Tom Sawyer: How does this cartoon end from our childhood?

“Tom Sawyer is America, a symbol of freedom!” He told us the French titles of this cartoon, which revealed a generation of viewers, so much so that many know these words by heart! Adapted from the works of Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer is a 49-episode Japanese anime created in 1980 by Hiroshi Saito (Katie Little Farmer, Karine, New World Adventure).

The story takes place in the 19th century and depicts a young American fire school, Tom Sawyer. The latter prefers to spend life with his wandering friend and orphan Huckleberry Finn, whom he feels free to spend his life the way he likes. The antagonist of the series is “Joe Indian”, a mysterious and menacing figure.

But even though many fans of the series have seen the episodes uniquely, few if any have managed all 49 episodes or seen them in order. Here’s what happens to them at the bottom, called ᲧEverything is fine:

Tommy and Huckleberry Finns spent the whole night searching for the treasure of Indian Joe, hidden in a cave called the “Cave of Sorrow.” The absence of the tribe worries Aunt Paul, Sid and Mary. When he returns with a bag full of gold coins, everyone forgives him for worrying about his world.

Except that a problem arises: Huck can not enjoy his share of the treasure because he is an orphan. Tom and Huck are considered too young to manage that much money and so Huck has to be adopted in order to one day be able to get his share of the jackpot.

The town then offers Ms. Douglas, a childless widow known for her kindness and financially comfortable, reception to a young tramp. He gets and hacks too. Aside from city life, good community rules, going to the masses and getting an education are not for the young boy.

He realizes that he was not created for this life and tells Tom that he prefers to give up his share of the treasure in order to find his former, stray life. Sawyer refuses and asks Huck to be patient like all children.

For her part, Mary forms a relationship with balloon pilot Arthur O’Connor.

Then it’s the end of summer and it’s time to go back to school. Tommy and Huck are resilient to a teacher requesting a class to take a multiplication test. They are violently punished for their reaction, and Tommy loudly tells the viewer that his adventures end with this “sad” ending, but that the viewer can go and read Huck’s solo adventure, which he will also be entitled to. His cartoon:

For the sad anecdote, the Tom Sawyer series was created in 1980, the year of the assassination of singer John Lennon. The reference to this event is hidden in this last episode, on the page of the newspaper, where it is written “John Lennon was shot” with the date 1880 and a symbolic drawing / photo of the singer.

Tom Sawyer has been broadcasting in France since 1982 on Antenne 2 (the ancestor of France 2), then on France 3. Miniciums, A show of high ears that contributed greatly to the popularity of the series in France. It still plays regularly on the small screen and is available even on Youtube for free.