The Film
The Adventures of the Red  Airplane is a feature-film addressed to children’s audience. It is an adaption of the namesake book by Erico Verissimo, published in 1936. The film, directed by Frederico Pinto and José Maia, is an animation about imagination. Using imagination, the protagonist, little Fernando, travels around the world, subduing fears and making new discoveries.
Synopsis
The film tells the story of little Fernando, an eight-year-old boy who recently lost his mother, becoming a friendless lonely boy, with issues concerning his relationship with his father and school.
Not knowing how to deal with the situation, his father tries to win his trust by giving him presents. Nothing works until he gives his son a book from his own childhood. Delighted with the story, little Fernando decides he needs a plane to save Captain Storm – the airman from the book who is a prisoner in Kamchatka.
On board of the plane with his favorite toys, Teady Bear and Chocolate, who come to life in his imagination, little Fernando visits unusual places, such as the Moon, the botton of the sea, and roams around different lands, such as Africa, China, India, Russia. In this journey, little Fernando discovers pleasure from reading, the importance of having friends and his father’s affection.
Erico Verissimo
Erico Verissimo, who lived in southern Brazil from 1905 to 1975, was a master of urban and epic novels. He has more than 35 works, from which 25 were translated to 18 languages and released in more than 30 countries. 12 of Verissimo’s works have been adapted for movies and television, but this is the first time a children’s book of his becomes a feature film. The Adventures of the Red Airplane is a story that has gone through generations for 70 years.
Characters
FERNANDINHO – chubby, lonely and tricksy boy. He’s at an age when all around is messy, he drives the maid crazy and worries his father. Ever since he lost his mother, he’s been having a troubled relationship with his father and at school. Despite being interested only in his video game, he’ll be aroused when discovering himself and the world in the book.
TEDDY BEAR – plush toy that comes to life when little Fernando is packing. Hungry and clumsy, he is always in trouble but sometimes his crazy actions lead to unexpected solutions. He is little Fernando’s oldest toy.
CHOCOLATE – he is a wooden doll who came to little Fernando’s house after the kid’s father traveled to Africa. Being the most responsible and easily frightened in the gang, he comes to life when little Fernando decides to go on a travel. A bit grouchy, he is always scolding everybody as he is the reasonable voice in this intrepid gang.
RED AIRPLANE – At first, a simple toy, then transportation and, later, a very good friend. It saves the gang many times, using its experience, since the plane has been through adventures with Captain Storm himself.
FATHER – widower and workaholic, feels his relationship with his son is not good. He tries to gain his son’s trust by giving him presents and finally gets the boy’s attention when getting him a book from his own childhood.
JOSEPHINE – A hardworking lady, she is the maid in the house. Josephine would live peacefully if it weren’t for little Fernando and the brat he has become after his mother’s death. Considered practically family, Josephine demands the father to give better manners to his son, calling the boy’s hyperactivity the lack of parental spanking.
