Oh my, I really cried a lot when I was a child watching this~

There are many scenes that come to mind when I think of A Dog of Flanders.

The snow-covered cathedral, the fallen Nello, and Patrasche who stays by his side until the end.

It's not just sad; it's a story that strangely lingers.

However, there are many aspects that differ quite a bit from what we know.

Especially the existence of Patrasche itself.

First of all, many people know Patrasche as a Saint Bernard. That's how he was depicted in the animation.

A large, round, and warm-looking dog. It's a perfect choice for conveying emotions.

But, according to the original work, he is a Bouvier des Flandres.

He is a large herding and working dog from the Belgian region.

The name itself means "Flanders' shepherd."

This dog was not just a cute pet; he was a working dog.

A character whose appearance would cause ratings to drop if drawn in a cartoon - Bouvier des Flandres

With a sturdy build, rough fur, and a bearded face. And above all, he possesses incredible stamina.

Why is stamina important, you ask? Because Patrasche's job was to pull the milk cart.

This is not just a fictional setting; it was the actual reality of rural Europe at the time.

Dogs really did pull carts to deliver milk.

Patrasche was exactly that kind of dog. Helping Nello deliver milk and surviving together in a poor environment.

Here, Patrasche is not just a good dog; he truly shares life and death with Nello.

When his owner makes mistakes... he goes hungry with him, endures hardships together.

He even shares his portion of food when there is little to eat. That's why, when watching the cartoon, my young heart gets teary and feels heavier.

But Patrasche's past was not one of a good environment from the start.

Before meeting Nello, he was severely abused by a hardware store owner.

He couldn't eat properly and worked all the time, and it was only when he met Nello that he first felt warm affection.

This part is really the point. That's why Patrasche can't let go of Nello until the end.

Because he is the only one who treated him like a human being.

And, there are quite a few differences between the animation and the original work.

In the animation, Patrasche is abandoned after pulling a cart for two years under a milkman, and then Nello's grandfather takes him in, and they live together for about a year before ultimately dying together.

But the original is different. Patrasche meets Nello on the street at a similar age and they grow up together.

And he lives up to 15 years old. He lives a long life as an old dog and dies naturally.

The dramatic death we know is actually a story created by the animation.

The animation is a short and intense story, while the original is a long and calm relationship.

Personally, I find the original to be more realistic and deeper.

A relationship that naturally concludes after enduring life together.

In the end, Patrasche is not just a simple character.

He embodies the image of a working dog that actually existed in rural Belgium, having experienced abuse and poverty before meeting someone who changed his life.

And he maintained that relationship until the end.

That's why I think this story lingers for a long time. Not just because it's sad, but because it's so realistic~