Animation and Heart: The Directors of Gkids Pick-Up ‘Little Amélie’ Reflect on Collaborative Spirit in Bringing ‘The Character of Rain’ to Screen

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In their own eyes, every child is like a deity, unaware of their inherent humanity. This notion was further developed by Belgian author Amélie Nothomb in her novel “The Character of Rain,” released in 2000. The story follows the early years of Amélie’s life, spent as the daughter of a diplomat in Japan during the late 1960s. Initially viewing herself as merely a passive and plant-like being, Little Amélie eventually learns language, recognizes her parents and siblings, and realizes she can impact her surroundings.

Delving into Nothomb’s initial relationships, notably her guardianship by Nishio-san, “The Character of Rain” is a concise yet impactful narrative that explores the progression of seasons and time, encompassing joyous episodes and heartrending events.

Exploring Nothomb’s formative friendships, particularly with her guardian Nishio-san, “The Character of Rain” is a compact yet potent story that chronicles the ebb and flow of seasons and time, capturing both its moments of bliss and sorrow.

A book that deeply moved animator-director Liane-Cho Han when he was 19 years old, and has remained close to him ever since. As a student, Han harbored dreams of adapting this story, which he didn’t believe would ever become reality. However, after the birth of his son, this tale resurfaced in Han’s mind. Seeing the same noble spirit in his child, Han decided to revive the project and purchased the book for his long-time collaborator and co-director Maïlys Vallade, who also found the character captivating.

In 2021, ‘Little Amélie’ was initially showcased at Cartoon Movie, a significant European animated feature co-production event. The French co-producers Maybe Movies and Ikki Films unveiled it. Following its debut at Cannes, the film has been included in Annecy Animation Festival’s Official Competition. Prior to the festival, Gkids secured North American distribution rights for this touching tale, as Rodney Uhler, Gkids director of acquisitions and development, stated, expressing their admiration for its emotional depth and visual ingenuity.

Prior to Annecy, I had a conversation with directors Vallade and Liane-Cho Han regarding their delicate and heartfelt adaptation. We discussed the significance of conveying this tale within the realm of animation for them.

How did you approach the adaptation process of such a singular story?

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’ve been fortunate to assemble a tight-knit animation crew over the years, focusing on captivating films like Rémi Chayé’s “Long Way North” and “Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary.” Collaborative efforts with talented individuals such as Marietta Ren (storyboard artist) and Eddine Noël (writer-artistic director) have only enriched our collective journey. The team was extensive, each member deeply committed to this adaptation and pouring their own fervor into the project. This universal theme, approached in an extraordinary manner, sparked intense, passionate discussions among us.

Liane-Cho Han acknowledged that one major hurdle during this process was determining the appropriate style to suit our intended audience, as Nothomb’s works generally cater to adults. However, “The Character of Rain” might be her most suitable work for a family audience. Balancing such a project for a family demographic required significant effort and deliberation, with discussions about the film’s tone persisting until the final stages.

Is that what guided your artistic choices as well?

Vallade: I find humor in my approach as a visual artist, for I prioritize content over form. To me, art should stimulate personal growth, not just for the viewer, but also for the creator. Remarkably, our fellow artist and collaborator Rémi Chayé excels at discovering such profound narratives, which sparked my enthusiasm to pour my heart into this metaphysical, almost biblical, philosophical endeavor.

Absolutely, we add our unique touch, aesthetic, and color choices to the visual aspects of a project, ensuring it effectively conveys the story. The project “Little Amélie” is a deeply layered narrative, narrated from a child’s perspective in a realistic manner, which resonates with me profoundly due to its richness and depth.

John: Just like Maïlys, I find the core theme of this story compelling. Portraying the transformation from infancy to childhood, a subject not often explored in media, offers a distinctive and deeply human perspective on the memories we imprint, memories that most of us can’t fully remember ourselves.

Parents watch as their children grow, realizing that they’re no longer the center of the universe. This shift often brings a sense of loss or grieving, which the movie explores in various ways. Sometimes, letting go is necessary to find new, even more beautiful things – such is life. This idea also influenced our creative decisions, resulting in a heartwarming visual aesthetic that keeps us close to our protagonist as she navigates through her joys and struggles, mirrored in the film’s color scheme.

How did you come across the actors for your movie, particularly Louise Charpentier who brings such vitality to the character of Amélie? What was the process behind casting them?

Vallade: We managed to find our talented cast members due to our outstanding casting director, Céline Ronté. Her suggestions helped us focus more on the actors’ unique personalities and skills throughout the production. Interestingly, Louise Charpentier was discovered early in the process and remained with us for the entire seven-year filming duration! She turned out to be a remarkable narrator who lent an authentic touch to Amélie with her distinctive voice.

Additionally, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude towards every member of the ensemble. Each one added layers of intrigue and dimension to their roles.

What were the biggest challenges during production? 

The writing was indeed a massive undertaking, as previously discussed. However, having an exceptional team, with whom we had built a strong rapport over years, made this process a delightful collaboration. I firmly believe it’s our animation family that ultimately propelled us to finish the film successfully.

It’s clear that the existence of this artistic community, along with our prior bond, was crucial for what transpired to happen.

It was crucial for us to continue our teamwork because it played a significant role in bringing “Little Amélie” to global audiences. Although our collaborative approach did contribute to some production challenges, I firmly believe that if we hadn’t maintained this team dynamic throughout the years, we wouldn’t have been able to present “Little Amélie” to the world today.

Liane-Cho pointed out that our tightly-knit group of gifted individuals, who not only understand one another intimately but also have mastered every aspect of our production process, were instrumental in bringing “Little Amélie” to fruition.

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2025-06-08 16:18