MY FRIEND PATRASCHE

The cartoon series "My friend Patrasche" (original title Flanders no inu: Boku no Patrasche) was broadcast for the first time in Italy on TMC in 1994 with the title "Nello e Patrasche", now we can admire it again on Rai Due from Monday to Friday at 7,25. Produced by TMS Tokyo Movie Shinsha, it is divided into 26 episodes lasting 22 minutes each and was directed by Kodama Kenji. The Japanese cartoon is about the genre of Belle and Sebasenga as it narrates the friendship between a child and an old dog. The story is taken from the novel "A Dog of Flanders" by Maria Louisa De La Ramèe (aka Ouida) published in 1891. What is striking at first sight are the splendid drawings, rich in details that immediately immerse the viewer in the Dutch landscapes from the end of the 800th century and some of the scenes look like real paintings. Maybe the theme of the story is art, in fact Nello the main character is an orphan child who has an innate talent for drawing and his dream is to be able to see Rubens' paintings. Whenever he puts his hands on charcoal, he manages to create splendid masterpieces, reproducing the reality that surrounds him.

Nello is a good boy, very humble and sensitive, he lives with his grandfather in a small village and every morning he goes to Antwerp to sell milk. Nello's life changes the day he meets a beautiful dog from Flanders, to whom he will give in the name of Patrasche. He is rescued by Nello and his grandfather, as they find him passed out and wounded along the road. The dog is immediately grateful to his new friends and will always be loyal to Nello and his grandfather to the point of volunteering to transport the milk with the cart. Even the narrative rhythms of the cartoon are slow and detailed, which helps to identify more with that humble and moving world, which teaches us how happiness can also be hidden in poverty and in small everyday gestures, nourished by the hope that it helps to never give up.
A curiosity: among the voice actors of the cartoon of the first version, we also find a young Tiziano Ferro who lends his voice to Jan.

My friend Patrasche and all names, images and registered trademarks are copyright Tokyo Movie Shinsha and of the right holders and are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.