Sr. Vitalis, originally Carlo Barzani, achieved fame as an Italian opera singer before an illness destroyed his voice, ending his career. He reinvented himself as Vitalis, a street performer traveling across 19th-century France with a troupe of trained animals: dogs Capi, Zerbino, and Dolce, and monkey Joli-Cœur. His path crossed with eight-year-old Remi, sold by his foster father Jerome Barberin. To protect Remi from potential abuse, Vitalis purchased the boy, becoming his guardian and mentor.

He taught Remi literacy, harp-playing, and performance, integrating him into their act. Throughout their travels, Vitalis prioritized Remi’s well-being over financial security, exemplified when he rejected an offer for Remi to live comfortably with the affluent Mrs. Milligan, valuing the boy’s independence and artistic growth. His protectiveness extended to other vulnerable children, such as Mattia, whom he rescued from the abusive child trafficker Garofoli. Defying Garofoli—who threatened to expose Vitalis’s past identity—led to their flight into a snowstorm.

Exposed to the elements and unable to find shelter, Vitalis succumbed to illness while shielding Remi. His death revealed his true identity as Carlo Barzani and his shame over his vocal decline and a career-ending performance he deemed his greatest failure. Unbeknownst to him, former colleagues revered his artistry, and his kindness profoundly shaped those around him.

Subsequent adaptations, including the 2018 live-action film, maintain Vitalis’s role as Remi’s guiding figure, concealing his failing health. His backstory as a fallen star redeemed through mentorship remains central. The 1977 anime and 1980 film adaptation depict his imprisonment in Toulouse, which left Remi temporarily alone with the animals, and his resilience during crises like the animals’ deaths from wolves and pneumonia. His legacy persists through Remi’s values, skills, and compassion.