MARCO, Marco anime cel

3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (母をたずねて三千里 Haha o Tazunete Sanzenri) is a Japanese anime television series directed by Isao Takahata and aired in 1976. It is loosely based on a small part of the novel Heart (Cuore) by Edmondo De Amicis, i.e. the monthly tale (racconto mensile) From the Apennines to the Andes (Dagli Appennini alle Ande), widely expanded into a 52-episode epic.
*Before Ghibli--Isao Takahata (director)--Hayao Miyazaki (layout, continuity)--Yoichi Kotabe (character design)