Perrine Monogatari

About Perrine Monogatari

Looking for background on Perrine Monogatari (ペリーヌ物語)? This drama and slice of life series by Nippon Animation (1978) starts out like this. The premise: Perrine is a young girl who lives in Bosnia with her Indian mother and beloved father – that is, until her father passes away, leaving her mother with a single wish: travel to France to be with his father. The over 1,000 kilometer quest seems unfathomable, but Perrine and her mother have a plan: they will photograph people in the towns along the way to support themselves.

As things develop, with their hardy donkey Palikare and faithful dog Baron, the two set forth for Paris; along the way they encounter kind souls, barren villages, and a number of hardships.

With drama at the core, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Perrine Paindavoine (Hiromi Tsuru) and Marcel Santos (Yoshiaki Okamura) are two of the characters you will meet early. Think of it as a pick for viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action. The run is 53 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Nippon Animation is the studio behind Perrine Monogatari, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Within the drama category, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. At 7.2/10 it earns a solid reception, a safe pick for fans of the genre. On the casting side, Hiromi Tsuru voicing Perrine Paindavoine gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 1978, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.