Greetings Anime Lovers!
The 1990s is the decade where children in the Philippines sparingly used their time of growing up in playing outside of their home and watching some animated series on television sometime in the morning or in the afternoon. Now, animated series and movies can be watched almost twenty-four hours a day with the use of the internet.
The 1990s is also the decade where an animated series that is broadcasted on Philippine local television has made me cry several times and until now when I remember the story and the ending of the series it still makes me sad, gives me teary eyes, goosebumps, and brings a lot of nostalgic memories.
The title of the animated series is "My Patrasche". It is an animated adaption of an 1872 novel by Maria Louise Ramé titled "A Dog of Flanders". As far as I remember the animated series centered on the topic of life specifically on friendship, family, kindness, struggle, living simple, and being humble.
The Main Characters
Nello
Nello is an orphan that is living with his grandfather. Nello has two work at a young age with his grandfather selling milk around town. He is living with his grandfather in a rented house. Nello is portrayed as a boy with a kind, loving, and pure heart.
Nello eating his breakfast (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
Patrasche
Patrasche is the best friend dog of Nello. At the beginning of the series, Patrasche is portrayed as someone's dog. Being maltreated by his owner Patrasche has lost all his strength and left by his owner at the roadside. Several people passed by but do not take notice of Patrasche until Nello and his grandfather passed by. They brought home Patrasche and took care of him until he regained his strength.
Patrasche lounging on grass (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
Jehan
Jehan is the grandfather of Nello. Jehan got Nello to live with him when Nello's mother died at the young age of two basically making Nello an orphan. Jehan is portrayed as an elderly having only a few years to live. Jehan, like Nello, is also a kind-hearted man.
Jehan, the grandfather of Nello (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
Eloisa
Eloisa is a girl from a wealthy family also living in the same town as Nello. Eloisa is portrayed as a kind-hearted girl that is always playing with Nello on a grassy hill.
Eloisa, the love interest of Nello (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
Nello and his grandfather are praying before eating breakfast (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
Nello working at a young age working for a living (image is taken as a screenshot from the animated series My Patrasche)
The Moments in the Series that Made Me Teary-eyed
In the series, Nello is always seen selling milk on a wooden car pulled by Patrasche together with his grandfather, Jehan. But it didn't last long because his grandfather died in his sleep on one very cold night. On that very night, Patrasche has to get Nello's attention and Nello obliged and saw his grandfather's hand dangling on his bedside. Nello, on his instinct, and because it was very cold that night, took his grandfather's hand and returned it in place not knowing that his grandfather already passed away. It was the first time that the series made me cry. From then on, Nello has to live on his own.
The sad moments got more intensified when Nello was evicted on their rented house, has to leave Patrasche on Eloisa, and then wanders outside while the weather is very snowy.
But Patrasche has managed to slip away from Eloisa's house. Patrasche has managed to find Nello and the following they were both found dead inside the cathedral.
Actually, for the most part of the series, it was a tearjerker
The moment that Nello's grandfather took his last breath (image is taken as a screenshot from the series my Patracshe)
Nello, trying to put his grandfather's back but found out that his beloved grandfather, the only family he's got left, is already dead(image is taken as a screenshot from the series my Patracshe)
Nello, hugging his dead grandfather (image is taken as a screenshot from the series my Patracshe)
Nello, hugging his dead grandfather while Patrasche is looking (image is taken as a screenshot from the series my Patracshe)
Nello and Patrasche was found dead inside the cathedral (image is taken as a screenshot from the series my Patracshe)
A Realization
Although it was less than two decades ago when the series was shown on Philippine TV revisiting and watching the series again still got me teary-eyed. It was a great series indeed (got me teary-eyed again many times).
To be honest, I got a hard time writing this post because I always got teary-eyed reminiscing the sad scenes of the series especially the moments when Nello's grandfather died when Nello and Patrasched got evicted, when Nello has to leave Patrasche at Eloisa's house, and Nello wandering in the coldness of snow, when Patrasche walking in trying to find Nello, and when Nello and Patrasche were found dead inside the cathedral.
I am an I.T. professional (Computer Engineer) working in a private company, a blogger, a father, and a husband.
