Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is a sweet and sensitive story of life through the eyes of one little girl. The animation is pretty and colorful, adding to the enjoyment of this film.

The story begins when Amélie is born. Her parents are Belgian and since her father is a diplomat, they are stationed in Japan. Amélie is their third child.

When she comes home, her brother and sister welcome her, but through her first two years she just doesn’t do anything. After all, what is there to do when you’re one? When she turns two, things change. She grows up and evolves, as do all children.

Amélie struggles. She cries a lot and is a nuisance to the family who are at their wits end. However, this little girl really comes to life and into her own when her grandmother gives her some Belgian chocolate. Chocolate makes everything better. 

The family employs a nanny, Nishio-san, who helps with the housekeeping as well as takes care of the children, mostly Amélie. These two become almost inseparable. As little Amélie and Nishio-san forge a strong bond, their love for each other grows.

Over the next year, Amélie’s view of the world changes as she learns more about life, people, and places. On her third birthday she gets a rude awakening. This is a sad birthday for her, and sad for viewers.

But there is a change that comes and, SPOILER ALERT, things work out for the family and especially for little Amélie.

The movie is a thoughtful representation of life through the eyes and perspective of a little girl. It is beautifully designed and will, in my opinion, be a treasured film families will enjoy over and over again.

The bonus features on this new Blu-ray release give viewers background to the story. The directors talk about how they created all the angles from the low height of Amélie, to give a true representation of what she sees and experiences. There is a little featurette about the characters, and a look at the animation from storyboard to the final cut.

The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film as well as 46 other awards.

PARENTS NEED TO KNOW:

Little Amélie is rated PG for thematic content, peril and brief scary images. While there are some sad situations (the death of her grandmother and two times when she almost dies), the film is a sweet, touching story filled with love, and one little girl who will steal everyone’s heart.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.