Tottoi

Inka and Orphan are pleased to bring you Tottoi, an environmental fable (or fairy tale) from 1992. Based on a novel by Italian writer Gianni Padoan, it tells the story of a young Sardinian boy, Antonio, nicknamed Tottoi. He grew up in West Germany, where his father had moved for work. After the death of his mother, Tottoi, his father Cipriano, and little sister Francesca return to Sardinia and the embrace of Tottoi's extended family and friends. 

They include his uncle and aunt, Stanis and Gizza; his cousin Billia; and Billia's friends Caterina, the local "princess," and Pedro, "the village idiot." Billia works for Captain Marco, who takes tourists to Sea Cow (Seal) Cave. In the past, Mediterranean monk seals gathered there to breed. But the seals are extinct on Sardinia...

While exploring the depths of the cave, Tottoi encounters a seal. No one believes him. His father sends him to go see Nanni Spannu, an artist and potter who has lived in the area a long time. Spannu tells Tottoi that monk seals are extinct on the island, like the antruxu or griffon vulture, which is the symbol of Sardinia. 

When Tottoi insists that he saw one, Spannu agrees to take him back to the cave. They find not only a mature female seal but also her pup. Initially wary of humans, the pup becomes friendly with Tottoi. The boy names the pup Zabaione, after his favorite dessert.

Although Spannu warns Tottoi to keep the presence of the seals secret, the boy can't resist sharing with his friends, who share it with their parents.

Eventually, it comes to the attention of an avaricious (what else) American mogul vacationing on a yacht, who wants to capture the seal for his hotel aquarium. 

Can Tottoi and his friends protect the seals from the greedy visitors? Well, it is a fairy tale.

It's also a fairy tale because the Mediterranean monk seal is, in fact, extinct in the western Mediterranean, including Sardinia, and endangered everywhere else. On the other hand, the antruxu (griffon vulture) is not extinct on Sardinia, which has one of the largest colonies. But I can't imagine an anime in which a boy becomes all close and cuddly with a young vulture. Can you?

Zabaione (sometimes spelled zabaglione) is a simple, delicious dessert. Its only ingredients are egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine, usually Marsala, and perhaps some fresh fruit for a topping. Try it!

The voice cast includes:

• Namikawa Daisuke (Tottoi) played Takeru in the Freedom OVAs, Tokunaga in Gurazeni, Tooru in Haikyuu!!, Italy in the Hetalia franchise, Hisoka in Hunter x Hunter (2011), and my personal favorite, the demon-summoning detective Akutabe in the Yondemasu yo, Azazel-san franchise. He also played Mizuki, the Seiseki captain, in DAYS and appeared in Sangokushi 2 and Cosprayers, all Orphan releases.
• Yamaguchi Kappei (Billia) played the lead character in the Detective Conan franchise, Ranma in the Ranma 1/2 franchise, Inuyasha in all the Inuyasha properties, Usopp in the One Piece franchise, Sakuma Ryuichi in Gravitation, Arslan in the first OVA series, and the title role in Mouse, among many others. He played Matsuoka Eiji in Chameleon, Shibuya in Zetsuai 1989 and Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989, and Tooru in Boyfriend, all Orphan releases.
• Tomiyama Kei (Cipriano) played the title roles in Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae, Roppou Yabure, and the original Tiger Mask, as well as Lingham in Genmu Senki Leda, Sir Jogo  in SF Saiyuuki Starzinger, Susumu in the Yamato franchise, and Wen Li in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. He also played leading roles in Michite Kuru Toki no Mukou ni, Grimm Douwa: Kin no Tori, Ginga Tansa 2100-nen: Border Planet, Bremen 4, Sugata Sanshiro, the Sangokushi TV specials, and Yousei Ou, all Orphan releases. He won a posthumous Special Achievement Award in 2007.
• Honda Chieko (Francesca) played Kurumi in Kimagure Orange Road, Marybell in Hana no Mahou Tsukai Marybell, Amy in the Gall Force OVAs, Rullishia in Dragon Century, Meroko in Full Moon o Sagashite, Marie in Soul Eater, and Lea in the Ancient Book of Ys OVAs. She starred as Ruu in Elf 17 and Hiromi in Kakyuusei (1995, both Orphan releases.
• Ogata Kenichi (Stannis) played the put-upon father in Maroko, Suzuki in Kigyou Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance call, the crooked casino boss in Okane ga Nai!, the Hong Kong chef in Yuukan Club, Chichi's father in Chiisana Koi no Monogatari, the business chief in Okama Hakusho, the lawyer in Asatte Dance, and the Narrator/Lord of Kaga in Oedo wa Nemurenai!, all Orphan releases. He also played Smee in Peter Pan no Bouken and Gran Torino in Boku no Hero Academia. However, he's best known to me as the voice of Ranma 1/2's Sataome Gemna, whose alter ego - the grumpy panda - is my avatar on most anime forums. 
  
• Ichijou Miyuki (Gizza) played Akane in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, an Orphan release, and Jody Rockwell in the Yawara! properites. She appeared in several Detective Conan movies.
• Matsui Naoko (Caterina) played Efera in Gude Crest, Wato-san in Mitsume ga Tooru and Tezuka Osamu ga Kieta?!, and Lady Dola in Ai to Ken no Camelot, and she appeared in Hi-Speed Jecy and Every Day Is Sunday, all Orphan releases. She played the title role in Compiler, Uru Chie in High School! Kimengumi, Katsumi Liqueur in Silent Mobius, Run Run in Mahoujin Guru Guru, Roux Louka in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Suzuki Sonoko in the Detective Conan franchise, Juushimatsu in Osomatsu-kun (1988), Wendy in Peter Pan no Bouken, Marian in Robin Hood no Daibouken, and Matsu in Nobunaga no Shinobi.
• Sawaki Ikuya (Captain Marco) played Gooley in the Dirty Pair franchise. He also played Gonbei the cat in Satsujin Kippu wa Heart-iro, Samuel Hunter in Wolf Guy, Masayoshi Hotta in Hidamari no Ki, Barry in Joker: Marginal City, Alan in Mother Saigo no Shoujo Eve, Itakura Shirouemon in Sanada 10, and the Kaiser in Apfelland Monogatari, as well as bit parts in Dallos, Heart Cocktail, and Chameleon, all Orphan releases.
• Katou Seizou (Nanni Spannu) played Jashinsai in Tengai Makyou, Admiral Putyatin in Bakumatsu Spasibo, Ii Naosuke in Hidamari no Ki, Abraham in Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament, Norbert in Apfelland Monogatari, Hatsutori Juuzou in Kage, Billy Bones in Shin Takarajima, the old stationmaster in Sotsugyou: Graduation, and Jeigan in Fire Emblem, all Orphan releases. He had many other featured roles in the span of a 50 year career.
• Sakurai Toshiharu (Pedro) played Hanson in Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water and Innocentius VII in Arslan Senki TV. He appeared in Asatte Dance, Akai Hayate, Exper Zenon, and Mellow, all Orphan releases.
• Gouri Daisuke (Holt) played Yamazaki Hiromi in Patlabor. He had numerous featured roles. He appeared in Okama Hakusho, Condition Green, Bavi Stock I, Hashire Melos, Rain Boy, all three Sangokushi movies (Xiahou Dun), Submarine 707R, Tokimeki Tonight, Wolf Guy, Hi-Speed Jecy, Hidamari no Ki, and Kage, all Orphan releases.
• Watabe Takeshi (Jack Land) appeared in Gunparade Orchestra, Maze, Ninku, Oishinbo, Wrath of the Ninja, and You're Under Arrest. He also appeared in Tales from The Old Testament, Condition Green, Twinkle Nora Rock Me!, Sanctuary, and Sanada 10, all Orphan releases.
• Yamaguchi Ken (Totorino) appeared in Asatte Dance, Dokushin Apartment Dokudami-sou, Yamato 2520, Hoshi Neko Full House, Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu!, and Condition Green, all Orphan releases.
  
• Yamazaki Takumi (Massimo) had featured roles in Al Caral no Isan and Wolf Guy, both Orphan releases, as well as numerous other shows.
  

The director, Kiyozumi Norifumi, mostly did animation and mechanical design. Tottoi is his only directing credit.

Tottoi was only released on VHS tape, not on laserdisc or digital media. Orphan's media guy found a second-hand tape of the show. I liked the look of the show, so he encoded it. However, no translator was available at the time, and the movie was released as a raw. Eventually, some folks over at Inka became interested. Rugi translated it. TougeWolf timed and translation checked. I edited and typeset. ImAWasteofHair, Perevodildo, and MartyMcflies QCed. After the usual release checking, it was ready to go, as a joint Inka-Orphan release. The raw is a mess, marred by periodic loss of tracking, but no other tapes have been found. If you have one and it's better, or if the movie is released as a web stream, we'll make a new version.

Tottoi never quite swept me away. The story line is predictable, the climax is forced, and Nanni Spannu is a narrative crutch. The background music is jolly, faux-Italian dance tunes. Still, the seal pup in the story is very cute, the interactions among the youngsters seem natural, and some of the artwork is quite striking.

You can get the movie from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.