The orphaned Rémi's adventures are collected by Madam Barberin, a compassionate woman. He is kidnapped from his adoptive mother at the age of ten and committed to the enigmatic itinerant musician signor Vitalis. He'll learn the tough life of an acrobat and sing to earn his keep. His long journey through France, accompanied by the devoted dog capi and the little monkey Joli-Coeur, brings him to the secret of its beginnings through meetings, friendships, and mutual aid.