Original subtitles

(lively, upbeat music)

* Now the mist has cleared as day is dawning

* It's all becoming clearer to me

* The seasons change as I change with them

* And the cool of spring

* Gives me strength and courage

* To know I will make it through

* Whatever life throws at me

* Summer's sweet scent, autumn's whisper

* Winter stings with the cold

* When trouble comes rolling in like thunder

* Tears may fall

* Fear may call

* But with spring in my heart

* When seasons change, I'll change with them

* And I know I can weather the storm *

(grunting)

- [Narrator] When the wild beast match was over,

Mattis prevailed as chief of both robber clans.

Borka then found out that his son Birk,

like Ronja, had not intention of ever becoming a robber.

The two chieftains decided that they at least

would continue to enjoy their splendid robber's life.

- Old people have no business

freezing themselves at wild beast matches.

I did tell you not to go.

- And I ignored you because it's boring here.

They were doing all the fighting.

All I did was sit there.

- Anyway, it's time you used those big ears of yours

to listen to how I'm getting with my new robber life.

Borka's doing a good job.

He isn't too loud mouthed.

In fact, he has his wits about him--

enough to please me, and you know how hard that is.

So now the two of us work together.

Which means we bring back double the loot.

We've been fooling all the sheriff's men.

(laughs) It's a joy to see.

And soon Mattis's Forest will be free

of all those pesky soldiers.

- Always save the bragging

for when you're riding back home, eh?

- But you are home and going nowhere.

- Noddle-Pete.

Ta-da!

Take this on yourself. It'll tide the chill away.

Oh, my dear, you look finer than the Count himself.

(laughing)

- Hey, you're looking snug there.

It's not often that you find yourself--

(horn blowing)

- Put that thing down.

- (laughing) The best find of the day.

- [Lovis] All of you

better tidy the place up before dinner.

- Huh. I'll blast you straight into Hell's Gap.

(horn blowing)

- [Lovis] Give me that.

(laughing)

(upbeat music)

- [Mattis] Don't squeeze so.

Ow. Is that your knee?

- Oh, Mattis, you're so kind to share my bed.

At last, I feel the chill melting away.

- (grunting)

- Your body is as warm as glowing embers.

Finally, I'll get a good night's rest.

(upbeat music)

(rustling and groaning)

- Don't you ever clean your toenails?

Ow!

- Huh? - Huh?

- [Mattis] Ow! It's not as if you're a rug pup

clinging to a bear's stomach.

(grunting and rustling)

Just a bit more space?

(groaning)

(laughing)

(upbeat music)

- There, look.

- So the earthworms

and even the snakes have gone underground.

- Not to mention the goblin folk.

They've disappeared somewhere, too.

- Ah, the empty forests.

You never know when it'll finally decide

to drag you down under its leaves.

- Huh? What if I helped?

I'll wake up every small bug sleeping in the earth,

and I'll drag them up myself, I'll do whatever it takes.

- We're home.

(sneezing)

- [Man] Freezing, freezing.

- Chilled to the bone with this all terrain.

- What's this, you lecturing the two kids, old man?

- The little snake and the little harpy.

Whatever the old man says, he's preaching to deaf ears.

(laughing)

- Come on, children, what about us, then?

I got far better stories than the old man does.

All you have to do is ask.

-(laughs) Why would I ask

about smelly, dirty devil robbers?

(laughing)

- Enough.

Go home back to your nest, little snake.

I'm sure your own father's waiting,

smelling just as bad as us.

(upbeat music)

- Ah, yes, this is how I wanted it.

Now I can happily wait.

- Old man, what're you waiting for?

- Ah, what do you think?

(fire crackling)

- I've never seen him like this.

He just seems so tired.

I wonder what it is.

- It's his old age.

- Well, he is old,

but he won't die, will he? Hmm?

- Yes, he will.

- What was that?

No! You can't say that!

Don't say that! Don't you dare!

(shouting)

- It's done. You decide a lot of things.

But, Mattis, you can't decide on this, can you?

(sobbing)

(somber music)

(baby crying)

- Is it here?

Mattis.

Perfect name for a chieftain,

a robber chieftain.

(somber music)

- [Narrator] Time passed.

Noddle-Pete grew weaker and weaker.

- [Ronja] Noddle-Pete.

- [Narrator] He spent most of his days

lying in bed, his eyes closed.

(somber music)

(heavy breathing)

Now, then, come on. - Hmm?

(heavy breathing)

- He...

He...

He can't be gone!

- [Noddle-Pete] Hey, keep it down.

Don't you think I have enough manners

to say goodbye before I leave this place?

(heavy breathing)

It's time.

Time.

My good, good friends,

I shall take leave of you all.

(gasping)

And now, farewell.

I shall die.

(somber music)

- This man has always been by my side.

And now he's not.

(screaming)

This man...

has always...

been here!

(thump)

And...

(thump)

now...

(thump)

he's not!

(thump) (sobbing)

He's always been here, but now...

he's not!

- Mattis.

No one can always be there.

We all move on.

(Mattis sobbing)

- We're born and we die. That's it.

It's always been like that.

What are you so upset about?

- I...I miss him!

I miss him!

I miss him so much, it breaks my heart!

- I know you're hurting.

Let me hold you.

- (sobbing)

You might as well.

You, too, Ronja, you too.

(sobbing)

(somber music)

(shouting and laughing)

Ronja, help me in my grief.

I need you here to comfort me.

- Spring's not far away.

I can always tell,

and you'll feel better soon.

- Noddle-Pete,

no, he won't see spring again.

- [Narrator] Winter passed,

and spring came as it always did.

(horses neighing, goats bleating)

No matter who lived or died.

Mattis slowly began to cheer up.

- Away!

- [Narrator] As he did every spring.

(goats bleating)

(upbeat music)

- I know what you mean.

I always thought I'd grow up to be a robber,

and then one day I finally worked out

what it actually meant.

(laughing)

- Ah, well, don't forget, I took an oath.

I do wonder, though, without doing any robbing,

what're we gonna live on, you and I?

(laughing)

- Don't worry. That's easy.

I think I know a way.

- [Noddle-Pete] Listen, when I was young,

I spent my time in the woods, just like you.

(screaming)

I happened one day

to save the life of a little gray dwarf

who was being attacked by a Harpy.

This little fellow was ever so grateful.

He showed me a cave,

and it was filled to the brim with shiny silver.

You will find this place,

but only when the time comes.

It's out there waiting,

waiting for you, my little pride and joy.

- Yes. I'll find it. I'm sure I will.

It's out there. He told me.

I know it's not some sort of fairy tale.

Noddle-Pete swore it was true.

Some time soon, we should get our horses

and ride up there and have a look around,

because I think I know where it is.

- There's no hurry for that.

(upbeat music)

Anyway, let's try and make sure

we keep it just between us, a secret.

Just imagine all the robbers.

(laughs)

Trying to get their hands on all that silver.

(laughing)

- I knew it. You're as wise as Noddle-Pete.

That's exactly why I didn't want to tell this secret

to anyone else but you.

- Besides, we'll be all right.

We can get by without needing any silver,

right, sister mine?

It's getting warmer. We've plenty to do,

like gather things for the bear's cave.

- [Ronja] If Mattis hears

that we're planning to move there again,

I wonder what he'll say.

(murmuring)

- Oh, you again. After Ronja?

- Actually, you're the one I'm here to see.

- I remember the old bear's cave.

Yeah. Oh, when I was your age,

I was in and out of there all the time.

It's a fine place.

No better place to live at this time of year.

Don't you think so, Lovis?

- You can go, of course.

Your father and I both agree.

It'll be quieter with you both gone.

You'll be missed.

(laughing)

- You'd better return together before winter,

and I'm sure you will.

- Yes, we will, just like we did last year.

Right? - Mm-hmm.

- Also,

that cave is really mine. Don't you forget it.

And every so often,

from time to time, I'll call in.

- You can call whenever.

Although, given all we've been through,

it'll be a relief not to see

your black curly head every day,

so, on second thought,

I think you should just stay away.

- (sputtering)

- Yes, I have to agree with that.

(laughing)

- Off I go.

(laughing)

- Off I go. It's time.

- Off you go, then.

(grunting)

* ("The Call of Spring")

* Now the mist has cleared as day is dawning

* It's all becoming clearer to me

- (Ronja shouting) - Hey!

* The seasons change as I change with them

* And the cool of spring

* Gives me strength and courage

* To know I will make it through

* Whatever life throws at me

- Here they come.

- Good.

- Let's go. Hyah! - (horses neigh)

- [Birk] Wait up! - * Summer's sweet scent

* Autumn's whisper

* Winter stings with the cold

* When trouble comes rolling in like thunder

* Tears may fall

* Fear may call

* But with spring in my heart

* When seasons change, I'll change with them

* And I know I can weather the storm *

- I'm ready, Birk. Are you?

Don't be scared. - (chuckle)

- Here it comes now, my spring yell.

(screaming)

* ("The Call of Spring," instrumental)