

Episodes
52 episodes · 1976
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. (Source: Nippon Animation)
Episode Range
Showing episodes 1-50 of 52
E01Mama, Don't Go
★7Nine-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.
E02Marco, a Boy from Genoa
★8A 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.
E03Sunday at the Harbor
★7Marco 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.
E04I Hate You, Papa
★7Marco wants to work to help his mother come home sooner, but his father won't listen.
E05My Good Friend, Emilio
★8Emilio 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.
E06Marco's Payday
★7Marco has an ominous dream about his mother, and he worries when there is no new letter from her.
E07Watching the Ocean from the Roof
★8Poor 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.
E08The Peppino Puppet Troupe
★7Marco's monkey delights onlookers by dancing in the puppet show. Peppino the puppet master invites Marco to dinner to show his gratitude.
E09I'm Sorry, Papa
★9When 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.
E10Mama Is in Buenos Aires
★8Concetta 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.
E11A Letter from Mama
★8Fiorina 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.
E12The Airship
★7Marco once again considers going to Argentina. Emilio asks Renato to help Marco get to Argentina after having huge success with his ice cream sales.
E13Goodbye, Fiorina
★7Joy 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.
E14Marco's Decision
★7When Marco reveals that he'd meant to be on the ship to Argentina, Pietro begins laying the groundwork to go himself.
E15The Forgole
★8Marco is discovered by Leonardo, but the ship's head cook is impressed by his persistence. Pietro learns the extent of his son's determination.
E16The Young Cook
★8The head cook is touched by Marco's love for his mother and takes him under his wing.
E17Neptune's Revel
★7Marco grows fond of his new life aboard the ship.
E18The Immigrant Ship to Rio
★7The ship arrives in Rio de Janeiro. Marco's friends help him look for another ship headed to Buenos Aires.
E19The Shining Stars of the Southern Cross
★6The 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.
E20The Stormy Night
★7Six days after leaving Rio, the ship sustains heavy damage due to violent weather.
E21Rio de La Plata
★7Marco begs for the ship to go faster after waking from a terrifying nightmare.
E22The Town Where Mother Is
★8The 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.
E23Another Mother
★8Marco 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.
E24Fiorina Is Waiting
★8After being left with absolutely no information on his mother's whereabouts, Marco hears a rumor about a familiar puppet show in the area.
E25The Peppino Troupe Makes a Big Hit
★7Peppino and his family decide to accompany Marco to Bahía Blanca.
E26To the Pampas
★7The day has come to leave for Bahía Blanca.
E27Fiorina's Tears
★7Peppino 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.
E28The Barbossa Ranch
★8Fiorina's heart breaks further as Peppino decides to write the death of Marco's mother into the puppet play to elicit more emotion.
E29Snow Falls
Marco and his friends finally find shelter after running out of water. Gaucho Carlos revitalizes the group with hot food and wonderful music.
E30Old Gaucho Carlos
Marco and his friends are able to make their way to an inn after Carlos repairs their carriage.
E31A 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.
E32Saying Goodbye
An Italian immigrant family suggests paying Mr. Moretti a visit for possible information on Marco's mother.
E33Mama 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.
E34I 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.
E35Mama'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.
E36Farewell, 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.
E37Endless Journey
Marco arrives in Buenos Aires, only to discover that his mother had already moved on to Córdoba.
E38Mama'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.
E39Rosy 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.
E40The 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.
E41If 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.
E42A 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.
E43Somewhere 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.
E44Helping 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.
E45Going North
The train attendants find Marco during an inspection and the boy ends up going down thirty kilometers from the destination.
E46The 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.
E47Mama Lives at the Foot of the Mountain
After traveling for days, Marco leaves the group of herdsmen to get to Tucuman.
E48Don't Die, My Burro
The journey to the village of Tucuman proves to be more hard than expected.
E49Mama Is Calling Me
Having lost his donkey, Marco has to walk on foot.
E50Run, 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.
