss Baby managed to somewhat bring to life the joys and challenges of infancy and toddlerhood, yet missed the boat on fully encapsulating the curiosity and fear this age engenders. A new French animated movie breaks the mold, tapping into these feelings: 'Little Amélie or the Character of Rain'.

The film, directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, embeds the viewer in the mind of a child exploring the world for the first time. The story takes an interesting twist, with the main character being a Belgian girl growing up in rural Japan during the 1960s - a time of awe-inspiring natural beauty, but also lingering war trauma.

Inspired by the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb, 'Little Amélie' paints a picture of childhood discovery reminiscent of a Terrence Malick and Hiyao Miyazaki collaboration. Despite its whimsical nature, the narrative remains easy for children to understand, showcasing the protagonist's journey from her safe space to engaging with the world around her.

In the story, a doctor informs Amélie's parents that their 2-year-old daughter behaves like a vegetable. In her bouncy chair, she silently observes the world passing her by. Her life takes a dramatic turn when an earthquake and the arrival of her Brussels-based grandmother, bearing the gift of Belgian chocolate, wake her up to the world.

Suddenly, Amélie starts exhibiting talent for language and observation, becoming a delight for her grandmother and her Japanese nanny, Nishio-San. The only glitch in her new life is the eerie old landlady who haunts the property and frightens Amélie with her lurking presence.

The directors' debut feature work includes a stunning use of color, resembling a watercolor painting in motion rather than a conventional children's cartoon. Prominent scenes include a family festival with the sky full of carp-shaped windsocks and a day of the dead ritual with hundreds of lanterns floating down a river.

The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh aspects of life and war and isn't always as lighthearted as typical animated features for children. However, the overall outcome is uplifting. Released locally, the film has already gained an audience of over 200,000. Exhibiting a perfect balance between childhood fantasies and adult realities, 'Little Amélie' proves that children's perspectives can still be a rich avenue for creative inspiration.