Don’t be misled by its title—Little Amélie is not a prequel to the whimsical 2001 French film Amélie. Instead, this animated feature from directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han delivers its own delightfully French experience, intertwined with Japanese influences and deep philosophical themes.
Premiering in competition at the Annecy Festival, Little Amélie is tailor-made for reflective adults and thoughtful children. The film opens with an unconventional narration by its protagonist, Amélie, a child who begins recounting her life from birth—despite being labeled “a vegetable” by doctors. Her musician father and diplomat mother accept her lovingly, even as she remains locked in an unresponsive state.
Then, on August 13, 1969, during a minor earthquake in Japan’s Kansai region, Amélie awakens. This sudden transformation is paired with a visit from her warm, slightly inebriated grandmother, who showers her with attention and introduces her to Belgian chocolate. Amélie calls this her true birth: “I was born at the age of two-and-a-half… by the grace of white chocolate.”
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A Rich Cross-Cultural Narrative
The film’s cultural layers are its greatest strength. Belgian surrealism and Japanese folklore converge beautifully as Amélie bonds with her nanny, Nishio-san, who opens her world to local monsters and rituals. One sequence sees Nishio-san recount her World War II trauma—an emotionally raw and visually haunting moment that adds weight to the story’s emotional core.
Little Amélie does not shy away from difficult themes. Its depiction of near-death experiences and childhood fragility is mature, unflinching, and meditative. These sequences unfold with a detached yet poetic tone, suggesting a perspective that hovers between memory and imagination.
Notably, Amélie is not an overly likable child. Her quiet intensity and ambiguous emotions contrast with traditional animated protagonists, positioning the film alongside recent handcrafted hits like Flow, rather than big-budget studio fare.
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Animation That Paints with Emotions
Visually, Little Amélie resembles a delicate watercolor—like an Eric Rohmer drama rendered in soft pastels. Its minimalism doesn’t sacrifice depth; rather, it invites viewers to slow down and reflect. The storytelling structure leaves many questions unanswered until the final moments, requiring a degree of patience not often demanded by animated films.
But those who stay the course are rewarded with a thoughtful meditation on grief, identity, and the intuitive wisdom of childhood. “Toddlers know everything and nothing about death,” Amélie muses—a line that encapsulates the film’s quiet brilliance.
At just 78 minutes, Little Amélie manages to deliver a layered, cross-cultural story with emotional heft and visual poetry. It is a standout in today’s animation landscape, proof that the medium continues to evolve in unexpected and profound ways.
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Film Information:
Title: Little Amélie
Festival: Annecy Festival (Competition)
Directors: Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
Screenwriters: Liane-Cho Han, Aude Py, Maïlys Vallade, Eddine Noel
Voice Cast: Loise Charpentier, Laetitia Coryn, Marc Arnaud, Cathy Cerda, Victoria Grobois, Yumi Fujimori
Sales: Goodfellas
Running Time: 1 hr 18 mins
