Mr Rossi Looks for Happiness (Italian: Il signor Rossi cerca la felicità) is a 1976 traditionally animated Italian feature film directed by Bruno Bozzetto. It is the first film to feature the character of Mr. Rossi.
Mr Rossi lives alone in the city, takes a crowded bus to work everyday, and spends his days canning fish in a factory with barely a break for lunch. His wealthy boss, who also happens to be his next door neighbour, bullies him around the clock. One day he screams his despair out of the window and is heard by a nutty, bumbling fairy who comes to his "rescue”. Just blow the magic whistle and he can escape from his troubles, to lands long ago. The whistle takes Rossi through the ages, and his boss’s annoying dog (whose name is either Harold or Gastoni, depending on the dub) comes along for the ride, becoming Rossi’s friend in the process. But each trip only brings new troubles! They barely squeak by with their lives as they meet fire-breathing dragons... hungry Roman lions... scalp-happy Indians... and Robin Hood's deadly arrows... Well, the whistle is magic, but where's the happiness? Wait! Maybe, just maybe, if Mr. Rossi looks hard enough, it’s right here, in his home...
Tropes:
- Character Title: Mr. Rossi.
- The Everyman: Mr Rossi's status as this is reinforced by his name which is basically the Italian equivalent of "Mr Smith".
- It Was with You All Along: Mr Rossi always had all the things he needed to be happy, he just didn't realise it.
- Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Harold wears a jacket, fingerless gloves and spats. But no trousers or shoes.
- Last-Name Basis: Mr Rossi introduces himself in the opening credits with "Just call me Rossi". Harold calls him Rossi too and his first name is never revealed.
- Talking Animal: Harold the dog, once Fairy Security gives him the power of human speech.
