After the little detour taken last week to remember one of the real hits of the 80s and 90s, let's go back to the 'straight path', reliving the emotions of another very famous anime of the 80s: Flo, little Robinson. We are in 1982 when the story of this original family of Bern who, due to a shipwreck, finds himself on a desert island and here he must begin a new life. A passionate story, certainly full of teachings and positive ideas.
Flo, little Robinson: the plot
The story begins in Bern, quiet and beautiful town in Switzerland. The little one introduces her to us Flo Robinson, a 9-year-old girl, who delves into history right away. During the first episode, after a brief description of the city in which he lives, he presents the members of his family one by one. The first is the dad. Ernest Robinson, an established and very famous doctor in the city. In addition to having a private practice, she also takes care pro bono of needy patients. Then there is the mother, Anna Robison, who runs the house together with the housekeeper Marie. Flo then has an older brother, Franz, great scholar and passionate musician. Finally there is his little brother Jack, seen and capricious, often in trouble. Theirs is therefore a peaceful life, almost perfect, but everything suddenly changes when he arrives at the house for his dad a letter from Australia.
The letter from Australia
The letter comes from dr. Elliott, a friend of Ernest who lives in Australia and who invites him to go to the distant homeland of kangaroos where there is a need for experienced doctors who, unfortunately, are in short supply. The man is very torn and, after careful consideration, he decides to entrust the decision to his children as their future is above all at stake. Franz is the only one who decides to stay but, in the end, he agrees to leave with his family and jumps on the ship just in time for departure. The Robinson family thus embarked on the long journey that began on the Rhine, making stops in Rotterdam and London. Finally, upon arriving in Liverpool, the family embarks for Australia on a large ship, the Blackburn Rock.
The journey and the shipwreck
If the Robinson family's journey begins in October, it will take a few months for it to begin its conclusion. During their stay on the Blackburn Rock ship, little Flo and all the members of her family will make nice acquaintances (and there will be unexpected events!). However it is Franz to make the most important meeting during the long voyage: Flo's older brother meets Emily, a little girl who shares her same passion for music. A beautiful friendship is born between them that they both hope to continue once they arrive in Australia. However, it is Christmas day on the ship when a typhoon breaks out which goes on for 5 continuous days. It is at that point that things precipitate: Franz, hit by some barrels, falls into the sea, meanwhile the ship begins to take on water. Everyone takes refuge on a lifeboat but the Robinson family arrives late and is abandoned on the ship that is sinking. The next day Ernest finds his son Franz, who had fortunately tied himself to a rope. The family is still aboard the sinking ship when sight an island and decides to join her.
Life on the desert island
It is on this desert island that the Robinson family begins their new life. Having recovered some of the provisions present on the boat and other utensils, the family begins a new existence, made up of adventures but also of many difficulties given by a wild environment and devoid of the comforts to which everyone is accustomed. Ernest builds a hut in a tree and this is where the family lives for about a year. After this period of time, almost everyone seems to have given up on the idea of staying on the island forever, without being able to return home. On the other hand, they have now managed to adapt to the wild life, but it is precisely when everything is already written that two other castaways arrive on the island: sailor Willy Morton and young Tomtom, an Australian native. Initially skeptical of the newcomers, Flo and her family will gradually come to know and appreciate them.
However, things on the island suddenly start to get worse. Some earthquakes warn those present that the nearby volcano is awakening, thus putting them on alert. Ernest Robinson and Mr. Morton will then decide to create a boat through which to leave the island. Fortunately for the Robinsons, Morton is a very skilled sailor and this will facilitate the however grueling journey.
The end
Little Flo and her family spot land and they land north of Sydney. Here the Robinsons travel by train, after being greeted by the immigration office, and join Dr. Elliott, the friend who had invited Ernest to go to Australia to practice his profession there. Getting used to city life isn't easy for Flo and her siblings, but a wonderful surprise arrives for Franz: her friend Emily, who thought she died in the shipwreck, is one of the nurses of Dr. Elliott. The girl managed to escape but her mother and grandmother died, as were the rest of the people on her lifeboat. However, the young woman decides to leave to graduate from one of the best nursing schools in London. The Robinson family, who remained in Australia, takes up their lives again, not without missing, from time to time, that beautiful desert island where they have lived for more than a year.
Flo, little Robinson: curiosity
The inspiration for Robinson Crusoe
If you thought the story of the little one Flo Robinson reminds you a lot of that of Robinson Crusoe, know that you have not strayed far from the reality of the facts. The story told over the course of the anime is taken from the novel The Swiss Robinson (Swiss Family Robinson) of 1812 by Johann David Wyss. This, however, is itself freely inspired by the novel Robinson Crusoe at Daniel Defoe.
The educational function
Wyss' novel, however, assumes the canons of the educational books dedicated to children of the time, in fact the adventures of the novel are presented as a series of teachings and real lessons in natural history and physics. Perfect representative of this aspect is Ernest Robinson, Flo's father and an accomplished doctor. It is he who assumes the role of 'master', teaching his family how to build a raft and how to survive on a desert island. Thanks to his culture, he manages to produce everything necessary for subsistence, teaching not only his children but also the spectators at home. It is therefore to him that it is entrusted the educational function so important for the author, which explains why, for example, 2 episodes are dedicated to the construction of the garden.
Flo Robinson absent in the novel
However, the anime tries to maintain this educational purpose, by telling aspects of natural history. However, at the same time it tries to broaden the point of view, trying to involve a wider audience, made up of girls and young girls, thanks to the introduction of Flo Robinson. The latter is not present in Wyss' novel, which instead tells of a family of castaways consisting of a father, mother and four sons. So, if dad Ernest acts as the mind and teacher of the family, Flo represents the part of the feelings and emotions.
From Switzerland to Japan
Although based on the novel by Johann David Wyss, writer originally from Bern (and this explains the initial setting of the story), "Flo, little Robinson" is a Japanese anime produced by Nippon Animation in 1981 and broadcast on Fuji TV. The series was broadcast in Italy (also with the title L'isola della piccola Flo) for the first time by Rete 4 starting from 15 November 1982.
Flo, little Robinson: the theme song
Upon arrival in Italy on Rete 4 in 1982, the theme song for the anime is 'The island of the Robinsons', sung by I Cavalieri del Re with music, lyrics and arrangement by Riccardo Zara. In 1994 the anime goes on repeat on Canale 5 with the new title "Little Flo's island”And a new theme song with the same name and sung by Cristina D'Avena.
The characters
Flo Robinson - protagonist and narrator, second daughter of the Robinsons. He is 9 years old and turns 10 on the island
Ernest Robinson - head of the family, father of Flo, Franz and Jack and husband of Anna. He is a very well-known doctor in Bern.
Anna Robinson - mother of the protagonist, she is between 30 and 35 years old. She has a sweet soul but is afraid of many things.
Franz Robinson - Flo's older brother. He is 15 and dreams of becoming a great musician.
Jack robinson - Flo's younger brother, bungling and sunny.
Mr. Morton - experienced sailor who is shipwrecked on the island with Tomtom about a year after the Robinsons.
Tomtom - he is 12 years old, he is a black Australian boy.
Emily - English girl who meets the Robinson family on the ship to Australia and becomes a great friend of Franz.
Marie – ruler I gave Robinson.
Doctor Albert Elliott - Ernest's doctor and colleague who invites him to Australia.
You are eager for a little more 80s nostalgia? We recently ventured into the adventures of the three thieves featured in Cat eyes, in the troubled history of Lady Oscar, between Sorgenti Maledette with Ranma 1 / 2, among the thousand messes of Doraemon e Nobita. We went to the discovery of the human body with 'That's how we are done', and we are passionate about the sporting challenges of Holly and Benji e Mila and Shiro. But also a lot, more!
The Swiss Family Robinson [English Language]
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Wyss, Johann David (Author)
