A group of the tribe's best hunters have embarked on the quest to hunt down the terrific gluttonous bear and have never returned. That happened 12 years ago.
The tribes are still famined and their elder council assumes all the hunters are dead. In their last desperate attempt they choose their best hunter to go on the last endeavor to find and slay Suaq Nanok. This task is assigned to Kauna.
Meanwhile Nanook, the young son of one of the lost hunters insists that his father is still alive and is determined to find him and help him slay Suaq Nanok. He darts into the council igloo claiming his right to undertake the challenge reasoning that he is the lost hunter's son. When the council disagrees Nanook doesn't listen and departs on the quest by himself.
Nanook's Great Hunt (La Grande Chasse de Nanook) is a French animated show co-produced by Elma Animation, Medver International inc. and TF1 in association with Mediatoon. It aired on TF1 in France, running for 26 episodes in 1996. An English dub was aired in Canada on Teletoon in 1998.
Nanook's Great Hunt provides examples of:
- Adventure Rebuff: The tribal council along with the chosen hunter Kauna s Nanook from embarking on the hunt because he's still a child. Nanook determined to find his father doesn't listen and departs anyway.
- Eskimo Land: This series depict Inuit as your typical primitive tribespeople and many episodes revolve around culture clash between Inuit tradition and the encroaching modern society.
- I Owe You My Life: When Nanook saves Kauna from succumbing to hypothermia after falling off a cliff, Kauna insists that now he is indebtet to the boy. Nanook disagrees stating that he only did it because it's the tribal law.
- Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: A non-marital variant. When the council chooses Kauna to hunt down Suaq Nanok, the elder utters this phrase to whoever might object to the council's resolution. Cue Nanook darting into the igloo claiming his right to go on the hunt.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Nanook and Kauna lean towards becoming these in the later episodes. They bicker and argue about each other's ways but also help each other when in need.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Despite being only 12 and acting impulsively and rash Nanook proves he can stand up on his own and even saves Kauna's life.
