Coming-of-age films have been around for generations, making it difficult, as of late, to make one with a signature and standout story. Whether it is a child navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence or an adult facing a midlife crisis, countless films explore the hurdles of life and how to overcome them. Despite the overabundance of films in the subgenre, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain somehow finds a way to stand out.

Based on the short novel, The Character of Rain, the film follows Amélie’s life from birth to her third birthday. Starting her life in a vegetative state, Amélie learns not only to overcome her condition but to navigate her life in general after a slew of life-altering events. Told entirely through Amélie’s perspective, the film expertly uses its naive protagonist to explain the complexities of the world and what it takes to thrive in it.

Amélie hilariously views herself as a god at the beginning of the film because of her rare condition, presenting herself as a higher, more admirable being than her family, particularly her older siblings. This aspect of Amélie ties in perfectly with the movie’s perspective. The film’s opening sequence delves into the creation of the world, beautifully paralleled by the birth of Amélie. Not only does this portray how Amélie is the center of the film, but also how, when someone is born, it feels like the whole world has just been created. Beginning the film this way effectively establishes the film’s grand themes of life in a humorous yet thought-provoking way.

The character of Amélie is always profound, but fully comes into their own once they emerge from their vegetative state. Witnessing Amélie experience life and build relationships with those around her is a joy, with her constant awe of the little things sparking warmth and positivity. Her relationships with her grandma, Claude, and her nanny, Nishio-san, are the most heartwarming, with their bonds sparking the film’s most charming sequences. Whether it is Nishio-san teaching Amélie to spell her name in Japanese or Claude giving her white chocolate, these smaller moments make a big impact on the film’s emotional core.

The filmmaking in Little Amélie or the Character of Rain has its fair share of artistic tendencies, with its watercolor-like animation breathing life and warmth into the film. It may not be as textured as higher-budget animated movies, but its simplicity does wonders for the film. There are also moments in the latter half of the film that delve into surrealism, using montage to convey messages about life and the importance of preserving memories. These sequences not only illicit emotions from the characters but are meant to do the same for the audience. The decision to have the audience experience every emotion and event through the child protagonist could’ve easily come across as manipulative, but the storytelling is so organic that it avoids any such possibility.

The movie has a short 77-minute runtime, but perfectly utilizes every second. Films with this sort of runtime tend to feel breezy, but the script gives the film an epic sense of scope, as if the audience were witnessing Amélie’s entire life rather than only her first three years. Although the film is quickly paced, it gives every scene moments to breathe, allowing the audience to dive deep into the characters and take in the film in their own way. In a time where films feel the need to make their runtimes over three hours to develop an epic sense of scale, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is extremely refreshing.

Although the messages are deep and easy to resonate with, the storytelling structure lacks the spark that the rest of the film offers. As are most coming-of-age films, it is easy to see what path the film is going to take, making for a slightly less emotional impact by the end. The movie also should’ve utilized more surrealism. The moments where they were included in the end were easily the most striking scenes in the film, and if more had been included, then the filmmaking voice would’ve come out much stronger.

It may not be the life-changing experience it wants to be, but Little Amélie or the Character of Rain has plenty of standout qualities to make it worth recommending. Constantly funny and sympathetic in its depiction of life’s pitfalls, this is a solid animated film worthy of its Oscar buzz.

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is now playing in select theaters.

Rating: 7/10

Oscar Prospects:

Best Animated Feature.