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Region：Japan
Type：TV
English name：Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri
Official name：母をたずねて三千里
Chinese name：三千里寻母记
Other names：寻母三千里 / 万里寻母
Premiered：January 4, 1976
Status：Finished Airing
Tags：Adventure / Story / Daily / Historical / Source novel
Original author：エドモンド・デ・アミーチス
Director：高畑勲
Scenario：深沢一夫
Storyboard：黒田昌郎 / 高畑勲 / 奥田誠治 / 富野由悠季
Co-director：高畑勲
Studios：Nippon Animation
Family：Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri
Rating：12+

Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri

Based on a short section of the novel Cuore by the Italian Edmondo de Amicis, Marco is a young boy living in Genoa, Italy, together with his father Pietro.

But the family is not complete, for Marco`s mother left for Argentina around a year earlier in order to find work.

Letters from her arrive regularly until one day they suddenly stop.

Worry for his mother and what might have happened to her overcomes the young boy.

Marco thus decides to embark upon a journey to Argentina in the hope of being reunited with his mother.

At first, Pietro is opposed to Marco`s plan, but moved by his son's enthusiasm, he eventually allows the boy to go.

So begins Marco`s long journey of the heart.

Marco encounters many people throughout his travels, and finds maturity and self-acceptance as a result of his experiences.

PV EpisodesTiles view / List view

Main EpisodesTiles view / List view

EP1 - 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.
EP2 - 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.
EP3 - 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.
EP4 - I Hate You, Papa

Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.
EP5 - 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.
EP6 - Marco's Payday

Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.
EP7 - 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.
EP8 - 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.
EP9 - 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.
EP10 - 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.
EP11 - 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.
EP12 - 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.
EP13 - 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.
EP14 - 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.
EP15 - 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.
EP16 - The Young Cook

The head cook is touched by Marco's love for his mother and takes him under his wing.
EP17 - Neptune's Revel

Marco grows fond of his new life aboard the ship.
EP18 - 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.
EP19 - 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.
EP20 - The Stormy Night

Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.
EP21 - Rio de La Plata

Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.
EP22 - 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.
EP23 - 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.
EP24 - 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.
EP25 - The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit

Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.
EP26 - To the Pampas

The day has come to leave for Bahía Blanca.
EP27 - 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.
EP28 - 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.
EP29 - 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.
EP30 - Old Gaucho Carlos

Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.
EP31 - 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.
EP32 - Saying Good-bye

An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.
EP33 - 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.
EP34 - 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.
EP35 - 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.
EP36 - 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.
EP37 - Endless Journey

Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.
EP38 - 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.
EP39 - 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.
EP40 - La Estrella de Italia

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.
EP41 - 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.
EP42 - 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.
EP43 - 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.
EP44 - 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.
EP45 - Going North

The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.
EP46 - 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.
EP47 - Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain

After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.
EP48 - Don't Die, My Burro

The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.
EP49 - Mama is Calling Me

Having lost his donkey, Marco has to walk on foot.
EP50 - 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.
EP51 - Mama's Smile

The long journey is over. The residence of the Mequinez is now visible and Marco reaches his mother.
EP52 - 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.