It is the first day of the Paris World Exposition in 1889. 14-year-old Jean Rocque Raltique, a brilliant young inventor, arrives at the fair to participate in a flying contest with his uncle. He is distracted, however, when he notices a 14-year-old mysterious dark-skinned girl pass by on a bicycle. Jean follows the girl, known as Nadia, to the Eiffel Tower and tries to make friends with her, but she acts cold and aloof. Just then, three bandits -- 28-year-old Grandis Granva, a fiery-tempered wom
Using one of his inventions -- a boat that can shift into an automatic hydrofoil ship -- Jean successfully makes another escape from the Grandis gang, who are pursuing the pair in their multi-purpose tank, the Gratan. He takes Nadia to his aunt's house in Le Havre, but his grumpy, dour Auntie refuses to take Nadia in. Jean decides to take Nadia to his workshop in Le Havre, and she spends the night there. All the while, Jean learns from Nadia that she wishes to return to the country where she was
Jean, Nadia, and King are rescued from the ocean by a passing American battleship called the Abraham. Its captain, Melville, and his first mate Holland, are on the trail of a supposed "sea monster" responsible for sinking countless ships in the Pacific Ocean. Jean is intrigued to be aboard the vessel, but Nadia is gravely suspicious. While on the ship, they also meet Ayerton Grenavan, a flamboyant "scientist" who claims to be funding the pursuit. That night, the Abraham is attacked by a mysterio
Adrift on the ocean, Jean, Nadia, and King are once again rescued by another vessel — a mysterious submarine commanded by Captain Nemo and his first officer, Electra. The children are kept aboard the submarine for three days while Nemo and his command crew pursue an enemy submarine (the same "sea monster" that wrecked the Abraham). Eventually, Jean, Nadia, and King are released from the submarine and they set off into the sky on Jean's newly revamped aircraft. Before leaving, the children learn
While airborne, Jean, Nadia, and King are shot down from the skies and crash-land onto an unfamiliar island. There, they rescue a 4-year-old lonely little girl named Marie, who tells them that her parents have been shot down by a murderous army of masked soldiers. Soon the children are forced to flee from the same soldiers. Marie takes her new "guardians" to a secluded cave containing blankets and supplies. That night, Jean and Nadia bury Marie's fallen parents and tearfully confess to the latte
Investigating the island, Jean discovers a trail of power lines leading to a power plant situated in a deep crater at the center of the island. He also witnesses an escaping villager brutally killed by the pursuing soldiers. The next day, Marie and King wander outside the cave to collect flowers (Jean and Nadia debating about their next move -- should they rescue the people on the island or not?) and are captured by the soldiers. Jean and Nadia follow them to the crater and find themselves in a
Captured by the soldiers (also known as the Neo Atlanteans), Nadia is taken before Gargoyle, who implies that he has known Nadia since she was a baby. He demands his captive to reveal the whereabouts of the Blue Water. When Nadia refuses to obey, Gargoyle threatens to kill both Marie and King. With no choice, Nadia reluctantly admits that Jean has it. The soldiers begin to search the complex for Jean, while the Grandis gang decides to escape. Both sides inadvertently come across each other when
In an unexpected turn of events, Jean joins forces with the Grandis gang to infiltrate the compound and rescue Nadia. They almost succeed… until Gargoyle's submarine, Garfish corners them at the intake point. Just when it all looks hopeless, the Nautilus rises from the ocean and attacks the Garfish, allowing the companions to make their escape. In the end, Gargoyle attempts to fight back using the Tower of Babel… but it demolishes his compound instead. The islanders are freed, but Gargoyle makes
The companions are taken aboard the Nautilus by Captain Nemo in gratitude for their bravery against Gargoyle, and to repair the damage the Gratan has taken. Jean and Hanson are thrilled to be aboard the Nautilus because they are intrigued by its technology and wonders, but nobody shares their enthusiasm. Grandis catches a cold and is treated by the doctor. When Captain Nemo and Electra stop by medical bay to check on the sick patient, Grandis falls hopelessly in love with Nemo… much to the disma
The Nautilus pursues Gargoyle through the LeMar Straits until it runs into a dangerous trap. The submarine is surrounded on all sides by a field of mines, which can be triggered should the underwater current shifts or if the submarine dares to move. In a race against time, Grandis, Sanson, and Hanson propose to use their Gratan to take out three of the mines so that the Nautilus can safely escape from Gargoyle's trap. However, Sanson knocks Grandis out, fearing for her safety. He and Hanson set
Jean, Nadia, and the others are appointed as apprentice crew members aboard the Nautilus, each assigned to a different position. Jean, Sanson, and Hanson are given lessons by Sonar Officer Eiko Villan about the Nautilus, Marie and King are schooled by Electra (much to the little girl's infuriation), while Grandis and Nadia work in the rather extraordinary kitchen. Grandis tries to impress Nemo by cooking a (rather ugly) platter of fish, but things do not go as she expects. Later, King snatches G
The Nautilus stops by an island for shore leave to take on new supplies. Humorous complications ensue as Jean accidentally stumbles into Nadia changing into her swimsuit (but they later go on a walk on the beach), Grandis and Electra get into a jealous rivalry for Nemo's love, while Nemo remains oblivious. While Jean goes off on a hunting expedition with Sanson and the others, Nadia bonds with Grandis as the latter explains about a tragic past. As a child, Grandis had grown into a wealthy family
Nadia is still angry with everyone over eating the deer, turning a deaf ear to Jean's attempts to reason with her. When Marie innocently states that she "made a grave for the baby deer", Nadia gives the little girl a nasty stare. Marie backs off. Together with King, Marie frolics around the island until she gets hopelessly lost -- and far away from camp. They soon discover that Neo-Atlanteans are also at the island and are chased. Marie and King become separated during this adventure. Pursued by
As the Nautilus resumes its pursuit of Gargoyle, both Marie and Nadia become seriously ill from a tropical fever that will claim their lives in two days time if they are not cured. The only hope for a cure is in the depths of Reef 64. Alarmed to learn that Nadia is in danger, Nemo decides to change course, much to Electra's infuriation. Accompanied by Nemo, Jean, Sanson, Hanson, and King set off into a dangerous trek through the underwater domain of Reef 64. They find the herb in a cave situatio
Several days later, the Nautilus falls into an even deadlier trap. First, mines drift into the submarine's intakes and disrupt its engines. Then torpedoes narrowly miss the submarine. A Garfish rams into its side, only to have its nose crippled, and the submarine drifts away, exploding. When the Nautilus attempts to surface, it is surrounded by the American fleet, commanded by vengeful Captain Melville, who has received an anonymous tip that the submarine is responsible for sinking the ships. (N
To honor their fallen comrades, the Nautilus sets course for the underwater graveyard of Atlantis. On the way, Nadia begins to question everything that has happened and wonders why she was chosen to wield the Blue Water. Jean learns from Sonar Officer Eiko that the latter was a survivor on a French ship which was sunk by the Garfish. The boy is traumatically shocked when he adds that its captain is none other than his missing father. As the coffins are prepared for burial, Jean wanders off alone
Jean feels like the Nautilus crew is treating him like a kid and becomes eager to grow up. However, Nemo refuses to make him a crew member, while Electra, and the Grandis gang discourage him even further. Jean is at a loss, until Nadia offers that she has interest in flying again… "only in a craft built by Jean." Inspired, Jean decides to build another aircraft. He aspires to do so all by himself without the help of any grown-ups… a task that he finds more difficult than he anticipated when he c
To repair the damage caused by the last attack from Gargoyle, Captain Nemo orders the Nautilus to set sail for Antarctica. The passengers are mortified by the thought, especially Sanson, who goes into an exaggerated tirade on what an unstably icy place Antarctica really is. Jean, however, is quite excited by the idea of traveling to a new place. When the submarine arrives at Antarctica, a giant and ancient "shellfish" squid latches onto the Nautilus and threatens to destroy it. The Nautilus atte
While repairs are made to the Nautilus, Nemo takes Jean and Nadia on a tour of his base. They discover wondrous sights -- a massive world tree, frozen dinosaurs, "moving" walkways, and a chamber filled with penguins. But the most spectacular sight of all is a massive (and ancient) whale named Irion, who happens to be close friends with Nemo. When Nadia speaks to the whale, he reveals that the latter will soon find her father… as well as her own brother. The children then witness a breathtaking a
Jean constructs another invention -- a miniature glider powered by a rocket for take off from the Nautiluss deck. Unfortunately, during the test flight, the engine backfires and the glider spirals out of control, finally exploding in the sky. The crew panics, fearing that Gargoyle will probably discover them because of this incident. Sure enough, they are proven right, because Nemo and the others are forced to take down more Garfish submarines. Afterwards, Nemo warns Jean to be more careful with
Trapped in the Kermodec Trench by Gargoyle, the Nautilus barely survives a torpedo assault by six Garfish. Nemo retaliates with a torpedo attack that demolishes the fleet. But Gargoyle springs his newest ace: a super-charged, magnetic weapon called "SeaNet Beam Gun." With excruciating power it literally drags the Nautilus out of the ocean and draws it inexorably toward Gargoyle's Neo-Atlantean battleship in the sky. Then the Nautilus takes devastating damage from the battleship's "atomic vibrato
To save themselves from being totally destroyed by the remaining Garfish fleet, the Nautilus severs its combat block from the main unit, which self-destructs, taking the enemy submarines with it. To save the children, Nemo relocates them to his personal cabin, warning that they will be jettisoned from the doomed Nautilus. Returning to the bridge, Nemo is confronted at gunpoint by Electra, who shoots his arm. Trapped in the cabin, Jean and Nadia listen in shock as Electra describes her tragic pas
Jean, Nadia, Marie, and King are shipwrecked and washed ashore on a beach that turns out to be a deserted island. After much discussion, they decide to stay and make it their home.
Nadia rudely awakens Jean and Marie and takes charge, naming their new home "Lincoln Island" after the president of the same name. Then she abandons them and declares to “live with nature in the forest.” Unfortunately, surviving against nature without the benefits of Jean’s technology proves to be much more difficult than she expects. Indeed, her only method of finding food is to steal rations the children have taken from Nemo's cabin. Nadia almost drowns when she attempts to reclaim a hologram
Because Nadia has stolen food from their camp, all they have left to eat is meat. Nadia refuses to cooperate and declares instead to starve. Later she becomes desperate and finds a can of spinach. Unfortunately the spinach is rotten and Nadia falls ill. Searching for a cure, Jean ends up in a cave where he becomes stoned by hallucinogenic mushrooms, causing him to fall into a trance. Later, Nadia gives Jean his first real kiss — not realizing that he is too delirious (as a result of the aforemen
Nadia spends a whole day being romantic with Jean, culminating with another kiss under the stars -- until Jean thinks it is their first time, much to her infuriation. Jealous of the attention Nadia is giving Jean, King runs away (especially after Marie abuses him). When Jean sets off to find him, he steps off a cliff and falls to the ground, and has an extensive dream sequence in which he is unveiling invention after invention before an adoring Nadia and Marie. Among his inventions are a gravity
A typhoon strikes Lincoln Island, and King is blown away into the night. In the aftermath of the storm, the children are surprised to discover a floating island drifting to their shore. When they explore the island -- which turns out to be a rather bizarre tropical paradise of trees of every sort, desert dunes, and shifting weathers, the children spot both King as well as Ayerton, who tells them crazy stories about the island and reveals he ended up ashore when the American Navy sunk the Nautilu
A giant appears out of nowhere and terrorizes the companions… which turns out to be the Gratan disguised in cloth, and sure enough, Grandis, Sanson, and Hanson are there. The children decide to stay with their friends and are soon living together like a family. Nadia even tries to cook for Jean (perhaps to make amends for all the trouble she caused him).
Sanson and Hanson get into an argument that turns into a race between two mechanical lions resembling King. In between this, Nadia finally reveals why she dislikes eating meat so much: years ago when she was in the circus, her friend Smoky, a goat, was taken away because he was too old to do anymore labor. The subsequent incident caused Nadia to understand what animals say. She adds that seeing people eat meat is like watching a friend being murdered.
Four months later, the Gratan has finally been repaired and the companions will soon set off for Africa. But first the balloon must be repaired. While Ayerton tries to seduce Grandis, Jean and Nadia make a remarkable discovery about their island home: there is an underground factory which resembles their former subaquatic home. While exploring, Nadia falls into a trance and mysteriously disappears behind a wall, leaving her clothes in Jean's hands.