Nello Tarth is a poor but happy orphan who lives with his grandfather Jehan in a little village nearby Antwerp. Nello has a talent for drawing pictures and has been fascinated by it since he saw one of Rubens (a famous artist) pictures as a little boy. Helping Jehan with the daily milk delivery to Antwerp, Nello one day discovers Patrash, a working dog who has been mistreated and abandoned by his former owner. He treats the exhausted animal and after a little while a close and dependable friendship develops. Alois Cojez, the daughter of the richest and hence most influential man in Blacken Village, is Nellos best friend. When Nello decides to become an artist he has to experience firsthand the ignorance and cruelty of the villagers. Especially Alois father thinks of him as a slacker who cannot earn his living by drawing pictures. Nontheless Nello perseveres and never gives up to achieve his dream and to win their appreciation and respect while strenuously struggling with his poverty. (Source: Anime News Network)
Nello Daas
Alois Cogez
Jehan Daas
Elina Cogez
Noulette
Paul
Ensor
Georges
Ameya
Narrator
Murabito
As every morning, Nello and his grandfather Jehan take the milk to Antwerp. In the city he sees a man brutally beating the dog that is harnessed to his cart. Nello is very distressed by the fate of the dog and wants to help him.
Grandfather Jehan brings the milk to town alone today. Nello and Alois want to collect strawberries. When a thunderstorm comes up, they both seek shelter with Michel, a woodcutter. Meanwhile, Alois' parents are very worried about the whereabouts of their daughter.
In front of the cathedral in Antwerp, Nello sees a painter and lets him teach him the art of painting. In the evening, before going to sleep, he thinks about his experiences in the city. Above all, he can't get the poor dog out of his mind.
Nello wants to go fishing and meets George and Paul at the canal. They tease him. When Paul falls into the water, Nello rescues him together with a bargeman and thus gains two new friends.
George and Paul are waiting for Nello. They watch the ironmonger maltreat his dog. Later they learn that the dog's name is Patrasche. Back home, Nello cannot forget the poor animal.
Nello has helped the grandfather. Now he is looking for Patrasche, who collapsed and was left for dead by the ironmonger. On his way home, Nello finds the dog and takes him home.
Patrasche is very sick. Nello gives the animal some medicine, but the dog is getting worse. Jehan comes by and brings meat. From it they cook a soup for Patrasche. And lo and behold, a small miracle happens: Patrasche eats again.
Thanks to the food that Alois brings daily, Patrasche recovers quickly. Alois and Nello build a dog bed for their friend. When the grandfather returns home, a nice surprise awaits him.
Patrasche has fully recovered and even wants to pull the cart again. On the way to town they meet George and Paul. In town, a merchant advises Nello to beware of the ironmonger. A little later they meet the evil man.
Patrasche is told to go and collect wood, and Alois accompanies him. While playing, she loses her brooch. Nello finds it again. Together they visit the woodcutter Michel and have a lot of fun. But Alois' father does not like this at all. He is against his daughter's friendship with Nello.
The grandfather and Nello return from Antwerp. At home, the steward Hanse is already waiting for them to collect the rent. Furious, he claims that Nello's dog Patrasche has ravaged the tulip field.
The grandfather can no longer keep Patrasche from pulling the milk cart. So he makes him a pulling harness. Patrasche's old owner, the ironmonger, sees this and demands the dog back. With a lot of skill, the grandfather can prevent Nello from finding out about it.
A storm has damaged the old windmill. Noël is supposed to repair it. Nello observes and draws him as he does so. When the mill starts moving again, Nello sees Hanse's son, Andras, tumbling around on one of the wings. Quick-witted, he intervenes.
The grandfather is on his way to town. He is talking to some neighbors about his grandson's future. He wants him to become a farmer or a lumberjack. Nello doesn't like that at all. He wants to become a painter.
Nello has discovered that he can draw with charcoal. Alois is thrilled. She runs home to get paper and takes one of her father's account books. When she brings it back, an important page is missing. Suspicion falls on Nello.
In town, Nello sees a store for drawing materials. But where is he going to get ten cents for a sketchbook? Working hard, he earns the money and uses it to buy a sketchbook and two pencils.
Nello is all excited about his sketchbook. In Antwerp, he tries to draw on the old tower, but he doesn't succeed. Alois suggests him to draw Patrasche, which Nello succeeds.
Mrs. Noulette is supposed to move in with her daughter Milene, but she is attached to her house and her animals. When Blacky disappears, Nello and Alois set out to find him. Patrasche rescues the duck from a river hole. Milene doesn't have to worry now, because her mother has the nicest neighbors.
A month has passed and Jehan has to pay for Patrasche. With difficulty he is able to raise the money. But unfortunately too late: the ironmonger has already kidnapped Patrasche because he did not want to wait any longer for his money. In vain, Nello and Jehan set out on a search.
George and Paul also join the search for Patrasche. Nello moves away from the others, and in the end Patrasche finds his master half fainting from weakness. With the last of their strength, the two make their way home.