Anne of Green Gables (Japanese: 赤毛のアン, Hepburn: Akage no An, 'Red-haired Anne') is a Japanese animated television series and the fifth entry in Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater (which has been known by several different names). It was adapted from the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Produced by Nippon Animation in 1979, it was first broadcast on Fuji TV from January 7, 1979, to December 30, 1979. Fifty episodes were produced in total.[1] The first six episodes were later edited into a compilation film released in 2010.
The series has been exported to neighbouring Asian countries and also to Europe and French Canada (Italian: Anna dai capelli rossi; French: Anne… la maison aux pignons verts; Spanish: Ana de las Tejas Verdes; Portuguese: Ana dos Cabelos Ruivos; German: Anne mit den roten Haaren). An English dub produced by Leephy Studios aired on SABC and Japan Entertainment Television.
As with the novels, the animated version of Anne is beloved in Japan to this day. The "DVD Memorial BOX set" for Region 2 was released on August 22, 2008, and a Blu-Ray of the series was released in Japan on March 26, 2014.[2][3] An anime series that serves as a prequel to the series, Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables, premiered on April 5, 2009, in Japan.
Story
Anne Shirley is a girl raised in an orphanage. Anne is accidentally sent to Miss Marilla Cuthbert and Mr. Matt Cuthbert, who had originally requested a boy. Miss Marilla is surprised at first. After Marilla learns of Anne's sad past, Anne gradually becomes an irreplaceable member of the Cuthbert family.
Hayao Miyazaki did the scene setting and layout. Previously, he had worked on 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, although he left the production and Nippon Animation after the first 15 episodes. Miyazaki noticed a difference in Takahata's philosophy of animation; Takahata stuck to controlled, realistic acting at the time, similar to his former work. Miyazaki had not intended to do other work with Takahata, but he had also not planned on becoming independent at this stage of his career.[1]
Yoshifumi Kondō was selected for character design and animation director over Yoichi Kotabe, who had stopped work with Takahata after 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother of the previous work. Kondo went on to work with Takahata on the films Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday. The voice of Anne was provided by Eiko Yamada, who would become a staple of World Masterpiece Theatre anime, going on to play Lavinia in Princess Sarah and Jo March in Little Women (the latter of which also featured character designs by Kondo).
The first six episodes were edited together by Takahata into a 100-minute theatrical movie in 1989. A theatrical release was scheduled, but it received instead a very limited release in selected cities between July and August 1990. A VHS of the movie was also released in 1992. On July 17, 2010, it was screened at the Ghibli Museum as Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (赤毛のアン グリーンゲーブルズへの道, Akage no An: Green Gables e no Michi, Red-haired Anne: Road to Green Gables).[4] Both the theatrical release and the entire original series are available on Blu-ray.
Anne Shirley arrives at a rural train station in Prince Edward Island. She meets Matthew Cuthbert who has come to collect her. He is confused and unsure what to do. Reluctantly, he decides to take her to Green Gables, the farm he owns with his sister Marilla in the village of Avonlea.
2
"Marilla Cuthbert is Surprised" "Marira Kasubaato Odoroku" (Japanese: マリラ・カスバート驚く)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
January 14, 1979 (1979-01-14)
Matthew brings the girl, Anne Shirley, to Green Gables, and she is blissfully happy at the thought of being able to live there. Marilla is less than pleased, but allows Anne to stay the night.
3
"Morning at Green Gables" "Guriin Geiburuzu no Asa" (Japanese: グリーン・ゲイブルズの朝)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Aiko Isomura
January 21, 1979 (1979-01-21)
Anne's first morning at Green Gables is marred by the knowledge that she won't be staying. Matthew expresses a desire to keep Anne, but Marilla decides to take her to Mrs Spencer and inquire about the mistake.
4
"Anne's History" "An Oitachi o Kataru" (Japanese: アン・生い立ちを語る)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
January 28, 1979 (1979-01-28)
On the way to White Sands, Anne tells Marilla of her life so far. Marilla begins to feel pity for Anne, passed from home to home and starved for love.
5
"Marilla Makes up Her Mind" "Marira Kesshinsuru" (Japanese: マリラ・決心する)
Mrs Spencer denies knowing the Cuthberts asked for a boy instead of a girl. While at the Spencers', a strict neighbour called Mrs Blewett visits and offers to take Anne.
6
"Anne of Green Gables" "Guriin Geiburuzu no An" (Japanese: グリーン・ゲイブルズのアン)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Aiko Isomura
February 11, 1979 (1979-02-11)
Matthew and Marilla decide to keep Anne at Green Gables. Anne goes for a walk, but comes back late. Marilla tells Anne about a possible best friend for her.
7
"Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Properly Horrified" "Reicheru Fujin Osore o Nasu" (Japanese: レイチェル夫人恐れをなす)
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
February 18, 1979 (1979-02-18)
When Mrs. Lynde rudely speaks her mind on Anne's appearance, Anne gets so offended that she tells her off. Anne must learn to apologize for what she did even though Mrs. Lynde wasn't right.
8
"Anne's Impressions of Sunday School" "An Nichiyō Gakkō e Iku" (Japanese: アン・日曜学校へ行く)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
February 25, 1979 (1979-02-25)
Anne is disappointed that her new Sunday clothes (made by Marilla) are so plain, so along the way to church she dresses up her hat with wildflowers. Afterward she talks about what she thinks of Sunday School.
9
"A Solemn Vow" "Ogosokana Chikai" (Japanese: おごそかな誓い)
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
March 4, 1979 (1979-03-04)
Anne and Diana meet and vow to be good best friends.
10
"Anne Plays with a Best Friend" "An Kokoro no Tomoto Asobu" (Japanese: アン・心の友と遊ぶ)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
March 11, 1979 (1979-03-11)
Anne and Diana play together.
11
"Anne Loses Marilla's Brooch" "Marira Buroochi o Nakusu" (Japanese: マリラ・ブローチをなくす)
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
March 18, 1979 (1979-03-18)
Marilla's brooch that Anne was admiring goes missing, and Anne, who denies having anything to do with it, is punished and grounded until she confesses.
Marilla still thinks Anne is not telling her the truth, so she won't let her attend the picnic as punishment and grounded for hiding her brooch. So the girl finally comes up with a confession to end her punishment.
13
"Anne Goes to School" "An Gakkō e Iku" (Japanese: アン・学校へ行く)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
April 1, 1979 (1979-04-01)
Anne has her first day of school, and while she dislikes the teacher, has fun.
14
"A Tempest in Class" "Kyōshitsu Sōdō" (Japanese: 教室騒動)
Isao Takahata
Kaizō Kamiyama
April 8, 1979 (1979-04-08)
The flirtatious and bold prankster Gilbert Blythe returns to town. But he goes too far when he jokingly calls Anne "Carrots", and she responds by breaking her slate over his head. When Mr. Phillips makes the two sit together, Anne quits school.
15
"Fall is Coming" "Aki no Otozure" (Japanese: 秋の訪れ)
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
April 15, 1979 (1979-04-15)
Marilla teaches Anne how to make a cake, and Anne has a run-in with Gilbert Blythe.
16
"Diana is Invited to Tea" "Daiana o Ocha ni Maneku" (Japanese: ダイアナをお茶に招く)
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
April 22, 1979 (1979-04-22)
Anne and Diana have a tea party, but Diana starts acting strangely after drinking a few glasses of raspberry cordial.
17
"Anne Returns to School" "An Gakkō e Modoru" (Japanese: アン・学校へもどる)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
May 6, 1979 (1979-05-06)
After Diana is forbidden to play with Anne, Anne decides to return to school.
18
"Anne Rescues Minnie May" "An Minii Mei o Sukū" (Japanese: アン、ミニイ・メイを救う)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
May 13, 1979 (1979-05-13)
Minnie May falls seriously ill while she and Diana are being babysat, and Anne is the only one who may know what to do.
19
"Diana's Birthday" "Daiana no Tanjōbi" (Japanese: ダイアナの誕生日)
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
May 20, 1979 (1979-05-20)
Anne has been invited to go to a concert and sleepover for Diana's birthday. But things go wrong for Diana when the girls get too boisterous during the sleepover.
20
"Spring Once Again" "Futatabi Haru ga kite" (Japanese: 再び春が来て)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
May 27, 1979 (1979-05-27)
Anne enjoys the spring atmosphere and takes over the chores when Marilla gets a headache.
21
"The New Minister's Wife" "Atarashii Bokushi Fusai" (Japanese: 新しい牧師夫妻)
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
June 3, 1979 (1979-06-03)
Mr. Phillips leaves the school, and Anne meets the new minister and his wife.
22
"The Wrong Ingredient" "Kōryō Chigai" (Japanese: 香料ちがい)
Anne catches a cold, and because she loses her sense of taste, mistakenly uses the wrong ingredient in a cake for Mrs. Allen.
23
"Anne is Invited to Tea" "An Ocha ni Yobareru" (Japanese: アン・お茶によばれる)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
June 17, 1979 (1979-06-17)
Anne is invited to tea with the new minister and his wife.
24
"An Affair of Honour" "Menboku o Kaketa Daijiken" (Japanese: 面目をかけた大事件)
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
June 24, 1979 (1979-06-24)
The "dare game" has taken on popularity with the girls of Avonlea, but to protect her pride from Josie Pye, Anne takes on an extremely dangerous dare: Walk the ridgepole of the Barry's house.
25
"A Letter to Diana" "Daiana e no Tegami" (Japanese: ダイアナへの手紙)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
July 1, 1979 (1979-07-01)
When Diana takes ill in another town, Anne thinks back and realizes she hasn't been as good a friend as she should have.
26
"The Concert Plan" "Konsaato no Keikaku" (Japanese: コンサートの計画)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
July 8, 1979 (1979-07-08)
Anne returns to school. The new teacher is wonderful and fair and plans to have a concert to raise money to have a school flag made.
27
"Matthew and the Clothes Shop" "Mashū to Fukuranda Neko" (Japanese: マシュウとふくらんだ袖)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
July 15, 1979 (1979-07-15)
Matthew, unlike Marilla, sees no problem with Anne having a nice dress with puffed sleeves like the other girls. He sets out to get one for her for Christmas, but his well-intentioned plan goes awry when the clerk at the store is female.
28
"The Christmas Concert" "Kurisumasu no Konsaato" (Japanese: クリスマスのコンサート)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
July 22, 1979 (1979-07-22)
Anne receives her Christmas presents, and the eve of the concert arrives.
29
"Anne Starts the Story-telling Club" "An Monogatari-Kurabu o Tsukuru" (Japanese: アン・物語クラブを作る)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
July 29, 1979 (1979-07-29)
Anne finds it hard to settle back into mundane life after the concert, so she starts a creative writing club.
30
"Vanity and Heartache" "Kyoei to Shintsū" (Japanese: 虚栄と心痛)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
August 5, 1979 (1979-08-05)
Anne buys black hair dye from a peddler, but she doesn't get the raven black hair she'd hoped for.
31
"An Unfortunate Lily Maid" "Fūn na Shirayurihime" (Japanese: 不運な白百合姫)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
August 12, 1979 (1979-08-12)
Anne and her friends act out the Lady of Shalott, but Anne soon finds herself in trouble. After her friends run to get Diana's parents, who will come to her rescue?
32
"An Epoch in Anne's Life" "Shoogai no Ichidaiji" (Japanese: 生涯の一大事)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
August 19, 1979 (1979-08-19)
Anne and Diana are invited to Charlottetown by Aunt Josephine. Anne realizes that while city life and fancy things are a lot of fun once in a while, she prefers her country life and leaving things to the imagination.
33
"An Invitation to Queen's Class" "Kuiin-Gumi no Yobikake" (Japanese: クィーン組の呼びかけ)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
August 26, 1979 (1979-08-26)
Anne and Diana quarrel about the future, primarily about marriage. Anne, looking for Matthew for comfort, eats a few apples from a barrel; Jerry claimed the apples were poisoned, a bad joke on his part. Later, Anne hears about the news for Queen's Class that begins the preparation required for the entrance exam. With Matthew's and Marilla's approval, Anne sets her sights towards the future where she dreams of becoming a teacher.
34
"Diana and the Students at Queens" "Daiana to Kuiin-Gumi no Nakama" (Japanese: ダイアナとクィーン組の仲間)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
September 9, 1979 (1979-09-09)
Anne learns what Diana wants to do in the future. After hearing what Marilla has to say, Anne realizes the importance of hearing other people's opinions and accepts Diana's decision as the two make a vow once again. At school during the extra class, Anne feels left out by Gilbert's circle, and when a heavy snowstorm hits the school, Anne can't help but think pleasantly of Gilbert as he handles the situation well and brings the necessary help to evacuate everyone from the school.
35
"Longing for the Summer Holidays" "Natsuyasumi mae no Omowaku" (Japanese: 夏休み前の思わく)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
September 16, 1979 (1979-09-16)
For the holidays, Anne decides to spend her entire break having fun as she is tired of studying. Without realizing it herself, studying has taken its toll on Anne. The reason for why Matthew and Marilla wanted to adopt a boy is revealed.
36
"The Future of the Story Club" "Monogatari-Kurabu no Yukue" (Japanese: 物語クラブのゆくえ)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Takekuni Takano
September 23, 1979 (1979-09-23)
Aftering visiting Idlewild once again and seeing its current condition, Anne and Diana are filled with bittersweet memories. Throughout the episode, Anne can't help but realize how things have started to change as she gets older; from the Story Club to Marilla wearing glasses, many things have already changed.
37
"A 15-Year-Old's Spring" "15sai no Haru" (Japanese: 十五歳の春)
Isao Takahata
Kōzō Kusuba
Takekuni Takano
September 30, 1979 (1979-09-30)
Marilla constantly thinks back to the old times when Anne would talk. With the arrival of the new train station at Carmody, Aunt Josephine visits Green Gables and offers to let Anne stay with her when Anne is in Charlottetown.
38
"My Number is 13" "Jukenbangō wa 13ban" (Japanese: 受験番号は13番)
Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
Shigeki Chiba
October 7, 1979 (1979-10-07)
It's time to attend the Entrance exams in Charlottetown, and all the Avonlea students are anxious to pass. But Anne feels a twinge of worry when she finds out her number is thirteen.
Anne, Jane, Gilbert and everyone else wait restlessly for the exam results. Seeing how tense Anne is, Marilla lets her help Matthew out which puts her at ease. The results come, and Diana runs up the hill to Green Gables.
40
"The Concert Hotel" "Hoteru no Konsaato" (Japanese: ホテルのコンサート)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
October 21, 1979 (1979-10-21)
Anne is invited to recite at a concert to help earn funds to give to a hospital in Charlottetown.
41
"Off to Queen's College" "KuiinGakuin eno Tabidachi" (Japanese: クィーン学院への旅立ち)
Isao Takahata
Kōzō Kusuba
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
October 28, 1979 (1979-10-28)
Mrs.Spencer comes to Green Gables with a new adoption offer made by an American couple, but Anne listens to it as if she were hearing a story. Marilla decides to get a gown made for Anne. Thoughts fill the house as the bittersweet moment finally approaches for Anne to go to Queen's.
042
"Life on a New Campus" "Atarashii Gakuenseikatsu" (Japanese: 新しい学園生活)
Isao Takahata
Kenichi Baba
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
November 4, 1979 (1979-11-04)
A wave of sadness hits Marilla, Matthew and Anne as they face the first night of a new lifestyle. Anne, initially saddened, is visited by Jane, Josie and Ruby in her room where they mention a scholarship to a university. The idea helps fire Anne's ambition: she aims to get the scholarship and earn a Bachelor of Literature.
43
"Home for the Weekends" "Shūmatsu no Kyūka" (Japanese: 週末の休暇)
Isao Takahata
Shigeo Koshi
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
November 11, 1979 (1979-11-11)
Anne is unable to tell Marilla and Matthew of her future plans for further studies. At Green Gables and throughout the Avonlea area, Anne spends some quality time with the two of them.
44
"The Winter at Queen's" "KuiinGakuin no Fuyu" (Japanese: クィーン学院の冬)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Seijirō Kōyama
November 18, 1979 (1979-11-18)
Hearing Matthew's condition from Miss Barry, Anne immediately departs for Green Gables and walks through a snowstorm. After a warming visit at Green Gables, Anne returns to Queen's with an even stronger passion to succeed in her own way by balancing her love of the countryside and her studies.
45
"The Glory and the Dream" "Eikō to Yume" (Japanese: 栄光と夢)
Isao Takahata
Kōzō Kusuba
Shigeki Chiba
Nanako Shiraishi
November 25, 1979 (1979-11-25)
Anne is afraid of seeing the results, and is in a moment of despair when everyone is cheering for Gilbert. Then she hears cheering starting for her! She starts to cry, but is then overwhelmed by happiness at winning the scholarship, while Gil wins the medal; both are awarded at the graduation ceremony. Anne eagerly heads home with Marilla and Matthew to where Diana awaits at Green Gables. Diana tells Anne how Gilbert will not be heading into university right after Queen's but instead will have to work to be able to afford his tuition.
Anne is stuck between a rock and a hard place while thinking of her future: should she stay at Green Gables and help out, seeing how old Matthew and Marilla have gotten, or should she continue her education? Matthew's condition makes Anne especially worried and she wishes she'd been born a boy so she could help out. Matthew assures her, however, that even a dozen boys would not compare to Anne, and for the first time Matthew calls Anne his daughter.
47
"The Reaper Whose Name is Death" "Shi to Yobareru Kariirebito" (Japanese: 死と呼ばれる刈入れ人)
Isao Takahata
Shigeo Koshi
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
December 9, 1979 (1979-12-09)
The sudden news of Abbey's Bank going bankrupt is a huge shock to Matthew's already fragile heart, and it kills him instantly. Marilla is seen performing present-day CPR on Matthew, but to no avail. Everyone in Avonlea goes to Green Gables to mourn, but Anne is the only one unable to cry. The two who cared for Matthew the most seek comfort from each other, as no other person had loved Matthew as profoundly as they did. While crying together, Marilla tells Anne how happy she has been since Anne came to Green Gables, and how it would've been intolerable if she'd had to go through this alone.
48
"Matthew's Farewell" "Mashū Wagaya o Saru" (Japanese: マシュウ我が家を去る)
Isao Takahata
Kazuyoshi Yokota
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
December 16, 1979 (1979-12-16)
The funeral ends with Matthew's burial. Anne plants Matthew's favourite flowers right beside his tombstone. As life moves on, Anne feels guilty that she can still have fun and laugh despite Matthew's death; this holds her back but she learns to accept it. Marilla talks about Gilbert, how his looks remind her of his father, John, who had once been in love with Marilla. Marilla tells Anne how this situation was similar to Anne's and Gilbert's: after a quarrel, Marilla was unable to forgive John, and this broke the two lovers apart. John never came back.
49
"The Bend in the Road" "Magarikado" (Japanese: 曲り角)
Isao Takahata
Kōzō Kusuba
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
December 23, 1979 (1979-12-23)
Marilla learns the fate of her eyes from the eye specialist and now has to change her lifestyle entirely to help ease the strain on her eyes. Anne, seeing Marilla's situation, changes her dream and turns the current predicament into something pleasant. When Marilla mentions her intention to sell Green Gables, as she can no longer maintain it and cannot handle living alone, Anne takes this chance to tell Marilla how she will no longer be going to university, but instead will teach and stay close to Marilla as much as possible. Nothing else, Anne says, matters as much to her as being able to stay by Marilla's side in her time of need.
50
"All is Well on Earth" "Kami wa Ten ni Imashi, Subete Yo wa Koto mo Nashi" (Japanese: 神は天にいまし すべて世は事もなし)
Isao Takahata
Kenichi Baba
Isao Takahata
Yoshihisa Araki
December 30, 1979 (1979-12-30)
News of Anne no longer going to university spreads while Anne gets used to a new life where she helps Marilla out a lot. Ms. Lynde tells Anne about Gilbert's withdrawal from teaching in Avonlea (where he recommended that Anne be the teacher) in favour of teaching at a different school. Anne meets Gilbert on the road, and after they talk and understand each other a little more, they finally become friends. In letters to Stella and Miss Stacy, Anne writes "no matter how narrow my road is, I can still find flowers blooming".
Music
Opening Theme: "Kikoeru Kashira (I wonder if you can hear it)", composed by Akira Miyoshi, sung by Ritsuko Ohwada
Ending Theme: "Samenai Yume", composed by Akira Miyoshi, sung by Ritsuko Ohwada
Reception
The show was well received upon its Japanese debut, helping lift the profile of the source material.[5] It has subsequently appeared on best-anime lists conducted by TV Asahi's audience polls and those produced by outlets like Animage.[6][7][8]
Shigeto Mori has received two posthumous JASRAC International Awards for his work on the series, first in 2003 and then in 2010.[9][10]
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