Isao Takahata
Director
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976)
Season 1
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.
Released Jan. 4, 1976
Episode 25 min
None+
Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Anime, Anime: Historical, Drama, Family
Keywords: imdb.japanese-anime, imdb.apennine-mountains, imdb.andes, imdb.friend, imdb.based-on-novel, imdb.slice-of-life, imdb.mountain + 41 more, imdb.depression, imdb.trip-to-argentina, imdb.argentina, imdb.poverty, imdb.journey, imdb.friendship, imdb.1970s, imdb.search-for-mother, imdb.south-america, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.quest, imdb.lost-mother, imdb.mother-son-relationship, tmdb.anime, imdb.world-masterpiece-theater, imdb.anime-animation, imdb.19th-century, imdb.europe, imdb.emigration-to-argentina, imdb.1880s, imdb.year-1881, imdb.financial-problems, imdb.economic-depression, imdb.italy, imdb.genoa, imdb.son-searching-for-missing-mother, imdb.italian-boy, imdb.stowaway, imdb.brazil, imdb.italian-abroad, imdb.buenos-aires-argentina, imdb.italian-boy-abroad, mdblist.has-trailer, tmdb.based-on-novel-or-book, tmdb.andes-mountains, tmdb.mother-child-separation, tmdb.search-for-mother, tmdb.traveling, tmdb.trip-to-argentina, tmdb.white-monkey, tmdb.kodomo
Watch Providers: Shahid VIP
Production Companies: Nippon Animation
Network: Tokyo Channel 12
S1E1 - 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.
Jan. 4, 1976, midnight
S1E2 - 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.
Jan. 11, 1976, midnight
S1E3 - 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.
Jan. 18, 1976, midnight
S1E4 - I Hate You, Papa
Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.
Jan. 25, 1976, midnight
S1E5 - 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.
Feb. 1, 1976, midnight
S1E6 - Marco's Payday
Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.
Feb. 8, 1976, midnight
S1E7 - 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.
Feb. 15, 1976, midnight
S1E8 - 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.
Feb. 22, 1976, midnight
S1E9 - 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.
Feb. 29, 1976, midnight
S1E10 - 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.
March 7, 1976, midnight
S1E11 - 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.
March 14, 1976, midnight
S1E12 - 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.
March 21, 1976, midnight
S1E13 - 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.
March 28, 1976, midnight
S1E14 - 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.
April 4, 1976, midnight
S1E15 - 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.
April 11, 1976, midnight
S1E16 - The Young Cook
The head cook is touched by Marco's love for his mother and takes him under his wing.
April 18, 1976, midnight
S1E17 - Neptune's Revel
Marco grows fond of his new life aboard the ship.
April 25, 1976, midnight
S1E18 - 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.
May 2, 1976, midnight
S1E19 - 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.
May 9, 1976, midnight
S1E20 - The Stormy Night
Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.
May 16, 1976, midnight
S1E21 - Rio de La Plata
Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.
May 23, 1976, midnight
S1E22 - 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.
May 30, 1976, midnight
S1E23 - 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.
June 6, 1976, midnight
S1E24 - 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.
June 13, 1976, midnight
S1E25 - The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit
Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.
June 20, 1976, midnight
S1E26 - To the Pampas
The day has come to leave for Bahía Blanca.
June 27, 1976, midnight
S1E27 - 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.
July 4, 1976, midnight
S1E28 - 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.
July 11, 1976, midnight
S1E29 - 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.
July 18, 1976, midnight
S1E30 - Old Gaucho Carlos
Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.
July 25, 1976, midnight
S1E31 - 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.
Aug. 1, 1976, midnight
S1E32 - Saying Good-bye
An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.
Aug. 8, 1976, midnight
S1E33 - 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.
Aug. 15, 1976, midnight
S1E34 - 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.
Aug. 22, 1976, midnight
S1E35 - 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.
Aug. 29, 1976, midnight
S1E36 - 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.
Sept. 5, 1976, midnight
S1E37 - Endless Journey
Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.
Sept. 12, 1976, midnight
S1E38 - 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.
Sept. 19, 1976, midnight
S1E39 - 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.
Sept. 26, 1976, midnight
S1E40 - 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.
Oct. 3, 1976, midnight
S1E41 - 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.
Oct. 10, 1976, midnight
S1E42 - 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.
Oct. 17, 1976, midnight
S1E43 - 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.
Oct. 24, 1976, midnight
S1E44 - 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.
Oct. 31, 1976, midnight
S1E45 - Going North
The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.
Nov. 7, 1976, midnight
S1E46 - 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.
Nov. 14, 1976, midnight
S1E47 - Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain
After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.
Nov. 21, 1976, midnight
S1E48 - Don't Die, My Burro
The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.
Nov. 28, 1976, midnight
S1E49 - Mama is Calling Me
Having lost his donkey, Marco has to walk on foot.
Dec. 5, 1976, midnight
S1E50 - 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.
Dec. 12, 1976, midnight
S1E51 - Mama's Smile
The long journey is over. The residence of the Mequinez is now visible and Marco reaches his mother.
Dec. 19, 1976, midnight
S1E52 - 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.
Dec. 26, 1976, midnight
Network: Tokyo Channel 12
Episode Runtime: 25 min.
Season Runtime: 1300 min.
Released: Jan. 4, 1976
Last Air Date: Dec. 26, 1976, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: 6
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