Toho’s GKIDS announced today it has acquired all North American rights to the 2D-animated movie Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (original French title: Amélie et la Métaphysique des tubes). The feature directorial debut of Maïlys Vallade (The Lighthouse Keeper; layout and storyboard artist on I Lost My Body and Calamity) and Liane-Cho Han (animation director on Calamity and Long Way North) is adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb.
This announcement follows the studio’s pick-up of the Japanese animated fantasy ChaO — another feature directorial debut, from Yasuhiro Aoki.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain made its World Premiere in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival as an official selection in the Special Screenings section. It will next screen as an Official Selection in Competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, before a North American theatrical release later this year.
Synopsis: The world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a deep attachment to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family’s idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan.
“The emotional intelligence and visual creativity of Little Amélie or the Character of Rain stunned us,” said Rodney Uhler, GKIDS’ Director of Acquisitions and Development. “The film is an engrossing story of how a young person grapples with the confusing reality of the world she’s brought into, but her discoveries will resonate with audiences of every age. The film feels like a beautiful gift from Vallade, Han and their team, and we cannot wait for audiences to discover its magic.”
The deal was negotiated between Rodney Uhler of GKIDS, and Jason Bressand of Goodfellas Animation.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is directed by Vallade and Han; written by Han, Vallade, Aude Py and Eddine Noël; with art direction by Noël, editing by Ludovic Versace. The producers are Nidia Santiago and Edwina Liard (for Ikki Films), Claire La Combe and Henri Magalon (for Maybe Movies). The voice cast features Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grobois, Laetitia Coryn, Yumi Fujimori, Marc Arnaud and Emmylou Homs.
ChaO, from the acclaimed Studio 4°C, is also screening in competition at the Annecy Festival ahead of its Japan theatrical release in August. The film has been in the works for the past seven years and, due to its ambitious scope keeping the studio relatively quiet, has led to curious speculation from fans as to what the award-winning shop behind Tekkon Kinkreet, Mind Game and Genius Party was up to.
Synopsis: In a future society where humans and mermaids coexist, Stephan, a regular office worker at a shipbuilding company, is suddenly proposed to by Chao – a princess from the mermaid kingdom! With no time to make sense of what’s happening, Stephan finds himself living together with Chao. As he is showered with Chao’s pure and wholehearted love, Stephan gradually begins to fall for her. What will become of their unlikely romance?
The curious romantic comedy is directed by Aoki and produced by Eiko Tanaka, with graphics and animation direction by Hirokazu Kojima, art direction by Hiroshi Takiguchi and music by Takatsugu Muramatsu. The voice cast is led by Ouji Suzuka and Anna Yamada.
GKIDS plans to release ChaO in theaters across North America, followed by home entertainment and digital rollouts. Terms of the deal were negotiated by Rodney Uhler for GKids and Ayumi Inoguchi for Studio 4°C.
