Vitalis, a seasoned Italian street performer, wanders France with a troupe of animal companions: Joli-Coeur the mischievous monkey and loyal dogs Capi, Dolce, and Zerbino. Though stern at first glance, he shelters young Remi from enslavement, becoming both guardian and mentor. His past as a celebrated Italian opera singer, occasionally referenced in adaptations, informs his musical mastery and worldly wisdom, which he shares through lessons in literacy, performance, and survival.

Together, they endure biting winters, poverty, and the unpredictability of nomadic life, with Vitalis stressing resilience and the transformative power of knowledge. His quiet affection for his animals shines through Capi’s steadfast guardianship. Tragedy strikes when Vitalis succumbs to the road’s hardships, leaving Remi orphaned once more. Dolce and Zerbino later perish defending Remi from wolves, echoing Vitalis’s sacrificial ethos.

His legacy lives in Remi’s defiance of figures like Gaspard, who exploits homeless youths. Guided by Vitalis’s lessons on compassion and tenacity, Remi fights to free these children, cementing his mentor’s role as a beacon of moral strength. Through Remi’s journey toward self-discovery, Vitalis endures—a testament to paternal love, artistry, and the enduring weight of quiet mentorship.