Fragrant Nature Film Creations, a film company from Kochi in Kerala, India, has acquired the Indian rights to Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, an Oscar and BAFTA-nominated French animated film. This marks the company's first step into buying international films. The deal comes from Paris-based Goodfellas Animation. It covers all rights in India except for airlines. The move brings the touching story of a young girl's awakening in post-war Japan to Indian screens.
Key Takeaways
- Fragrant Nature Film Creations grabs all Indian rights (except airlines) to the 2025 French animation Little Amélie or the Character of Rain.
- The film, directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, earned Oscar and BAFTA nods for Best Animated Feature.
- This is the Kochi company's debut in international film acquisitions.
- Adapted from Amélie Nothomb's novel, the story follows a toddler's bond with her nanny amid family changes.
Background
The film Little Amélie or the Character of Rain came out in 2025. It adapts the novel The Character of Rain by Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb. Directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han brought the book to life with hand-drawn animation. Maybe Movies and Ikki Films produced it. The story unfolds in post-war Japan. A Belgian family lives there. Their daughter Amélie starts life in a strange, silent state. She thinks she's a god. Things change on her second birthday. An earthquake shakes her awake. She starts moving and speaking. But rejection follows. Her father hires a nanny named Nishio-san.
Amélie bonds with Nishio. They share moments by koi ponds and foggy windows. Nishio teaches her about rain. The kanji for it: 雨. Family tensions rise. The grandmother Claude visits from Belgium. She gives Amélie white chocolate. That bite sparks joy. But death and goodbyes loom. Claude dies. The family faces loss. Amélie nearly drowns at the beach. Her brother saves her. Bonds strengthen. Yet Nishio leaves after a fight with the landlady. Amélie throws herself into a pond in grief. She wakes in hospital. Saved. The family plans to return to Belgium. Amélie learns she's human, not divine.
The film premiered at Cannes in May 2025. In the Special Screenings section. France released it widely on June 25. Haut et Court handled distribution there. It hit U.S. theaters limited on October 31, 2025. GKIDS distributed it. Now digital platforms carry it too. Voice cast includes Loïse Charpentier as narrator Amélie. Victoria Grosbois as Nishio-san. Yumi Fujimori as Kashima-san. Others like Cathy Cerdà, Marc Arnaud, and Laetitia Coryn fill family roles. The rating is PG. For thematic content, peril, brief scary images.
Awards poured in. Audience prizes at Annecy International Animation Film Festival. San Sebastian. Animation is Film in Los Angeles. Nods for Best European Film and Best European Animated Feature at European Film Awards. And the big ones: nominations at the 98th Academy Awards and BAFTAs for Best Animated Feature. Critics praise its colors. Its simple yet deep story. One review calls it an enchanting feature brimming with wisdom.
Fragrant Nature Film Creations sits in Kochi, Kerala. They've focused on local projects before. Now they branch out. Goodfellas Animation in Paris handles sales. This deal fits a pattern. Animated films cross borders easily. Think of past hits like Sony's work on Venom animated movie. Families love these stories everywhere.
Key Details
The acquisition includes all Indian rights. Except airlines. That means theaters, streaming, TV. Everything but in-flight screens. Fragrant Nature announces this as their launch into a dedicated acquisitions arm. They're building a pipeline for more foreign films.
Film's Path to Accolades
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain wowed at festivals. Annecy loves animation. They gave it the audience award. San Sebastian followed. Los Angeles too. Cannes set the tone early. May 20 world premiere. Buzz built fast. Oscar nod came later. BAFTA too. Runtime is 1 hour 17 minutes. Short but packed. Original French language. Subtitles bring it home.
Story beats hit hard. Amélie's silence. The chocolate miracle. Koi fish swims. Rain on glass. Nishio's war stories. Loss of family. Beach scare. Pond plunge. Human realization. Animation style stands out. Dynamic colors. Expressive designs. Expressionist touches. Art director Eddine Noël. Editor Ludovic Versace.
Fragrant Nature's team scouted this one. They saw potential in India. Animated films do well here. Kids' stories travel far. Like Netflix's animated Vegas comedy. This one's deeper. About connection. Healing.
"This film captures the magic of a child's eyes on the world. We're excited to share it with Indian families." – A rep from Fragrant Nature Film Creations
Deal terms stay private. But it's exclusive for India. Goodfellas negotiated from Paris. Kochi team closed it. First of many, they say.
What This Means
Indian kids get a fresh animation. Not the usual Disney fare. This one's French. Japanese setting. Universal themes. Families watch together. Themes of loss, growth, bonds. Post-war backdrop adds layers. But it's tender. Not heavy.
Fragrant Nature grows. From local to global. They build a library. More deals likely. India loves animation. Market's huge. Theaters fill. Streaming booms. This film arrives post-Oscars. Buzz lingers. Timing's right.
Audiences gain choice. Less Hollywood dominance. European stories shine. Like how Hello Kitty comics expand universes. Amélie joins that wave. Viewers learn. About Nothomb's book. Directors' vision. Voice talents.
Distributors watch. Success here sparks others. Kerala company leads. Others follow. Animation bridges cultures. Rain falls everywhere. Koi swim in ponds worldwide. Amélie's jar of beach treasures? Now India's too.
Box office potential? Strong. Festivals prove appeal. PG rating fits. Parents approve. Schools might show it. Themes teach empathy. Nishio's resilience. Amélie's arc.
Competition heats. Big streamers eye kids' content. But theatrical first. Fragrant plans wide release? Details soon. Airlines miss out. But everyone else wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Amélie or the Character of Rain about?
It's an animated tale of a toddler in post-war Japan. Born silent, she awakens via chocolate. Bonds with nanny Nishio-san. Faces family changes, loss, and growth. Learns she's human.
When will the film release in India?
Fragrant Nature hasn't set a date yet. Expect announcements soon after the deal. Likely theaters first, then streaming.
Who directed Little Amélie or the Character of Rain?
Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han. They adapted Amélie Nothomb's novel with original animation style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Amélie or the Character of Rain about?
It’s an animated tale of a toddler in post-war Japan. Born silent, she awakens via chocolate. Bonds with nanny Nishio-san. Faces family changes, loss, and growth. Learns she’s human.
When will the film release in India?
Fragrant Nature hasn’t set a date yet. Expect announcements soon after the deal. Likely theaters first, then streaming.
Who directed Little Amélie or the Character of Rain?
Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han. They adapted Amélie Nothomb’s novel with original animation style.
