S01E01 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.
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
Overview
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.
Episodes
S01E02 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.
S01E03 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.
S01E04 I Hate You, Papa
Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.
S01E05 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.
S01E06 Marco's Payday
Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.
S01E07 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.
S01E08 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.
S01E09 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.
S01E10 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.
S01E11 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.
S01E12 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.
S01E13 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.
S01E14 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.
S01E15 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.
S01E16 The Young Cook
The head cook is touched by Marco's love for his mother and takes him under his wing.
S01E18 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.
S01E19 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.
S01E20 The Stormy Night
Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.
S01E21 Rio de La Plata
Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.
S01E22 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.
S01E23 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.
S01E24 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.
S01E25 The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit
Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.
S01E27 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.
S01E28 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.
S01E29 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.
S01E30 Old Gaucho Carlos
Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.
S01E31 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.
S01E32 Saying Good-bye
An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.
S01E33 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.
S01E34 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.
S01E35 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.
S01E36 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.
S01E37 Endless Journey
Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.
S01E38 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.
S01E39 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.
S01E40 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.
S01E41 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.
S01E42 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.
S01E43 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.
S01E44 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.
S01E45 Going North
The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.
S01E46 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.
S01E47 Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain
After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.
S01E48 Don't Die, My Burro
The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.
S01E50 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.
S01E51 Mama's Smile
The long journey is over. The residence of the Mequinez is now visible and Marco reaches his mother.
S01E52 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
Marco Rossi (voice)
Kazuyuki Sogabe
Tonio Rossi (voice)
Yukiko Nikaido
Anna Rossi (voice)
Kiyoshi Kawakubo
Pietro Rossi (voice)
Akiko Tsuboi
Narrator (voice)
Noriko Ohara
Conchetta (voice)
Mie Azuma
Pablo (voice)
Ichiro Nagai
Peppino (voice)
Mieko Nobusawa
Fiorina (voice)
Akio Nojima
Rocky (voice)
Fumio Matsuoka
Frediand (voice)
Eken Mine
Federico (voice)
