Oscar-Nominated ‘Amélie and the Secrets of Rain’: A Moving Animated Tale

French Animated Film ‘Little Amélie’ Captures Childhood Innocence, Earns Oscar Nomination

From its original French title, “Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes,” the Oscar-nominated film by Liane-Cho Han Jin Kuang and Maïlys Vallade hints at a story that won’t be lighthearted—in fact, it’s likely to bring tears to the eyes of many adults watching with children.

“They’re good tears,” said Mexican producer Nidia Santiago about the film, titled in Spanish “Amélie y los secretos de la lluvia,” which is currently playing in Mexican cinemas.

The French film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, to be presented on March 15th in Los Angeles. It tells the story of Amélie’s life from ages zero to three, a child of Belgian parents born in Japan.

Titled “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” in English, the film is based on Amélie Nothomb’s novel “Métaphysique des tubes,” whose books “Hygiène de l’assassin” and “Cosmétique de l’ennemi” have also been adapted for the screen.

2D Animation with a Watercolor Style

Through 2D animation with a watercolor-like appearance, “Little Amélie” tells a complex story of identity, loss, and family relationships while remaining appropriate for young viewers. The story is set in post-war Japan and portrays the family of a Belgian diplomat whose youngest daughter, Amélie, is born in Japan.

Initially, Amélie is slow to speak and doesn’t get along with her two older siblings, leading to a somewhat isolated existence. Everything changes when she meets Nishio-san, a Japanese girl hired to help around the house, including caring for the little girl, with whom she quickly forms a close bond.

But how did a Mexican producer like Santiago end up involved in such an international project? Santiago founded Ikki Films in 2011, with which she has produced several short films, including “Negative Space” by Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter, which was nominated for an Oscar, and “Chulyen, histoire de corbeau” by Agnès Patron and Cerise Lopez, nominated for Best Short Film at the European Animation Awards.

Santiago began working on “Amélie” at the invitation of the directors.

“They came to us because they were already familiar with our work,” Santiago said in a video interview from France, where she resides. “The world of animation is very small, so everyone knows each other, knows what everyone does. We just have a fairly art house (auteur) approach, and also that it’s for children.”

Seven Years in the Making

Bringing “Amélie” to fruition took seven years, during which Santiago was involved at every stage. The first few months were dedicated to delving into Nothomb’s book and identifying the material they wanted to adapt.

“There were two years of scriptwriting,” the producer recalled.

The film’s budget was €9.6 million (approximately $11.3 million USD), and production took place from March 2023 to December 2024. It won the Audience Award at the Annecy Film Festival.

Some members of the art and animation teams are painters, which is evident in the film’s distinctive 2D technique processed by computer. The animators used Animate software, which is uncommon for feature-length films.

“It was a bit crazy to do it like that, but we worked with a studio that specializes in this technique,” Santiago noted. “This was a team that knew each other well because they had worked together on other films.”

Alongside the artistry is the film’s philosophical depth, exploring the impact of significant events on a child as young as Amélie.

“We especially wanted to emphasize that any change and any experience that children have at this early age marks them for life,” Santiago said. “We know that the first years of a child’s life are essential for the future.”

Santiago said she is preparing to attend the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles.

“We are very happy that the film has had this journey so far and that, well, that allows more people to see it,” she said. “And, of course, the more people who see it, the more people People can touch and soften their hearts for a couple of hours.”