Akage no Anne

Akage no Anne doesn’t seem to be a particularly grand story if one was to simply read the blurb - there are no dramatic plot twists, no tyrants to defeat, no epic quest spanning galaxies - it is just a very simple tale of a young orphaned girl coming to terms with herself and others. Akage no Anne takes place in the late nineteenth century, in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edwards Island, Canada. Here siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, both reaching into their 50's and 60's, are looking to adopt a boy of around 10 to help them with the farm work. The story begins with the very shy and soft-spoken Matthew heading towards the train station to pick up their new adopted boy, averting his eyes from every women he passes along the way. However, when Matthew arrives at the train station there is no boy to be found. Instead there is a freckled 11 year old girl with red hair, named Anne Shirley. It is through this deceptively simple premise that Akage no Anne explores the many complex issues that arise during everyday life, with remarkable results. The broad scope in which it paints these complex themes is rather unassuming at first, but through the slow, naturalistic building of its large cast of characters and nuanced examination of the whys and wherefores of everyday life, Akage no Anne manages to achieve a magic that absolutely deserves to be experienced. Anne, like many 11 year-olds, is a very flawed individual. She is obstinate, talks incessantly, and is very easily distracted. Her mood swings wildly from one moment to the next and she frequently prioritizes her latest whim over what really needs to be done. For years she carries an obdurate hatred of a certain character simply because he teased her once. Yet these are hardly the deplorable characteristics they may seem at first; rather, they are what makes her such a human character and, in turn, such a relatable one as well. Humans are naturally flawed beings and Anne is no exception. Nevertheless, these imperfections are hardly the unidimensional character traits one may have become accustomed to in anime. Her wild mood swings denotes her uniquely passionate temperament for the dramatic and the romantic. Distractions are often for the sake of more creative endeavors. Her whimsy is a large part of what makes her such an endearing character, both to those around her and the audience. Whenever Anne is given the chance to learn or experience something new, she always takes to the task with a great sense of purpose. All of these points considered, Anne is an incredibly realistic and human character, and you can't help but relate to her because of that. And true to real life, Anne's depth of characterization, and rationalization of this characterization, takes root in the detailings of her past. Both of her parents died of typhoid fever when she was only three months of age. She was then placed into the care of the very poor Thomas family, only to be sent to live with the Hammond family and subsequently sent to an orphanage at an even later date. Throughout these early years of her life, she was often unfairly berated and forced to toil away at household chores day in and day out, never permitted to attend school or make any friends. It is through these harsh formative years that Anne's personality had already begun taking shape. She sought refuge from her unfavorable living conditions by escaping into stories, poems, books and her characteristic vivid imagination. The books and poems she had read established her penchant for theatrics and her lyrical soliloquies early on. She was never given the chance to experience many of the things the world has to offer, so she had to fill in the blanks of life with her imagination. Her imagination could also be seen as her only tool of contending with these tribulations by way of envisioning her standings in life as a much more extravagant, romantic one. Most of this, however, isn't disclosed quite this explicitly in the actual show. Yes, Anne does go into her history briefly, but not in such great detail, and she certainly doesn’t dissect her past crucibles and their innate effect on her psyche; all of that is merely implicit. The writing at play here omits any superfluous details or things that can be easily ascertained by the attentive viewer/reader in favor of a more realistic approach of characterization. Things aren't learned by means of awkward expository dialogue, nor are they dictated via haphazard, unwieldy info-dumps - everything is simply conveyed to the audience in a very candid and natural manner, as if we were only peeking in on a small slice of their lives never intended for such a large audience. For instance, Anne’s compendious and slightly hesitant admission that her former caretakers “meant to be good to her” effortlessly says so much more about Anne than a more typical and unnaturally overt explanation of the same thing could ever accomplish. This graceful method of storytelling feels refreshingly alien in today’s modern anime landscape; the narrative is there for our exploring and Akage no Anne’s narrative is a very, very gratifying place to explore, start to finish. Furthermore, the show wastes little time in establishing some of its interesting character dynamics. Matthew is almost instantly charmed by Anne upon meeting her and doesn't have the heart to tell her that they had asked for a boy. He’d rather leave that for Marilla to sort out. On the way to Green Gables, Anne recites these sprawling, melodramatic, nearly poetic speeches while Matthew just listens, enraptured. Anne's fanciful monologues serve as a perfect introduction to her unique world view: She details how much she hates her red hair, her love of romanticism, and how lovely it is to finally have a place she can call home, all the while frequently and impulsively changing the topic to whatever else catches her fancy at that exact fleeting moment. Although Matthew doesn't speak much during this carriage ride, his expressive face says more than words could ever say. It's an absolute delight to see how rapt he hangs on Anne’s every word and how quickly he becomes attached to this unusual little girl during their relatively short carriage ride home together when only moments earlier he was averting his eyes in fear in the passing of a few harmless women alongside the road. The effect is very understated but pulled off remarkably well. Thankfully, one can expect many more moments like this throughout the show. On the other hand, Marilla, a much more pragmatic person than Matthew, isn't as keen on the idea of keeping Anne, initially. After all, the reason they wanted to adopt a kid in the first place was for help tending the farm, and the skinny Anne hardly seems fit for the job. Furthermore, Anne’s loud, dramatic, fanciful character is the polar opposite of the more subdued and sensible Marilla, so her idiosyncrasies are met with reproach at first. Still, after some careful deliberation following Anne and Marilla having shared a few bonding opportunities, it is decided that Marilla and Matthew will allow Anne to stay at Green Gables and Marilla would raise Anne as her daughter. Akage no Anne remains very much about Anne's coming of age, but the way the story accomplishes this is through a series of vignettes portraying the ups and downs of her everyday life. For the first time in her life, she is allowed to truly experience life and all that entails: going to school, making friends, and experiencing all the exciting little things in life that we might have come to consider mundane, making all the mistakes that children tend to make along the way. The way Anne grows from these experiences, though, is so natural, gradual, and nuanced that it can be easy to miss entirely until its climax creeps up on the viewer. The final moments of this series are so rewarding, so moving, so poignant in its magnificently understated beauty; all of these seemingly disparate and…

The year is 1876 and the Second Industrial Revolution is at its dawn. The world was only a few years away from witnessing the wonders of electricity. Countless technological innovations in the industry, in an ever-growing scheme, are slowly shaping a whole new spectrum of efficient and flexible methods of production. In order to satiate a ravenous hunger for power and resources, Europe's Imperialistic giants once again turn their eyes towards the vast lands of Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, in Prince Edward Island, Canada; life follows its course as if unaware of the changes around the globe. Rural lifestyles without much commotion characterize the people of Avonlea, a fictional town that the characters of this story call home. Somewhere in town, Matthew Cuthbert is heading out in his carriage for a rare appearance outdoors. It turns out a male orphan was adopted, and the grizzled man was on his way to pick up the boy at the train station. In the days of old, the idea of raising an unknown child was frowned upon by many on account of the risks that came along with it. But Matthew's younger sister, Marilla Cuthbert, understands that change is necessary. As years went by, the ceaseless march of time began to slowly take its toll on the elder's body, which is with each passing day having more and more difficulties in dealing with the heavy workload of the farm. But now, with an easier lifestyle guaranteed, the closing stages of Matthew's journey seem certain to follow a calm final course. However, as he approaches the station, some sort of grave mistake seems to have occurred. Why, for what sort of reason is there a red-haired girl instead of a boy waiting for his arrival…? And thus begins the coming of age story of Anne Shirley of Green Gables. An orphan since her infancy, Anne wandered from place to place for most of her life without the care of a true family. Due to this precarious lifestyle, an intense longing for a place to call home grew with the passing of time. With almost no one to rely on or receive a proper upbringing from, she would often find solace in the world of books and her imagination as means to keep herself in high spirits. As a form of escapism, Anne's love for literature and the imaginary would slowly begin to mold her dynamic and radiant persona. The child who arrived at Green Gables, though only eleven years old, was more mature than her age would suggest. Anne's early childhood, while truly difficult, contributed to developing a certain degree of self-dependence. Often under emotional pressure and dealing with heavy workloads, she was forced to adapt to the conditions imposed by the unfavorable environment. But beyond that, they also created a deep sense of humility and inner strength within her—rather than becoming downhearted, Anne learned to find happiness amidst pain. As someone able to enjoy the littlest things in life, even an ordinary day feels splendid to her. Despite showing slight signs of vanity, this immense gratitude towards the world is what keeps Anne from being a spoilt and selfish child. In face of this, Marilla, even if entirely against the idea of adoption at first, slowly develops a profound appreciation for the girl's sincerity and gumption. Anne's subsequent endeavors, through honest mistakes and awkward scrapes, are both genuine and amusing, playing an essential role in her growth as a person. Intertwined with her coming of age, various branches explore the cracks and corners of childhood. Be it with the little girl who longs for life-long friendships, or the diligent student who strives for excellence in every undertaken task, or the matured teenager who is conflicted due to the bigger responsibilities that come with age; there's always aspects one can easily relate to. With each passing episode, the viewer gradually gets to know more about the apprehensions, aspirations and fancies that inhabit the young protagonist's mind. And in similar pace, the audience witnesses the flow of time that so pervades human life. Time: an ever-changing and constant stream of events that shapes and changes everything around civilization, from the world's landscapes and oceans to a person's personality and appearance. In the same manner that it brings good things, it also takes away. In Akage no Anne, this concept is conveyed through Anne's growth and the changes within the environment after her arrival. Conceptually, the very premise of the story is rooted deep in the notion that life is subject to time and chance. Matthew, who's in his sixties, is with each passing day showing more symptoms of age, and he is no longer is able to keep up with the tiring farm work as he once did. Marilla, although still not short of vigor, is already past the midpoint of her life's journey, and her eyes no longer work as well as in the past. Ever since the siblings' parents died, only the two of them have been living in the house, and as they grew older and older, the place took on a silent and solemn atmosphere. The orphan's arrival at their abode, however, marks the beginning of a new era. Anne's grateful and vivacious nature brings a vitality and color long lost in the house, acting as a catalyst for mutual growth between the residents that gradually starts resembling that of a unified family. However, witnessing the heartfelt relationship between Anne, Matthew and Marilla as they grow together as a family and deal with the tribulations of life is only part of the journey. Beyond the basic premise, Akage no Anne is a subtle yet insightful look into the etiquettes, norms and principles that form the foundation for the identity of the inhabitants of Avonlea. Similarly to the home environment, institutions like school play a critical role in shaping the mindsets of people. Understated in nature, this theme is explored simply through the daily doings and interactions of the cast—something easily discerned by an attentive viewing. Under Marilla's supervision, Anne is taught important societal norms and values. Being a woman whose entire life was built around a set of principles, her main objective is to thoroughly instill these values into Anne. The child's constant lack of concentration and understanding of social norms is seen by Marilla as a big problem that needs fixing. However, contrary to her stern image, the 52-year-old doesn't adopt a needlessly stringent method of teaching, instead allowing Anne to experience a joyful childhood free of unnecessary restrictions. Considering the importance of education in the story's context, school is seen as an integral part of the community's culture and one's development. Fairly unfamiliar to Anne prior to coming to Green Gables, school becomes a pivotal environment in her growth as a young girl. A nurturing place of learning, it is in there where Anne's mind flourishes intellectually. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Anne's teacher, Mrs. Stacy, was a godsend to her. Being one of the very few adults to ever encourage the girl's creative mind and intense use of imagination, she becomes an invaluable role model for the impressionable Anne. Of immense importance over time, school opens a multitude of doors for the diligent student. But among everything, the greatest thing it awarded was an important goal in life: the possibility of attending college and graduating. Anne's process of maturation—subtly perceptible in its early stage, and immense in the long run—is slow and nuanced. As life unfolds, Anne gains size, becomes more self-dependent and responsible, prioritizes more 'grown-up' activities, and develops more lady-like manners. She starts becoming more of a socially respectable person, blossoming into a teenager with a number of aspirations... And so the little Anne grows up. The talkative redhead who used to constantly indulge in her flights of fancy and get into the most unusual situations, experiences a new stage in life where ambitions and life goals reside. However…

The "World Masterpiece Theater" version of "Anne of Green Gables" turns the book into a comprehensive fifty-episode series, absolutely the best adaptation ever made. Anne Shirley is a red-headed orphan girl who talks too much, has a big imagination, and gets herself into all sorts of trouble. When a mistake places her in the care of elderly siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert at Green Gables in the the town of Avonlea, she inspires a lot of headaches, but also becomes a vital piece of their family. Directed by Isao Takahata in his pre-Ghibli days, and staffed by plenty of other familiar names (Miyazaki boarded the first fifteen episodes, Kondo designed the characters), the production is incredibly lavish. I've never seen this amount of well-researched historical detail in any other anime series - the crew actually went to Prince Edward Island to study the architecture and natural scenery - and the resulting visuals are breathtaking. Though it has its bumps, dull stretches, and odd quirks, this is a classic in every sense of the word. A long series like this is the best format for literary classics, because they're often slow paced and episodic. In the case of "Anne," this means there's plenty of room for all of her adventures, not just the famous ones. Anne still walks a ridgepole, renames half the town's landmarks, and mistakenly dyes her hair green, but we also get to watch her grow up from a scatterbrained eleven-year-old to a formidable young woman, who has to face some very tough decisions. The creators were absolutely faithful to the book, to the point of using chapter titles for many episodes, and even fleshed out the ending a bit more than the original. Best of all, despite its age, "Anne" is easily as watchable and wonderful as it was a generation ago.

I can't recommend this show enough especially to slice of life fans. This anime is wholesome, sweet, cute, charming, endearing and something that I hold more dear to me than almost every other anime I've seen. To watch how well they portrayed Anne grow as a character through out the show was simply a delight. To watch the relationships that anne makes with other characters through out the show (particularly mathew) also grow was just pure pleasure. Not to mention that the background art is beautiful and the soundtrack makes you feel light and happy enough that you could be whisked away. My only gripe with the show (other than a few slight animation errors here and there) was that they didn't continue animating more of the books. I recommend watching this an hour a night until the last 6 eps which you should watch all at once.

Anime producers should just take classic literature and make a show for every story, because this rendition of the classic book by L.M. Montgomery was spot on. It is by far the best adaptation of the book that I've seen, and I only wish they had continued to make a series for the next couple of books about the beloved red-haired orphan girl. While the artwork is kind of plain compared to a lot of shows today, everything is neat, friendly to the eyes, colorful and seemingly accurate historically wise. This is a period piece, so that is important. And what can I say about the characters? They are beloved figures from a beloved classic children's tale. Anne is unique and lovable, Marilla is stern but wise and tender-hearted, Matthew is precious, Mrs. Lynde is her typical gossiping but kind self, and Anne's friend Diana is completely adorable. For any fan of Anne of Green Gables, this is totally worth a sit through, and honestly, it should be shown in schools if teachers are teaching this book to their kids. Hey, they can do a little subtitle reading. They'll be fine.

Akage no Anne otherwise known as Anne of Green Gables is a 50 episode slice of life directed by both Isao Takahata (Tale of Princess Kaguya) and Koshi Shigeo. Hayao Miyazaki also worked on this show. He did the layout for it. Akage no Anne is an adaptation of the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. It was aired on something called Sekai Meisaku Gekijō (World Masterpiece Theater) which is a Japanese TV anime staple that showcased an animated version of a different classical book or story. Akage no Anne is the story of an 11-year-old orphan girl with a vast imagination and short temper. She ends up being taken into the Cuthbert house in Avonlea. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert originally wanted to adopt a boy to help Matthew out on the farm, but they got sent Anne Shirley by a mistake, but they decided to keep her anyway, even though they do not officially adopt her. The show follows Anne from when she is 11 years old, until she is 17 years old. I am a big fan of coming of age stories. It is why Aria is my favorite anime. This show is yet another coming of age story that I really enjoyed. Seeing Anne grow up and having to face everything life could throw at her was quite the ride. It was nice and relaxing when it wanted to, but the show could also really hit you like a brick. The music was good and really fit the show, and the animation was ok for the most part. It was not incredible, but it never really needed to. It did have a few moments where the animation was not at its best, but this is also a 50 episode long show, so it is not a huge surprise. I do however have to give a huge shoutout to the backgrounds. The backgrounds were completely painted with watercolor, and they looked absolutely fantastic. I just wanna frame them and put them on my wall. Akage no Anne was the second best show I have watched from the 70s. The way the show portrayed how bonds were forming between Anne, Marilla and Matthew was just fantastic. It also did a really good job showcasing how Anne grew, not just physically, but also mentally. She became more independent and mature. Akage no Anne is honestly one of the best coming of age stories I have seen.

Akage no Anne, probably the best anime for kids - it has a pretty good english dub readily available on youtube (minus one episode). I would say it's probably the best slice-of-life tv show ever. If you are a person who likes reading books, you are in for a treat with this show. I haven't read the book but apparently this show is a near perfect adaptation. And the writing and the pacing of the show very much feels like a good quality fiction book. The animation is serviceable. In terms of technicalities the animation (character animation more specifically) doesn't hold up to shows like Future Boy Conan or Neon Genesis Evangelion, but that is not to say that it looks bad - it actually looks good most of the time (definitely better than most other shows in the same era like Lupin III) but there is a bit of an uncanny valley effect that happens every now and then. However, where the show truly shines is in its static artwork, the background art is phenomenal and is just beautiful to look at. Music is good. It has a classical feel which suits not only the location and time of the story but also the 1970s animation this show uses. If you've seen Grave of the Fireflies it sounds very similar to that. My only complaint about the music is that it sounds quite sentimental which sometimes doesn't quite fit with some of the scenes. There are a two main problems with Akage no Anne (Anne of the Green Gables): 1. The show peaks in the first 2 thirds. This is to be expected because, as with any coming of age story, you'd expect the ending to be a bit slow and sombre. Some people may dislike this change in tone. As Anne becomes less energetic and more adult-like the show becomes less entertaining but, again, this is to be expected. 2. Animation quality is significantly worse in the last third of the show. It's not that bad but it is low frame-rate and a bit less detailed - thankfully the art style of the show is the same and the lower animation quality is only really noticeable with character movement. It feels slightly rushed, and the pacing is noticeably quicker but some of that may have been a stylistic writing choice rather than a budget issue. Despite this however, the ending (last 5 episodes) is pretty good and is comparable to the quality in the middle third of the show. So, with that out of the way, why should you watch Anne of the Green Gables? Aside from its good artwork, world building, and good story, what is it that makes this show shine? Well, Anne of the Green Gables really has fantastic characters and most of the episodes are quite a lot of fun. From childhood antics to very relateable slice of life moments this show has a little bit of something for everyone. And it has a decent bit of tragedy baked in as well. Take the best bits from Only Yesterday and maybe a few elements from My Neighbours the Yamadas and put it into a sprawling 50 episode detailed story, and you have a really good slice of life series. That's basically what Anne of the Green Gables is. How did I find out that this anime, and such a niche one at that, exists and actually end up watching it? 1. Gigguk / Garnt mentioned it in one of his videos in passing. 2. I looked up the anime and found it was made by my two favourite anime creators of all time, Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. 3. It turns out Anne of Green Gables has a pretty passionate community so it's easy to find. If you are looking for anime classics, Akage no Anne is a great one. If you're looking for more classics from the 70s, check out Future Boy Conan, another critically acclaimed TV shows made by the two Studio Ghibli directors, Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.

Anne of Green Gables is a coming-of-age story—one of the best I have seen. Truly remarkable. It had a slow start, but the emotions, which I consider one of the key elements of the anime, were there from the very beginning. The character development throughout the series was spectacular; you can see the fruits of it by the end. All of those events shaped the anime beautifully. Anne's imagination played a crucial part in it. The friendship, rivalry, and heartbreak—every sort of emotion was there. It felt like I was reliving my own childhood. Anne's mental growth was also illustrated very well. The scenery and music are top-notch, fitting perfectly with the atmosphere the anime tries to present. Probably the most significant event of the anime comes very late, serving as the culmination of everything that happens before. Truly incredible. The ending is also done well.

“But that’s a girls’ book, Mom!” Truthfully, the idea of reading Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables and its many sequels was never ventured in my childhood, but that outburst is how I imagine my younger self reacting to the proposition. All my knowledge of it prior to adulthood was a vague image of a redheaded pigtailed girl, and that it was a book that girls liked – my sister, most notably. Which is a shame! I have since become aware of its status as a classic of children’s literature all over the world, and better late than never, I have finally had the opportunity to experience the story myself. Perhaps all too predictably to those who know me, I chose the anime adaptation, itself considered a classic in Japan alongside the novel. And within a single episode of this adaptation, directed by the legendary Isao Takahata, I knew that what I was watching was indeed a masterpiece, and that I had missed out for the first few decades of my life. Anne of Green Gables is a familiar story to most, yours truly not included until recently. Siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, both starting to feel their age, ask to adopt a boy from the local orphanage to help out around their home of Green Gables. Through some strange twist of fate, the child waiting for Matthew at the train station is Anne Shirley, a redheaded waif of a girl – decidedly not who Marilla had in mind – and her life there forms the focus of the rest of the story. Anne herself makes a striking first impression – imaginative, romantic, inquisitive, and bright, which immediately endears her to Matthew. Her strong will and orphan background connected with Japanese girls as well – postwar Japan had many girls in similar situations. These traits drew me to her as well, but it occurred to me soon afterward that it would be all too easy for a character like Anne to become irritating, at least as an adult: while all of her aforementioned positive traits are ever-present, she also possesses a fiery temper, a penchant for melodrama, a propensity for grudges, and a certain tendency for day-dreaming at the expense of the things around her – all of which are traits I find irritating in real people. Sure, the backstory of an orphan in danger of being sent away would have garnered some sympathy, but backstories alone are cheap, and the memory of hers would have faded without more. Alongside a stellar vocal performance by Eiko Yamada, what makes Anne work in spite of her flaws is that we spend so much time from her perspective: the anime adapts approximately one chapter per episode, and this leaves us with enormous amounts of time to just hang out with her – not necessarily even doing much, just enjoying the company. Thus, even when Anne is at her most unreasonable – and to be clear, there are many of these moments – we can empathize with her perspective. There is indeed great applicability toward real life to be found here. This added perspective makes her growth into a mature young woman by the series’ end all the more rewarding, because we have been with her from the start and really seen her at her lowest. It would be all to easy, given the story’s focus on Anne, to neglect the other major characters’ perspectives, but Montgomery’s characters are all so well-written and Takahata realizes them so thoroughly that none (minus that deliberate snob Josie Pye) are ever lacking in sympathy. Perhaps her most impressive feat is in the character of Marilla Cuthbert. Parental figures in children’s stories are often either overbearing or obviously, flagrantly wrong about the conflicts their children are facing, and like Anne, Marilla could have very easily been pigeonholed into such a trope. Indeed, had I read the book as a child, that likely would have been my view of her. But experiencing the story now, I find myself relating to her: Marilla is a very stable, sensible, no-nonsense woman, whose naturally strict nature contrasts with her brother’s shyness and passivity – I get the feeling Matthew would have spoiled Anne if given the chance. One of Marilla’s self-stated goals is to instill some sensibility into Anne, who she often finds exasperating. Again, it would be easy for this relationship to be stereotypical, but Marilla is often right, and is able to admit her faults, albeit slowly, when she is convinced that she has been wrong, as in the incident of the amethyst broach, and seeks advice when she recognizes she is out of her depth, such as when Anne becomes frustrated with school and decides to study at home. Her and Anne’s parallel arcs – Marilla becoming less uptight, and Anne growing more sensible – were another aspect of the show I found immensely satisfying. More broadly than the characters, perhaps this story’s greatest strength is its indulgence in ordinary things. Over and over again, I found myself thinking, “It’s just a broach; it’s just puffed sleeves on a dress; it’s just a cake. Why am I getting so emotional over these things?” Occasionally these would be things I could relate to – I remember fondly the first time I received a letter addressed to “Mr. Johneaston” – but more often than not they were unfamiliar events. Such high emotional investment would be impossible without attachment to the characters, but I think that the setting may have just as much to do with it; the characters are already incredibly lifelike in writing, but the world that they inhabit received just as much attention to detail. I must confess that I have little idea of how much of the character writing can be attributed to Takahata and co., except that the show has a reputation for being faithful. I can, however, see the incredible effort that was put into the series’ production. Akage no Anne, as it is called in Japanese, premiered in 1979, and was one of the most lavishly produced series of the decade. The background art, created by Masahiro Ioka and his team of artists, is among the most gorgeous in anime’s history, and their attention to detail in every aspect contributes so much to the verisimilitude of the experience. The houses have wallpapers! That was unheard-of in TV animation of the time, and largely still is. Avonlea genuinely feels like a real place, grounding and heightening the emotions of the characters on-screen. When Anne enters an imaginative daydream, the scenery shifts to something out of a fairy tale, whose impact I can only describe in the way that they stole my breath the first time I saw them. Takahata would use this device again later in his films Gauche the Cellist and Only Yesterday, but never was the tonal shift so drastic or so impactful as it was here. Another aspect of the production that requires commendation is the character design. Given that the story takes place over many years, it makes sense that the characters would visibly age, but most animated series avoid such details due to the added strain it puts on the animators. Not so here. The man of the hour in this respect is undoubtedly character designer and animation director Yoshifumi Kondo (though the idea was likely Takahata’s, he himself famously couldn’t draw). While the animation is, for the most part, of its time, Kondo’s herculean care toward the consistent drawings added even more immersion to the world in spite of their limited movement. Anne and her bosom friend Diana age very slowly – so slowly we hardly notice, until a single moment when, all of a sudden, Anne has grown up. This large change, so sudden and drastic after the slowness of earlier episodes, is alone enough to elicit emotion; Marilla is taken aback, and I dare not deny the impact this single change had on me – I cannot emphasize enough how much the time we spend with these characters means to these payoffs. Is this what it feels like to be a parent? I think I can empathize a bit with those emotions a bit better now. Even the older characters receive some of the same treatment – Matthew’s and Marilla’s hair greys slightly, and Marilla begi…

I've already mentioned my history with Anne of Green Gables in my previous reviews of both the books and the Before Green Gables anime, so I won't repeat myself here. But I will gladly go on and on about how much I love the World Masterpiece Theater and their adaptations of various Western children's literature every chance I get. Several of my favorite anime come from there, and sure enough, Anne of Green Gables was one of many books that Japan decided to adapt into an anime in the year 1979. Anne as a series actually has quite the history when it came to being brought to Japan, which this article here (anneofgreengables. com/blog-posts/how-anne-became-popular-in-japan ) goes into great detail about. Not only that, famous anime director Isao Takahata was head director of the series, with Hayao Miyazaki doing layouts and scene designs for a good chunk of episodes and animated the opening sequence. If you're interested in a deep-dive history behind the anime's production, I highly recommend you read this article about Anne on AnimeTudes (animetudes. com/2022/05/08/anne-of-green-gables). There's a lot of interesting things in there, such as why anime Anne looks the way she does, behind the scenes woes, and additional history on why Anne as a character was so fascinating to a Japanese audience. Anne of Green Gables has had many adaptations across its lifetime, from the earliest movies, the 1979 anime, the famous 1985 Ken Sullivan mini series starring Megan Follows, Netflix's Anne With an E, and a new trilogy of films from 2016-2017 (Which from I've heard, that film trilogy is...not very good). The story centers on two adult siblings, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, who live in a farm on the beautiful Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s. Matthew is getting on in years, so they decide to adopt a boy from an orphanage to have him help around the farm. Yeah, this was apparently a common practice in late 19th century Canada. But a miscommunication has them wind up with a girl, instead, and this girl—Anne Shirley—isn't any ordinary child. She's an outgoing, talkative, energetic red haired kid who loves to imagine things and is a romantic idealist despite the bad life she had up to this point. Although Marilla and Matthew do their best to bring her up, they can't contain her wild energy, and Anne finds herself in a variety of situations, like making friends, dealing with boys, learning things in school, wishing she could follow current fashion trends despite Marilla's distaste for anything extravagant and fashionable, and so on. One thing's for sure: Avonlea won't be the same with her around, and maybe this will prove to be a good thing for everyone involved. For an anime that was made in 1979, Anne of Green Gables looks absolutely amazing. The hand-painted backgrounds are a feast for the eyes, using earthy tones and soft colors that really make Avonlea come right to life. You could take a single screenshot and put it in a frame, they're that good. It helps that the team that worked on this anime took care to do all the research they could to depict everything from the house architecture, the rolling prairies, to life in 19th century Canada as accurately as possible, even visiting Canada itself to really get the details right. On that front, they succeeded with flying colors. Of course, the actual animation is no slouch either, with equally down-to-earth, realistic motion that favors naturalism over exaggeration (With the exception of scenes where we get to see Anne's imagination go into overdrive), with the character designs also reflecting this. I've heard some reviewers complain that Anne looks weird here, but that's the point. She's described that way in the book as well, so it makes sense that the character designers would make Anne look gangly and not pretty like her peers. Then again, there were plans to make Anne look more like a shoujo anime protagonist, in line with translator Hanako Muraoka's interpretation of the character, as detailed in that AnimeTudes article I linked, but that idea got scrapped because Takahata wanted her to look more realistic, a decision I feel was the right one. Speaking of realism, Anne of Green Gables is a series that lacks much in the way of conflict and is mainly a slice-of-life series. The characters actually behave and feel like real human beings, whose problems and daily lives feel real and down-to-earth rather than exaggerated just for the sake of milking drama like in a soap opera, and engage in all sorts of situations that people can relate to. I mean, what kid hasn't experienced dealing with the antics of rambunctious boys, trying to convince your parents to let you go to a late night event like a concert, dying your hair for the first time, or playing games involving daring people to do ridiculous things? Takahata and his team did an amazing job in developing the characters and showing them changing and growing as the series goes on, like with Anne going from an energetic, talkative kid to a more mature, restrained 16-year-old at the end of the series. Though because the series is 50 episodes long, and what few conflicts it shows are very far apart from each other, it can be very easy to dismiss the show as being boring and dull. You really need to be able to enjoy slice-of-life if you want to enjoy this series. But overall, the character development and writing here is master class. Even the soundtrack is quite lovely. Both opening and ending songs by Ritsuko Ohwada are all beautiful, swelling orchestral numbers that manage to both encapsulate the series' tone and Anne's moments of whimsy. The insert songs and background tracks are nice and have their own unique, rustic charm, whether it be soft oboes, bouncy violins, or even Japanese renditions of actual Victorian era songs like Nelly In The Hazel Dell. Every piece of music fits like a glove, and there were never any points where it felt out of place. The voice acting is also stellar and wonderfully down-to-earth when it needs to be, with Anne's voice actress, Eiko Yamada, making her voice acting debut here, which would cement her career for years to come. Don't expect Anne to sound like a high pitched cutesy moe girl here, because this isn't the series for that. I admit I still find it hard to believe that Kazuhiko Inoue plays Gilbert here, as you would not be able to recognize him whether you're familiar with his work or not. If you're interested in watching this adaptation specifically, the series has received complete fansubs twice, so it's not hard to watch in its original form. But one interesting thing about this series is that back in the eighties or nineties, it actually received a complete English dub which was produced in, of all places, South Africa, using an all-British voice cast. You can read more about its history here. It was posted on YouTube a few years back, and later someone spliced the English audio with higher quality footage from the Japanese blu-ray. I've been watching it quite a bit, and...surprisingly, it's a LOT better than I initially thought it'd be. Considering how dubbing was still a new concept, especially in other countries, most dubs from that era tend to...not be very good, especially ones not specialized in their native language, and I was honestly worried that this dub was going to be terrible. While I do question why the dub decided to hire British voice actors for a series that's clearly set in Canada, the dub itself is really good. All the actors put on fine, down-to-earth performances fitting their assigned characters. Even the narrator sounds like he wouldn't be out of place doing stuff for National Geographic. The only noticeable problems it has are the lip sync being slightly off at times and getting some names wrong (Anne's imaginary friend Katie Maurice is referred to as Kathy Morris, and the song Nelly In The Hazel Dell is referred to as Nelly In The Hazelnut Bush, though those got rectified in later episo…

I never thought that a slice of life would enchant me so much! and I must admit that Akage no Anne is one of those productions that should be considered as immortals!! Each episode is an audiovisual delight for all those who love slice of life and vintage animation. If you know how to appreciate the little everyday things in life, along with beautiful landscape backgrounds full of details and pastel colors, this is undoubtedly an excellent anime for you. In this production, the development of characters matters more, seeing them grow gives pure satisfaction and you will feel comfortable with at least some of the experiences of the protagonist. Vintage animation, beautiful landscapes full of details, endearing characters and a beautiful Soundtrack __en español___ Jamás creí que un slice of life iba a encantarme tanto! y debo admitir que Akage no Anne es de esas producciones que deberían ser consideradas como immortales!! Cada episodio es un deleite audiovisual para todos aquellos amantes al Slice of life y la animación vintage. Si sabes apreciar las pequeñas cosas cotidianas de la vida, junto a hermosos fondos de paisajes llenos de detalles y colores apastelados, este sin duda es un excelente anime para ti. En ésta producción importa mas el desarrollo de personajes, verlos crecer da pura satisfacción y te sentirás a gusto al menos con alguna de las vivencias de la protagonista. Animación vintage, paisajes hermosos llenos de detalles, personajes entrañables y un hermoso OST

A faithful and masterfully charming animated companion to the original book about a freckled red-headed orphan. As someone who was introduced to this version after following a thread of curiosity from the recent "Anne Shirley", I have to say I am overjoyed to have discovered it a few months ago. I watched the BD edition with the english dub and it was especially a treat to behold after growing tired of most middle-of-the-road anime these days. You'll find no Isekai here, no Shounen battles or cutesy Slice of Life (though you will get to know Anne intimately throughout a portion of her own). The literary classic series from over 100 years ago is brought to life by a Japanese anime studio from over 45 years ago... Akage no Anne is, to keep it simple, a breath of fresh air for anyone who enjoys masterpiece theater programs. If you find old world charm and a heavy air of intellect in period pieces like I do, you will swear by this animation. As mentioned above, this project is quite old itself, and thanks to its pre-digital hand painted cels - Victorian Era Canada feels much more believable and tangible to your eyes. There are some truly wonderous and eye-catching moments throughout the more "imaginative" years of Anne's childhood. And thanks to the BD quality, the richness and color of the original work is free to dazzle you. It is still a product of its time, but that's also a large part of its charm. The animators had no digital pens and digital software to insta-delete mistakes they may have made, everything you see was painted onto physical cels and animated like a flip book. The works of the pre-digital age have a distinct pop to them, a certain look that can only be attained by having actual layers of art on them, not just binary layers blended together in a digital program. I personally believe that any period piece animated during our current digital era is forever disconnected from a certain element of tangibility necessary to make the old times depicted truly believable. Akage no Anne does not have this problem, you can literally see the motes of dust and dirt on the cels which proves how "real" the art actually is. The beautiful environments surrounding Green Gables are translated perfectly into visual form. The painted backgrounds especially are truly wonderous in my opinion, nothing looks flat or ugly. It's so beautiful and refreshing to see after so many anime from recent times with abysmal CGI or lazy and completely uninspired drab backgrounds. The homes and various architectures from Victorian Era Canada are also represented well, everything is believable, and you will often see characters making tea or baking food using the antiquated technology of the era. The house interiors and wallpapers are especially a treat. I suppose one of the most noteworthy things about Akage no Anne's visuals is that they have (as we would call it now) that distinct "Studio Ghibli" style. The fun fact being Hayao Miyazaki, yes that one, and some of the crew that would go on to form Studio Ghibli in the 80s actually worked on Akage no Anne. You could basically call Nippon Animation at the time - Proto Ghibli. I believe this is most apparent during the first 3rd of the series when Anne is quite small and prone to daydreaming. You can just see with your eyes the care and wonder in certain moments that would go on to become the animated staple of Ghibli. As for the story, I have been told that Akage no Anne is quite faithful to the original book by L. M. Montgomery, at least when it comes to the time period actually covered by the show (11-17 year old Anne). Every major event is covered, but more importantly, the little and more subtle moments are as well. This is one of the biggest problems with "Anne Shirley", it has no detail. The pacing is rushed, the subtlety is all but gone, and the characters often move and act out of their era. The Victorian Era had down to earth people, quite reserved, homely... and Akage no Anne reflects this mentality well, much better than the new show whose bouncy character animations can often take you out of the time period supposedly being represented on screen. Akage no Anne has wonderful pacing. There are often episodes where nothing of real substance happens, but you aren't bored for a minute and before you know it the end credits are playing. That's the mark of a truly well-paced show. You lose yourself in the world and the characters and the goings on no matter how big or small. You get a real feel for Anne as a person and Avonlea as a community. You'll watch her grow, make mistakes, make friends, star in village Christmas plays, that sort of thing. Anne and Diana's friendship is especially heartwarming to see. The last thing I want to mention is the spirituality of it all. Despite being made in 1970s Japan, the Christianity of Anne of Green Gables remains intact and is venerated. Faith and the faithful are not denigrated and subverted like you would see in many post-modern "western" productions. Religion is treated as a backbone of the community, and something to fill your soul with joy. The wife of the town priest Mrs. Allen is a common confidant for Anne, and they get along very well. This was quite refreshing to see. Although I was introduced to Akage no Anne through Anne Shirley, it has turned out to be a far better adaptation. You owe it to yourself to watch this Proto-Ghibli production if you have any love in your heart for Anne of Green Gables, literary classics, traditional animation, or masterpiece theater. It is a delightful little period piece of the Victorian Era, based on a book series that is popular in both the west and the east. I would also recommend watching Konnichiwa Anne at least once, as that covers the very early life of red-headed Anne.

This anime is directed by the same director who directed The Grave of the Fireflies. Also Hayao Miyazaki did the scene setting and layout. So we had two of the GOATS from Studio Ghibli work on this anime. And its incredible. Its partly because the source material, the books, is probably very good. Cuz these novels have been adapted multiple times. Latest adaptation is a Spring 2025 anime called Anne Shirley. I am giving it a full score as its is one of the best Slice of Life I have ever seen. I would say its even better than the 2025 anime that's airing right now. This simply is one of the best coming of age stories, in my opinion. Biggest strength of the show is Anne. Her personality is is endearing and it is fun to watch her grow up from a young girl to a young lady. I also love the hand drawn animation even though it falls short at times. You should also watch this if you want to watch a realistic anime based on a simplistic world where there is no computers, no cell phones, no social media. Anne has to physically meet others for any communication. And that all makes all her social interaction all the more special.

I have never considered writing a review before, but after watching Akage no Anne, I must. Akage no Anne, despite its age is one of a kind coming of age story, and i've watched my fair share of them. But few managed to get the sense of meaningful progression, growing and the difficulties of becoming an adult. It is mostly thanks to its beautiful art and pacing. That pacing that took its time in Anne's first years, to only surprise me in its increased intensity by witnessing that Anne, became taller , more measured and mature than before, something that is often forced or rushed on other works, here is done gradually and with a masterful sense scope. The art is beautifull, even for today and while the animation in itself show its age, the attention to detail is what set it apart. The soundtrack is equally good, classical and "romantique", like Anne. Its recurring motifs will help carry Anne's feelings accross more easily in a subtle manner, accompanying the scenes smoothly. But what brought much joy to me was the faitfullness in its adaptation from the books, words for words in most cases (depending on what subtitles or dubbing you are watching), and this alone is worth a thousands praises because more often than not, liberties are taken in the most almost all adaptations. This gave me a great support to transpose what i had thought would look like when i read the books and what i saw in the anime, it is a wonderful feeling that i've rarely experienced before while watching animes. The only downside i could think of is the animation quality on some later episodes and the overall lack of "texture" on the clothing, but nothing that is major and must be expected for an anime of 1979. I guess the constraints to make such a long running show were taking its toll near the end, but they pulled it off by giving us a very emotional final arc that, i am sure will not leave you emotionless. I first became aware of L.M. Montgommery's Anne of Green Gables through the 2025 remake of Akage no Anne (Anne Shirley), after that I surprised myself by watching most of its adapations and reading the first two books. It is a work of art and a true literrature classic and i am glad to have stumbled upon, even this late in my life. In all, Akage no Anne is masterfully crafted mosaic, faithful to its source material and gripping in its emotional storytelling. For me, its a Masterpiece, a one of a kind, that I will cherish from then on.

Produced in 1979, the anime is based on the classic novel Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The series is part of the Sekai Meisaku Gekijō (World Masterpiece Theater) project and follows the journey of Anne Shirley, from her unexpected arrival at Green Gables to her adaptation to her new life. Initially, siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert intended to adopt a boy to help with farm chores, but they end up receiving Anne, a red-haired girl full of dreams and ambitions, which she believes are impossible to achieve. Until then, Anne had lived a life marked by emotional deprivation and disappointments. As a result, she often relies on her vivid imagination, a tool that allows her to see herself and the world in an idealized and optimistic way. Another striking characteristic of Anne is her deep appreciation for nature, represented in the series through settings reminiscent of impressionist art. The landscapes are painted with soft, natural colors, using loose brushstrokes that give them a poetic and enchanting feel. This is easily noticeable in the anime during static scenes of nature appreciation, which frequently highlight the changing seasons and the introduction of new environments. This visual care, combined with a beautiful soundtrack, reinforces the importance of this element in creating a cozy and pleasant atmosphere, captivating from start to finish. Additionally, the work has a more measured pace, focusing on character development, which, for some, may seem slow or tiring. However, watching little Anne mature over time and build meaningful relationships is one of the most rewarding experiences the anime offers. A clear example is the evolution of her relationship with Marilla, who, initially rigid and pragmatic, becomes loving and understanding. Witnessing the sincere friendship between Anne and Diana and seeing Matthew striving to express his feelings are moments that warm the heart and enrich the narrative. Akage no Anne is one of the few works that, on several occasions, moved me to tears, and the only one that made me cry like a child.

This anime is an absolute joy to watch. The story is simple but extremely effective in its execution. Anne is a wonderful character to watch grow and it makes your heart warm with her innocence and wit. It is a near perfect or possibly even perfect slice of life anime that has ever been made in my opinion. The reason of my praise is easier to understand if I compare it to other top quality slice of life anime such as Aria the animation. Lets start with the setting and tone of the show. Akage no Anne is set in Canada in Prince Edward Island, while Aria is set in Neo Venezia, a city in planet Aqua that was originally Mars. Essentially a replica of Venice. Akage no Anne starts off on a sad note with Anne being sent wrongly to the Cuthbert family when they were originally adopting a boy to help with farm work, but they eventually accept her and her life starts at Green Gables. Aria has no such struggle at the beginning. It simply is happy and relaxing right at the start. Which isn't a bad thing but it immediately sets the general tone of the show. What I mean is that it will be an relaxing ride all the way through. Akage no Anne however sets up a story of growth for the young girl and your understanding that it will have some very human ups and downs in for Anne in her life. This create a compelling story to follow. Now essentially there is not much else to say for Aria because the show simply is a top quality relaxing ride in a boat with moments of supernatural events. Now Anne has had a difficult life leading up to her arrival to Green Gables and she simple wants to be her own person that can decide how she wants to live. Her overactive imagination reflects her yearning for a sense of stability and freedom compared to her past. She starts naming the fresh new places she passes by and starts to get familiar with her new surroundings and the people around her. Of course she starts with her new parents, Matthew and Marilla, Then she meets her best friend and classmate Diana and more. All the characters that we meet merged together to creates a beautiful story of family, friendship, and love. Truly a great series to watch and definitely recommended.

Akage no Anne is based on a book about a girl named Anne. She experiences some tragedy in her early years which result in her becoming an orphan. I found it by hitting the random button. It being nearly 50 years old at the time of writing this and starting a little slowly I found it hard to push through the first dozen or so episodes. I am really glad I have the "finish what you start" attitude because it turned out to be really good through it's completion. We meet Anne Shirley at the train station as she awaits her adopter. That in itself is a little complicated, as the family that come to pick her up are confused themselves. All is worked out and we get to watch the world around Anne which takes on Prince Edward Island in Canada unfold. Anne herself is not familiar with the world. How can she be at only eleven and being orphaned. Akage no Anne is basically the story of her growing into a young adult. Through it all we get to see Anne juggle reality with her overactive imagination, struggle with her self esteem in various ways and balance friendships accordingly. I must say I really enjoyed the story. I think the author did well to capture some of what life struggles would be for someone like Anne to go through. In terms of it being brought to TV, I am not sure if it was just the style of animation and sound at the time. Maybe whoever was responsible chose to do it the way they did because of the books themselves. However seeing the pastel nature scenery through the show, coupled with the instrumental inserts, and even the few ballads as Anne and her bosom buddy Diana walk through life was a great touch. There is change in the Cuthberts too. It's is to be expected when you are raising a child, right? I really was so lost in the future in front of Anne at the end I didn't see the bend coming... That's a play on titles without giving spoilers... Akage no Anne the Anime may be just under 50 years old, which is based on a book that is nearly 120 years old at the time of this writing but I think it's a story that really does an amazing job of capturing what it is to be a human and go through life with the peaks and valleys that we all experience. I am really grateful I stumbled upon this Anime.