Princess Sara

Princess Sara (セーラ), also spelled as Princess Sarah for disambiguation purposes, is a Japanese anime television series based on the 1905 children's novel A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It aired from January to December 1985, as part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater. The series follows Sara Crewe, a young student of an all-girls boarding school who later becomes orphaned and is forced to work as a servant.

The anime series was remade into a Filipino live-action film adaptation, released in 1995. A Filipino television drama adaptation aired in 2007. It was also dubbed in other languages including Arabic under the title, Sally (سالي) and was a huge success in the Arab World and widely popular, spanning reruns in the 1990s and early 2000s and was subsequently added to Netflix Middle East on November 19, 2020.

Plot
In 1885, Captain Ralph Crewe, a wealthy English widower living in British-ruled India, enrolls his eight-year-old daughter Sara at the Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies in London. She excels in her studies and is loved deeply by her classmates and friends, but earns the hatred of class representative Lavinia Herbert and the grudge of the headmistress Miss Minchin. On her ninth birthday, Sara learns of her father's death and bankruptcy from an infuriated Miss Minchin, who decides to hire the orphaned girl as an unpaid maid in the school. Miss Minchin and Lavinia attempt to make Sara's life miserable and break her spirit, but with the help of her friends, Sara tries to endure all the hardships with her kindness and imagination.

Characters

 * Sara Crewe (セーラ・クルー)
 * The main protagonist of the series and a student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, who is the daughter of Ralph Crewe. Sara is a kind-hearted, beautiful, compassionate, brave, optimistic, imaginative, and intelligent girl.
 * The main protagonist of the series and a student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, who is the daughter of Ralph Crewe. Sara is a kind-hearted, beautiful, compassionate, brave, optimistic, imaginative, and intelligent girl.


 * Captain Ralph Crewe (ラルフ・クルー)
 * Sara's loving and devoted father. He died from his place India, leaving Sara to be poor and maiden by Miss Minchin.
 * Sara's loving and devoted father. He died from his place India, leaving Sara to be poor and maiden by Miss Minchin.


 * Miss Maria Minchin (マリア・ミンチン)
 * The strict, cruel headmistress of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, and Amelia's older sister.
 * The strict, cruel headmistress of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, and Amelia's older sister.


 * Miss Amelia Minchin (アメリア・ミンチン)
 * Miss Minchin's kind but meek younger sister, who is a school teacher in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.
 * Miss Minchin's kind but meek younger sister, who is a school teacher in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.


 * Lavinia Herbert (ラビニア・ハーバート)
 * The oldest student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's rival, who is bitterly jealous of her wealth and popularity. Lavinia is prideful, sadistic, cynical, and very manipulative.
 * The oldest student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's rival, who is bitterly jealous of her wealth and popularity. Lavinia is prideful, sadistic, cynical, and very manipulative.


 * Becky (ベッキー)
 * A scullery maid in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's closest best friend, who lives in the attic of the school. Becky is an optimistic, clumsy, and hardworking girl who comes from the town of Ashfield.
 * A scullery maid in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's closest best friend, who lives in the attic of the school. Becky is an optimistic, clumsy, and hardworking girl who comes from the town of Ashfield.


 * Peter (ピーター)
 * A street-smart boy and Sara's loyal best friend, who greatly admires her. Cheerful and hardworking, Peter is good at driving a carriage and is also seen working at a market. and He is also considered as a love interest to Sara.
 * A street-smart boy and Sara's loyal best friend, who greatly admires her. Cheerful and hardworking, Peter is good at driving a carriage and is also seen working at a market. and He is also considered as a love interest to Sara.


 * Ermengarde St. John (アーメンガード・セントジョン)
 * A student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's schoolmate and best friend. Ermengarde is a plump girl who is slow at learning. She is also a victim of Lavinia's bullying.
 * A student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's schoolmate and best friend. Ermengarde is a plump girl who is slow at learning. She is also a victim of Lavinia's bullying.


 * Lottie Legh (ロッティ・レイ)
 * The youngest student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's schoolmate and daughter-figure. Lottie is a four-year-old girl who is prone to tantrums.
 * The youngest student of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Sara's schoolmate and daughter-figure. Lottie is a four-year-old girl who is prone to tantrums.


 * Jessie (ジェシー) and Gertrude (ガートルード)
 * Two students of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies who are Lavinia's closest schoolmates.
 * Two students of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies who are Lavinia's closest schoolmates.


 * Molly (モーリー)
 * A resident maid of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and James' wife.
 * A resident maid of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and James' wife.


 * James (ジェームス)
 * A resident cook of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Molly's husband.
 * A resident cook of Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Molly's husband.


 * Mariette (マリエット)
 * A maid in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies who is serving for Sara.
 * A maid in Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies who is serving for Sara.


 * Monsieur Dufarge (デュファルジュ先生)
 * A French teacher at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.
 * A French teacher at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.


 * Mr. Tom Carrisford (トム・クリスフォード)
 * A kind old man who lives in another house next to Miss Minchin's seminary. Mr. Carrisford is Ralph Crewe's best friend.
 * A kind old man who lives in another house next to Miss Minchin's seminary. Mr. Carrisford is Ralph Crewe's best friend.


 * Ram Dass (ラムダス)
 * An Indian lascar serving for Mr. Carrisford. Ram Dass has a pet monkey called Surya (スリャ).
 * An Indian lascar serving for Mr. Carrisford. Ram Dass has a pet monkey called Surya (スリャ).


 * Mr. Carmichael (カーマイケル弁護士)
 * Mr. Carrisford's solicitor and confidant.
 * Mr. Carrisford's solicitor and confidant.


 * Donald Carmichael (ドナルド・カーマイケル)
 * Mr. Carmichael's polite, generous son.
 * Mr. Carmichael's polite, generous son.


 * Janet Carmichael (ジャネット・カーマイケル)
 * Mr. Carmichael's daughter and Donald's sister.
 * Mr. Carmichael's daughter and Donald's sister.

Other characters

 * Mr. Barrow (バロー弁護士)
 * A solicitor who is invested into Ralph Crewe's business.
 * A solicitor who is invested into Ralph Crewe's business.


 * Lavinia's father (ラビニアの父)
 * Lavinia's father.
 * Lavinia's father.


 * Lavinia's mother (ラビニアの母)
 * Lavinia's mother.
 * Lavinia's mother.


 * Anne (アンヌ)
 * An orphaned street child who meets Sara outside the bakery.
 * An orphaned street child who meets Sara outside the bakery.


 * Teddy (テディ)
 * Becky's younger brother.
 * Becky's younger brother.


 * Martha (マーサ)
 * Becky's younger sister.
 * Becky's younger sister.


 * Jim (ジム)
 * Peter's friend.
 * Peter's friend.


 * Dr. Wild (ワイルド医師)
 * An alcoholic doctor.
 * An alcoholic doctor.


 * Old Preist (老司祭)
 * A kind-hearted priest in a church in the city.
 * A kind-hearted priest in a church in the city.


 * Soldier ((兵士)
 * A soldier from London who helps Sara pick up the potatoes during a rainy day.


 * Baker's wife (パン屋の夫人)
 * The owner of a bakery in the city. When she saw Sara giving bread to Anne, she described Anne as an "angelic child". Later, she took Anne to her bakery.
 * The owner of a bakery in the city. When she saw Sara giving bread to Anne, she described Anne as an "angelic child". Later, she took Anne to her bakery.


 * Florist owner (花屋の所有者)
 * An acquaintance of Peter, he runs a stall flower shop in the market. She remembers Sarah when she was a young lady and cares about her.
 * An acquaintance of Peter, he runs a stall flower shop in the market. She remembers Sarah when she was a young lady and cares about her.


 * Clothes shop owner (洋服店のオーナー)
 * The original owner of the doll "Emily" at a clothes store in the city. Emily, which is the signboard of the store that is not for sale, is handed over to Sarah, and at the same time she receives an order for Sarah's clothes (measurement at this time will be a hint later). He has also saved a fallen Sarah.
 * The original owner of the doll "Emily" at a clothes store in the city. Emily, which is the signboard of the store that is not for sale, is handed over to Sarah, and at the same time she receives an order for Sarah's clothes (measurement at this time will be a hint later). He has also saved a fallen Sarah.

Animals

 * Ceaser (シーザー)
 * A domestic cat of Miss Minchin's seminary.
 * A domestic cat of Miss Minchin's seminary.


 * Bonaparte (ボナパルト)
 * A parrot that Sara brought from India at the time of admission. The cliché is "Sara".
 * At the beginning, Sarah's father Crewe brought Sarah from India to Miss Minchin's seminary in London as a companion for Sarah.When Sarah face to her father Ralph's death, it was taken away by Mr. Barrow as a mortgage of Crewe's "debt", until Sarah returned to her original life, and returned to Sarah's side with the help of Peter and Mr. Carmichael.
 * At the beginning, Sarah's father Crewe brought Sarah from India to Miss Minchin's seminary in London as a companion for Sarah.When Sarah face to her father Ralph's death, it was taken away by Mr. Barrow as a mortgage of Crewe's "debt", until Sarah returned to her original life, and returned to Sarah's side with the help of Peter and Mr. Carmichael.


 * Jump (ジャンプ)
 * A horse which has a white diamond-shaped spots on the forehead that Ralph kept in Minchin.
 * At the beginning, when Sarah was a rich daughter, Captain Ralph bought it as an exclusive carriage for Sarah.When Sarah face to her father Ralph's death, it was taken away by Mr. Barrow as a mortgage of Crewe's "debt", until Sarah returned to her original life, and returned to Sarah's side with the help of Peter and Mr. Carmichael.


 * Surya (スリャ)
 * Ram Dass' mischievous monkey.


 * Boris (ボリス)
 * Tom Carrisford's breed resembles a large long-haired Afghan hound, which in the original work is actually the dog raised by the Carmichael family.

Anime
Princess Sara, directed by Fumio Kurokawa and produced by Nippon Animation, being the eleventh entry in the World Masterpiece Theater, premiered in Japan on January 6, 1985, and concluded on December 29, 1985, after 46 episodes on Fuji TV. Shunji Saida is the character designer for the anime series. The musical score is composed by Yasuo Higuchi. The series features two pieces of theme music, both performed by Satoko Shimonari: the opening theme is "Hana no Sasayaki" (花のささやき), and the ending theme is "Himawari" (ひまわり). The Filipino dub of the series aired in the Philippines on ABS-CBN in 1988.

It was also aired on Animax, who later broadcast the series across its respective networks worldwide, including its English language networks in South Asia and Southeast Asia, dubbing and translating the series into English under the title Princess Sarah. Animax's version was the series' only English translation, and the series has yet to be commercially released in the United States.

The series has been also selected as one of the best 100 Japanese anime series of all time by the viewers of TV Asahi.

Film
The success and popularity of the anime series in the Philippines inspired a live-action film adaptation. Sarah... Ang Munting Prinsesa (lit. "Sarah, The Little Princess"), produced by Star Cinema and directed by Romy Suzara, was released on June 7, 1995. The film stars Camille Prats as Sarah Crewe. In the mid-2010s, the film was digitally restored and remastered by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project, which to date are restoring old damaged classic Filipino movies to a high-definition format.

Television drama
A Filipino television drama adaptation of the series, produced by ABS-CBN, aired from November 12 to December 21, 2007 on the Primetime Bida block. The series stars Sharlene San Pedro as Sarah Crewe. The story is loosely based on the anime series and took further creative liberties from the original source material, with fantasy elements being introduced in the story.

International titles

 * 小公女セーラ (Japanese Title)
 * Die kleine Prinzessin Sara (German Title)
 * La Princesa Sara (Spanish Title)
 * Little Princess (English Title)
 * Sara Lovely Sara (Italian Title)
 * Mała księżniczka Sara (Polish Title)
 * Princess Sara (English Title)
 * Princesse Sarah (French Title)
 * Sali سالي (Arabic and Sorani Title)
 * Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa (Tagalog Title)
 * Küçük Prenses (Turkish Title)
 * سارا کرو (Farsi Title)
 * 莎拉公主 (Chinese Title)
 * 소공녀 세라 Sogongnyeo Serra (Korean Title)