Season 1 (1976)
Release date: 1976-01-04
Director: Isao Takahata
Episodes (52):
1. Mama, Don't Go
Nine-year-old Marco is thrilled to go on a family picnic, not knowing that it will be the last one before his mother Anna leaves Italy to work abroad.
Release date: 1976-01-04
2. Marco, a Boy from Genoa
A year has passed since Anna left. Marco thinks about becoming a postman after receiving a letter from her on the day his older brother visits home.
Release date: 1976-01-11
3. Sunday at the Harbor
Marco sets out on his first job to deliver an urgent letter for Gina. A fun day at the beach begins when he finally returns in the afternoon.
Release date: 1976-01-18
4. I Hate You, Papa
Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.
Release date: 1976-01-25
5. My Good Friend, Emilio
Emilio helps Marco get a job washing bottles after school. Marco's father Pietro buys him a world map and the two bond for the first time in a while.
Release date: 1976-02-01
6. Marco's Payday
Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.
Release date: 1976-02-08
7. Watching the Ocean from the Roof
Poor Marco can barely see the ocean from his new place. He goes from roof to roof to find a better view and meets Fiorina the puppeteer along the way.
Release date: 1976-02-15
8. The Peppino Puppet Troupe
Marco's monkey delights onlookers by dancing in the puppet show. Peppino the puppet master invites Marco to dinner to show his gratitude.
Release date: 1976-02-22
9. I'm Sorry, Papa
When Marco shows Pietro's friend the way to the hospital, he is touched to discover his father testing a new treatment on himself to save a patient.
Release date: 1976-02-29
10. Mama is in Buenos Aires
Concetta goes out on the streets despite having a cold. Her symptoms worsen, but the family can't afford a doctor. Marco goes to the clinic for help.
Release date: 1976-03-07
11. A Letter from Mama
Fiorina must put on a show alone because everyone else is ill. Just as she gets safely through it with Marco's help, bad news arrives about Anna.
Release date: 1976-03-14
12. The Airship
Marco once again considers going to Argentina. Emilio asks Renato to help Marco get to Argentina after having huge success with his ice cream sales.
Release date: 1976-03-21
13. Good-bye, Fiorina
Joy over the group trip to Argentina is cut short when Renato goes back on his word. Marco gives Amedeo a letter for Anna and entrusts him to Peppino.
Release date: 1976-03-28
14. Marco's Decision
When Marco reveals that he'd meant to be on the ship to Argentina, Pietro begins laying the groundwork to go himself.
Release date: 1976-04-04
15. The Forgole
Marco is discovered by Leonardo, but the ship's head cook is impressed by his persistence. Pietro learns the extent of his son's determination.
Release date: 1976-04-11
16. The Young Cook
The head cook is touched by Marco's love for his mother and takes him under his wing.
Release date: 1976-04-18
17. Neptune's Revel
Marco grows fond of his new life aboard the ship.
Release date: 1976-04-25
18. The Immigrant Ship to Rio
The ship arrives in Rio de Janeiro. Marco's friends help him look for another ship headed to Buenos Aires.
Release date: 1976-05-02
19. The Shining Stars of the Southern Cross
The ship Marco boards in Rio is full of sick people and the meals are dismal. Marco meets a lost little boy named Nino aboard the crowded ship.
Release date: 1976-05-09
20. The Stormy Night
Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.
Release date: 1976-05-16
21. Rio de La Plata
Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.
Release date: 1976-05-23
22. The Town Where Mother Is
The ship finally arrives in Buenos Aires. The person who knows Anna's whereabouts has run away, and Marco loses all his money to a pickpocket.
Release date: 1976-05-30
23. Another Mother
Marco is at his wit's after losing all his money. Then he hears about a woman named Anna who has been taken to the hospital, and rushes to see her.
Release date: 1976-06-06
24. Fiorina is Waiting
After being left with absolutely no information on his mother's whereabouts, Marco hears a rumor about a familiar puppet show in the area.
Release date: 1976-06-13
25. The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit
Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.
Release date: 1976-06-20
26. To the Pampas
The day has come to leave for Bahía Blanca.
Release date: 1976-06-27
27. Fiorina's Tears
Peppino has an idea to start a show based on Marco's life. Fiorina breaks down and cries for the real Marco during practice for her role as Marco.
Release date: 1976-07-04
28. The Barbossa Ranch
Fiorina's heart breaks further as Peppino decides to write the death of Marco's mother into the puppet play to elicit more emotion.
Release date: 1976-07-11
29. Snow Falls
Marco and his friends finally find shelter after running out of water. Gaucho Carlos revitalizes the group with hot food and wonderful music.
Release date: 1976-07-18
30. Old Gaucho Carlos
Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.
Release date: 1976-07-25
31. A Long Night
Peppino and his troop stay the night in an abandoned place with a caved-in roof. Marco and Peppino decide to keep quiet about a harrowing encounter.
Release date: 1976-08-01
32. Saying Good-bye
An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.
Release date: 1976-08-08
33. Mama is Not Here
Marco visits Mr. Moretti soon after arriving in Bahía Blanca, but he provides no information on his mother or uncle's whereabouts.
Release date: 1976-08-15
34. I Want to Go Back to Genoa
Peppino's words have no effect on Marco. When Fiorina expresses her concern, Marco breaks down crying that his mother is probably already dead.
Release date: 1976-08-22
35. Mama's Handwriting
Marco meets a vagrant in town. After hearing his story, the man gives Marco a letter from his mother as well as new information on her whereabouts.
Release date: 1976-08-29
36. Farewell, Bahia Blanca
The news of his mother brings Marco's time with Fiorina closer toward its end. Marco starts working at a coal mine to cover his travel expenses.
Release date: 1976-09-05
37. Endless Journey
Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.
Release date: 1976-09-12
38. Mama's Hardship
Marco learns the deep extent of his mother's patience when he meets her cruel former employer before setting out to sail once again.
Release date: 1976-09-19
39. Rosy Dawn in Rosario
The captain becomes angry about Marco getting a free ride to Rosario, but changes his attitude upon discovering that Marco is a fellow Genoese.
Release date: 1976-09-26
40. The Star of Italy
Marco gets turned away at the door at the mansion in Rosario. Federico scrounges up enough money to cover Marco's train fare to Córdoba.
Release date: 1976-10-03
41. If I Could Go Home with Mother...
Marco strengthens his resolve to find his mother after his chance meeting with a woman and her children during the train ride to Córdoba.
Release date: 1976-10-10
42. A New Friend, Pablo
Mequinez had moved long before Marco's arrival in Córdoba. In the town, Marco meets a boy named Pablo and develops a strange relationship with him.
Release date: 1976-10-17
43. Somewhere in This Town
To raise some money, Pablo looks for work in the fields. Unfortunately, the period is the wrong one and so he tries his luck fishing.
Release date: 1976-10-24
44. Helping Fuana
The house is not inhabited by the person Marco is looking for, but by an architect. The man, who appreciates the efforts of the little traveler, also offers him the money to travel to Tucuman.
Release date: 1976-10-31
45. Going North
The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.
Release date: 1976-11-07
46. The Trip on the Oxcart
During the journey, Marco falls ill for a few days and the herdsmen who take him with them must take care of his recovery.
Release date: 1976-11-14
47. Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain
After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.
Release date: 1976-11-21
48. Don't Die, My Burro
The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.
Release date: 1976-11-28
49. Mama is Calling Me
Having lost his donkey, Marco has to walk on foot.
Release date: 1976-12-05
50. Run, Marco, Run!
Exhausted and under the snow, Marco is collected by a young man on horseback. On the way, a local elder has his nephew take him to Tucuman.
Release date: 1976-12-12
51. Mama's Smile
The long journey is over. The residence of the Mequinez is now visible and Marco reaches his mother.
Release date: 1976-12-19
52. Back to Genoa with Mama
After the recovery, Marco's mother can resume normal life. The Mequinez family, out of gratitude, gives the ticket to Genoa to both of them, with the promise of returning to Argentina.
Release date: 1976-12-26
Cast
Yoshiko Matsuo
as Marco Rossi (voice)
Kazuyuki Sogabe
as Tonio Rossi (voice)
Yukiko Nikaido
as Anna Rossi (voice)
Kiyoshi Kawakubo
as Pietro Rossi (voice)
Akiko Tsuboi
as Narrator (voice)
Noriko Ohara
as Conchetta (voice)
Mie Azuma
as Pablo (voice)
Ichiro Nagai
as Peppino (voice)
Mieko Nobusawa
as Fiorina (voice)
Akio Nojima
as Rocky (voice)
Fumio Matsuoka
as Frediand (voice)
Eken Mine
as Federico (voice)
Hikaru Miyata
as Fernandez (voice)
Kei Tomiyama
as Mario (voice)
Kohei Miyauchi
as Carlos (voice)
Keiko Yokozawa
as Fana (voice)
Masako Nozawa
as Luigi (voice)
Reiko Mutoh
as Clara (voice)
Masaaki Okabe
as Victor Mequinez (voice)
Rest of the cast - click here to expand
Kuriko Komamura - Emilio (voice), Takuzō Kamiyama - Leonardo (voice)
Crew - click here to expand
Kazuo Fukazawa - Scenario Writer, Takaji Matsudo - Producer, Koichi Motohashi - Executive Producer, Kei Kuroki - Director of Photography, Takamura Mukuo - Art Direction, Yasuo Kageyama - Assistant Director, Kazuyoshi Yokota - Assistant Director, Hayao Miyazaki - Art Direction, Yasuo Uragami - Sound, Yōichi Kotabe - Animation Director, Hayao Miyazaki - Animation, Reiko Okuyama - Animation Department Coordinator, Edmondo De Amicis - Story, Junzō Nakajima - Producer, Isao Takahata - Series Director, Kenichi Baba - Assistant Director