Isao Takahata
is a Japanese animated television series directed by Isao Takahata that aired in 1976. It is loosely based on a small part of the novel "Heart" ("Cuore") created by Edmondo De Amicis, i.e., a monthly tale ("racconto mensile") "From the Apennines to the Andes" ("Dagli Appennini alle Ande"), widely expanded into a 52-episode epic.