Intrigue

This animation series follows the childhood "adventures" of a girl named Heidi, who lives with her grandfather somewhere on the Alps.

Television adaptation of the novel "Heidi" (1881) by Johanna Spyri. Heidi is a Swiss girl, initially raised in the town of Maienfeld, Switzerland. Heidi's parents died when she was a baby, and she became the ward of her maternal aunt Dette, a working-class spinster.

The series begins when Heidi is 5-years-old, and aunt Dette finds a new job. Dette's new employers do not allow her to raise Heidi in the rooms provided to her. Dette hands over custody of the girl to Heidi's only other living relative, Heidi's paternal grandfather, nicknamed Alm-Onji (Alps-Uncle). The old man has been living a solitary life in the Swiss Alps for decades, has a misanthropic outlook, and barely interacts with the few residents of the nearest village to his house. He is initially reluctant to raise a child again, but is pleasantly surprised by his granddaughter's intelligence and enthusiasm for life.

Heidi spends some time working alongside the young goat-heard Peter, and befriending him and his family. Neither child attends school. Her life in the Alps is interrupted when aunt Dette contacts her with good news, having found a better job for young Heidi. A German businessman has been seeking a lady's companion for his crippled daughter Clara Sesemann, who is close to Heidi's age. Heidi is send to Frankfurt, Germany for her new job.

Heidi quickly befriends Clara, who turns out to be a sweet but lonely girl. Heidi is the rich girl's only friend, as Clara is not allowed to exit the house. Clara's father is mostly absent on business, and the two children are either supervised by strict housekeeper Mrs. Rottenmeier, or Clara's benevolent grandmother during her visits. The grandmother arranges for Heidi to gain reading skills. Heidi feels suffocated by Rottenmeier's strict rules, and her troubled mind results in her sleepwalking at night and her health taking a turn for the worse.

Heidi's employer sends her back to her grandfather in the Swiss Alps, in hope that the girl's health will improve. Heidi's newfound love of reading convinces her grandfather to send her to the village's school, and to move to a new house closer to the village. Heidi helps the old hermit to socialize with his new neighbors.

Back in Frankfurt, Clara is lonely and wants to join Heidi in the Alps. Her father is worried about her, but Clara's doctor suspects that a new environment may help improve the health of his patient. Clara and Rottenmeier are sent to the Alps. Rottenmeir hates life away from the big city, but Clara seems to love it and her health keeps improving. Clara's grandmother arranges for Clara to become a ward of Heidi's grandfather, and sends Rottenmeier back to Frankfurt.

Heidi's grandfather discovers that Clara's legs are capable of functioning, and that her mobility problems could be resolved with physical therapy. The grandfather, Heidi, and Peter help Clara with a physical therapy regime, until Clara is able to walk without assistance. Clara leaves to rejoin her family in Frankfurt, but promises to soon visit Heidi again. The series ends.