Anne of Green Gables (1979 TV series)

Anne of Green Gables (赤毛のアン) 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 to December 30. Fifty episodes were produced in total. 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 (Anna dai capelli rossi; Anne… la maison aux pignons verts; Ana de las Tejas Verdes; Ana dos Cabelos Ruivos; 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. 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.

Summary
The anime was directed by Isao Takahata. He chose to hold this version true to the original source material, although his two previous works (Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother) had been adapted and altered.

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.

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 film in 1989. A theatrical release was scheduled, but it received instead a limited release in selected cities between July and August 1990. A VHS of the film was also released in 1992. 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) on July 17, 2010. Both the theatrical release and the entire original series are available on Blu-ray.

Characters

 * Anne Shirley
 * Marilla Cuthbert
 * Matthew Cuthbert
 * Mrs. Spencer
 * Mrs. Rachel Lynde
 * Diana Barry
 * Mr. Barry
 * Mrs. Barry
 * Minnie May Barry
 * Gilbert Blythe
 * Mr. Phillips
 * Reverend and Mrs. Allan
 * Josie Pye
 * Ruby Gillis
 * Jane Andrews
 * Josephine Barry

Music

 * Opening theme: "Kikoeru Kashira (I wonder if you can hear it)", lyrics written by Eriko Kishida, composed by Akira Miyoshi, sung by Ritsuko Ohwada
 * Ending theme: "Samenai Yume", lyrics written by Eriko Kishida, 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. It has subsequently appeared on best-anime lists conducted by TV Asahi's audience polls and those produced by outlets like Animage.

Shigeto Mori has received two posthumous JASRAC International Awards for his work on the series, first in 2003 and then in 2010.