3000 Leagues in Search of Mother

3000 Leagues in Search of Mother

1976
7.7
1 Seasons
Animation Action & Adventure Drama Family

Italy is in a deep depression, so to support her family, Marco's mother goes to Argentina to work as a domestic. But after she writes to her family that she is sick, her letters stop coming. So Marco decides to go to Argentina to look for her. He travels across Argentina to find her, meeting many wonderful people, and having many adventures during his journey.

Season

Episodes

Episode 1
Ep 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.

Episode 2
Ep 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.

Episode 3
Ep 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.

Episode 4
Ep 4

I Hate You, Papa

Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.

Episode 5
Ep 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.

Episode 6
Ep 6

Marco's Payday

Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.

Episode 7
Ep 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.

Episode 8
Ep 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.

Episode 9
Ep 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.

Episode 10
Ep 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.

Episode 11
Ep 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.

Episode 12
Ep 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.

Episode 13
Ep 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.

Episode 14
Ep 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.

Episode 15
Ep 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.

Episode 16
Ep 16

The Young Cook

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

Episode 17
Ep 17

Neptune's Revel

Marco grows fond of his new life aboard the ship.

Episode 18
Ep 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.

Episode 19
Ep 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.

Episode 20
Ep 20

The Stormy Night

Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.

Episode 21
Ep 21

Rio de La Plata

Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.

Episode 22
Ep 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.

Episode 23
Ep 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.

Episode 24
Ep 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.

Episode 25
Ep 25

The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit

Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.

Episode 26
Ep 26

To the Pampas

The day has come to leave for Bahía Blanca.

Episode 27
Ep 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.

Episode 28
Ep 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.

Episode 29
Ep 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.

Episode 30
Ep 30

Old Gaucho Carlos

Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.

Episode 31
Ep 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.

Episode 32
Ep 32

Saying Good-bye

An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.

Episode 33
Ep 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.

Episode 34
Ep 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.

Episode 35
Ep 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.

Episode 36
Ep 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.

Episode 37
Ep 37

Endless Journey

Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.

Episode 38
Ep 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.

Episode 39
Ep 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.

Episode 40
Ep 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.

Episode 41
Ep 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.

Episode 42
Ep 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.

Episode 43
Ep 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.

Episode 44
Ep 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.

Episode 45
Ep 45

Going North

The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.

Episode 46
Ep 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.

Episode 47
Ep 47

Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain

After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.

Episode 48
Ep 48

Don't Die, My Burro

The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.

Episode 49
Ep 49

Mama is Calling Me

Having lost his donkey, Marco has to walk on foot.

Episode 50
Ep 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.

Episode 51
Ep 51

Mama's Smile

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

Episode 52
Ep 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.

Cast

Yoshiko Matsuo

Yoshiko Matsuo

Marco Rossi (voice)

Kazuyuki Sogabe

Kazuyuki Sogabe

Tonio Rossi (voice)

Yukiko Nikaido

Yukiko Nikaido

Anna Rossi (voice)

Kiyoshi Kawakubo

Kiyoshi Kawakubo

Pietro Rossi (voice)

Akiko Tsuboi

Akiko Tsuboi

Narrator (voice)

Noriko Ohara

Noriko Ohara

Conchetta (voice)

Mie Azuma

Mie Azuma

Pablo (voice)

Ichiro Nagai

Ichiro Nagai

Peppino (voice)

Akio Nojima

Akio Nojima

Rocky (voice)

Fumio Matsuoka

Fumio Matsuoka

Frediand (voice)

Eken Mine

Eken Mine

Federico (voice)