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Anne Shirley (2025 TV series)

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Anne Shirley
Promotional poster
アン・シャーリー
(An・Shārī)
Created byLucy Maud Montgomery
Manga
Written byHanako Muraoka
Illustrated byAkane Hoshikubo
Published byEnterbrain
MagazineB's Log Comic
Original runJanuary 5, 2025 – present
Anime television series
Directed byHiroshi Kawamata
Produced by
  • Yoshiko Nakayama
  • Mami Nakatani
  • Yukari Kiso
  • Sayaka Kanno
Written byNatsuko Takahashi
Music byMichiru Ōshima
StudioThe Answer Studio
Licensed by
Original networkNHK Educational TV
Original run April 5, 2025 – present
Episodes24
icon Anime and manga portal

Anne Shirley (Japanese: アン・シャーリー, Hepburn: An・Shārī) is a Japanese anime television series produced by The Answer Studio and directed by Hiroshi Kawamata. Based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the series premiered in April 2025. A manga adaptation based on the 1952 translation by Hanako Muraoka and illustrated by Akane Hoshikubo began serialization in Enterbrain's B's Log Comic online magazine in January 2025.

Characters

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Anne Shirley (アン・シャーリー, An・Shārī)
Voiced by: Honoka Inoue[1] (Japanese); Monica Flatley[2] (English) - a young 11-year-old girl who comes from an orphanage. She has a vivid imagination and becomes used to her life in Green Gables, on Prince Edward Island. She can have a temper, especially when people make fun of her looks, including her red hair.
Marilla Cuthbert (マリラ・カスバート, Marira・Kasubāto)
Voiced by: Aya Nakamura[1] (Japanese); Linda Leonard[2] (English) - the adopted mother of Anne, who is unsure about Anne at first, after she and Matthew were supposed to have a boy from the orphanage, rather than a girl, but warms up to her. She can be stern and strict with Anne, attempting to instill discipline in her, but also forgiving, as she grows to love Anne's vivacity and joy.
Matthew Cuthbert (マシュウ・カスバート, Mashū・Kasubāto)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto[1] (Japanese); Randy Pearlman[2] (English) - the adopted father of Anne, who quickly takes a liking to her, and tries to temper Marilla's reactions to Anne. He is the brother of Marilla, and a cousin of Anne, as is Marilla, and has no qualms about "spoiling" her and indulging her with pretty clothes and fancy shoes.
Diana Barry (ダイアナ・バーリー, Daiana・Bārī)
Voiced by: Yume Miyamoto[1] - the bosom friend of Anne, who she meets early on during her time in Green Gables. She is one of the only girls who is Anne's age who is living in the local area. While she does not have a vivid imagination like Anne, she remains a loyal friend.
Gilbert Blythe (ギルバート・ブライス, Girubāto・Buraisu)
Voiced by: Naoya Miyase[1] - a thirteen-year-old boy who teases girls at the local school and makes fun of Anne's hair, calling it "carrots," resulting in her breaking a slate over his head, causing him to fall in love with her. Due to making fun of her, and attempts to apologize to her, she refuses to speak with him for several years.
Teddy Phillips (Teddy Phillips)
Voiced by: Teruyuki Tanzawa[3] - A strict, and unpopular, teacher at Avonlea, who often misspells Anne's name, by not including the "E" and punishes her, but others, for arriving late, resulting in Anne's refusal to attend school for several weeks. Once, he punished Anne for losing her temper with Gilbert Blythe. He is described as lacking discipline, and "courts" one of his older pupils, Prissy Andrews, openly.
Rachel Lynde (Rachel Lynde)
Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō[4] (Japanese); Casey Casper[2] (English) - Living near Matthew and Marilla, Mrs. Lynde is a noted busybody but is also industrious and charitable. Although she and Anne start off on the wrong foot due to Mrs. Lynde's blunt criticism and Anne's short temper, they soon become quite close.
Ruby Gillis (Ruby Gillis)
Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[5] - Another of Anne's friends. Having several "grown-up" sisters, Ruby loves to share her knowledge of beaux with her friends. She is pretty and blonde, but rather empty-headed and prone to hysterics.
Jane Andrews (Jane Andrews)
Voiced by: Sayaka Kikuchi[6] - One of Anne's friends from school, she is plain and sensible.
J.A. Harrison (J.A.ハリソン, J.A. Harrison)
Voiced by: Hikari Ōta[7] - an older man who is eccentric, resulting in people near him not understanding him, and he has a harsh-speaking parrot named Ginger.
Eliza Barry (Eliza Barry)
Voiced by: Rena Maeda[8] - The mother of Diana, who can be strict.
Mary Bell (Mary Bell)
Voiced by: Saya Hitomi[9]
Josie Pye (Josie Pye)
Voiced by: Aki Sasamori[10] - a classmate generally disliked by the other girls (as are her siblings), Josie is vain, dishonest, sharp-tongued, and jealous of Anne's popularity.
Jimmy Glover (Jimmy Glover)
Voiced by: Shoya Ishige[11] - a male friend of Gilbert.
Charlie Sloane (Charlie Sloane)
Voiced by: Chiharu Sawashiro[12] - a male friend of Gilbert, who hangs out with him and Jimmy.
Carrie Sloane (Carrie Sloane)
Voiced by: Saima Nakano[13] - the sister of Charlie
Mrs. Heather Hammond (Mrs. Heather Hammond)
Voiced by: TBA - Anne lives with her for a portion of her pre-Green-Gables life and cares for Mrs. Hammond's three sets of twins. Anne is sent to the Hopetown orphan asylum when Mrs. Hammond is forced to break up her home after her husband's sudden death.
Minnie Mae MacPherson (Minnie Mae MacPherson)
Voiced by: Chinami Nishikawa[14]
Moody Spurgeon MacPherson (Moody Spurgeon MacPherson)
Voiced by: Takaaki Torashima[15]
Mrs. Blewett (Mrs. Blewett)
Voiced by: Wendy Powell (English)[2]
Mrs. Spencer (Mrs. Spencer)
Voiced by: Anastasia Muñoz (English)[2]
Flora (Flora)
Voiced by: Laura Faverty (English)[2]

Media

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Manga

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A manga adaptation based on the 1952 translation by Hanako Muraoka and illustrated by Akane Hoshikubo began serialization in Enterbrain's B's Log Comic online magazine on January 5, 2025.[16]

Anime

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The new anime television series adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables was announced in November 2024.[17][18] It is produced by The Answer Studio and directed by Hiroshi Kawamata, with character designs handled by Kenichi Tsuchiya and music composed by Michiru Ōshima. The series premiered on April 5, 2025, on NHK Educational TV, and is scheduled to run for 24 episodes.[1][19] From episode 3 onwards, the opening theme song is "Yokan" (予感, lit. 'Premonition') performed by Tota,[20] while the ending theme song is "Heart", performed by Laura Day Romance. Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[21] Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia for streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.[22]

Episodes

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No.Title [23][24]Directed by [a]Written by [a]Storyboarded by [a]Original release date [25]
1"It's Such an Interesting World"
Transliteration: "Sekai tte, Totemo Omoshiroi Tokone" (Japanese: 世界って、とてもおもしろいとこね)		Hiroshi KawamataNatsuko TakahashiHiroshi Kawamata [ja]April 5, 2025 (2025-04-05)
Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old girl born in Nova Scotia, arrives at Prince Edward Island, from an orphanage, where she will be living with the Cuthberts, with Mrs. Spencer bidding her adieu. She happily greets Matthew Cuthbert at the train station. Marilla reveals to Rachel Lynde that she is getting a "little orphan boy" to raise. On their ride together to Green Gables, Anne quickly charms him with her active imagination, giving nicknames to places they pass, as she shares her insecurities. When she gets inside Green Gables, Marilla asks where "the boy" is, Matthew begins to explain what happened, and Anne feels unwanted. She admits her real name following further questions, saying it is fine as long as they spell it as "Anne" rather than "Ann." Later, she refuses to eat her dinner and goes to sleep while sobbing. The next morning, Anne accepts the day, but decides to not go outside because it will be her last time there. They travel to the house of Mrs. Spencer to return Anne, and she reluctantly talks about herself. They make it to the house and after Anne looks terrified of Mrs. Blewett, causing Marilla to save Anne and take her back to Green Gables. Marilla later tells Matthew she isn't sure about raising Anne and Anne prays for a better future.
2"I Love Pretty Things"
Transliteration: "Atashi, Kireina Mono ga Suki" (Japanese: あたし、きれいなものが好き)		Higashio YamauchiNatsuko TakahashiHiroshi KawamataApril 12, 2025 (2025-04-12)
Anne begins her day by doing farm work, then eating breakfast with Marilla and Matthew. She asks if she is going to be sent away or not, and Marilla announces she will be kept as long as she is a "good little girl." She asks Anne to call her "Marilla" rather than any other name. Rachel warns Marilla about keeping Anne, but Marilla says her decision is final. After Rachel insults her appearance, including her hair, Anne is infuriated, saying she hates Rachel, then insults her, and says she will never forgive her. Following this, Marilla tells Rachel that she shouldn't have insulted Anne. Later, Anne refuses to apologize despite Marilla's pleading. The next day, Matthew suggests to her that she should apologize and she agrees, putting on a show-and-dance for Rachel. On the way back, Anne and Marilla talk to each other. The day after, Anne travels to Sunday school and wears a flower crown, which Marilla chastises her for. Anne apologizes and says she should be sent back to the asylum, with Marilla rejecting this idea,. Anne meets Diana Barry and both become fast friends, making a pact to be faithful bosom friends until the end of time. Following this, Anne tells Marilla how wonderful Diana is. Matthew give Anne sweets as a gift.
3"Looking Forward to Things Is Half the Pleasure of Them"
Transliteration: "Nanika o Tanoshiminishitematsu to iu koto ga, Sono Ureshī Koto no Hanbun ni Ataru Noyo" (Japanese: 何かを楽しみにして待つということが、その嬉しいことの半分に当たるのよ)		Masaki SugiyamaHirami Do [ja]Junichi TogawaApril 19, 2025 (2025-04-19)
The painting Diana made is hung in Anne's room. Anne tells Marilla she has been invited to the Sunday school picnic, and Marilla accepts it. When Marilla tells Anne about her missing brooch, Anne admits she wore it once, then returned it. After Marilla searches again, she commands Anne to stay in her room until she "tells the truth." She talks to Matthew about it. The next morning, Marilla tells Anne she will not be allowed to go to the picnic unless she confesses. The morning after, Anne tells Marilla she took the brooch but Marilla refuses to let her go. Some time later, Marilla finds the brooch in her room. Anne admits she gave a false confession, which she had rehearsed the night before. Anne travels to the picnic and meets other girls in the nearby area around her age. The next day, Anne goes to Avonlea school for the first time. Anne shows the class her geography knowledge and reads from a poem. She shares her lunch with Diana and other neighborhood girls. Gilbert Blythe, a 14-year-old boy, begins attending school the next day. When he makes fun of Anne's hair, she breaks her school slate over his head. He attempts to take responsibility but Mr. Philips punishes her. Gilbert attempts to apologize, but she refuses his apology. She returns before the bell rings but Mr. Phillips puts her among the boys as punishment. She runs off and vows to never return to school again.
4"One Can't Stay Sad Very Long in Such an Interesting World"
Transliteration: "Kon'na Omoshiroi Sekai de, Itsu Made mo Kanashinjai Rarenai Wa" (Japanese: こんなおもしろい世界で、いつまでも悲しんじゃいられないわ)		TBATBATBAApril 26, 2025 (2025-04-26)
Rachel advises Marilla to let Anne not go to school for a week. Diana comes over for a tea party, Anne pours what she thinks is raspberry cordial, but it is actually currant wine. This causes Diana's mother to say that Anne can no longer speak or hang out with Diana. Both girls make a promise to never forget one another, then part, but not before Anne kisses Diana on the forehead and gets a lock of her hair. The next day, Anna decides to go to school and tries to act like a model student. She gets gifts from the other students at school. The following day, Diana and Anne exchange letters, while Anne refuses to talk to Gilbert, with both getting high marks in class. It is shown that Anne secretly exchanges letters with Diana, while Dana laments she can't talk with Diana. That winter, Anne helps treat Diana's sister, Minnie May, who gets sick with croup, with ipecac, and Matthew gets a doctor from a nearby town. Matthew and Anne travel home. Later, Diana and Anne are again on speaking terms after Diana's mother is grateful for what Anne did for Minnie. Anne gushes to Matthew and Marilla about the time she had with Diana. She reads the letter Diana gave her and falls asleep.

Reception

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The series was well-received. Anime Feminist said that the series had "feminist potential" and called it "gorgeous new take" on the Anne of Green Gables series, while honoring previous adaptations and welcoming those unfamiliar with the story, while being "concerned with the autonomy of children" and celebrating the "odd little girl protagonist," Anne Shirley.[26] A review on the same site by Vrai Kaiser noted that Anne of Green Gables very popular and integrated into Japan, even incorporated into school curricula, spawning a TV anime in 1979, and said that you can see "traces of Anne in the evolution of shoujo and yuri" and noted that some described Anne's friendship with Diana Barry as fitting into "the tradition of Class-S that had been paved some decades earlier by Yoshiya Nobuko." Kaiser also described the premiere as "beautiful, lovingly made", noted that the series is "inevitably indebted" to the previous anime adaptation, praised series composer Takahashi Natsuko and the storytelling, said that Marilla may have less time to shine due to the shorter run-time of the entire series, calling her a "fascinating character" and hoped viewers gave the series "a chance," and described it as a series about a character who finds "joy in a society that's been built to devalue and steal from young girls."[27]

Prior to the series premiere, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network said that while there is "a special place" in her heart for the original anime version as well and she wasn't "incredibly excited about this new adaptation," and said that many "modern heroines owe their roots to her Anne," that the series teasers and trailers take "a lot of inspiration from the original 1977 designs of Yoshifumi Kondō, complete with imagery with a "charmingly old-fashioned, pastoral feel." She concluded by saying that if the series can "pull off even half the charm of its source material, it should be something really special."[28]

Following the series premiere, Silverman reviewed the anime's first two episodes, noting that we have to consider "what's being cut" in this adaptation, noting that chapters about "Anne attending church...are abbreviated" while praising the characters in the series and the voice acting of Honoka Inoue, argued that "the moments chosen to animate are perfect", and said that the series is "capturing the beauty of Montgomery's text." In her review of the third episode, Silverman described the episode as "beautiful exploration of the various sides of Anne," complete with the iconic breaking of a slate over Gilbert's head by Anne, stated that most of what is being excluded is "the religious bits", and called it fitting that Anne recites part of a verse drama by Robert Browning entitled Pippa Passes in this episode.[29][30]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 23, 2025). "Anne Shirley 24-Episode TV Anime Stars Honoka Inoue, Aya Nakamura". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Dempsey, Liam (April 17, 2025). "Anne Shirley English Dub Reveals Cast & Crew, Release Date". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Teddy Phillips Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  4. ^ "Rachel Lynde Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  5. ^ "Ruby Gillis Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  6. ^ "Jane Andrews Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 7, 2025). "Comedian Hikari Ōta Joins Cast of Anne Shirley Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "Eliza Barry Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  9. ^ "Mary Bell Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  10. ^ "Josie Pye Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  11. ^ "Jimmy Glover Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  12. ^ "Charlie Sloane Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  13. ^ "Carrie Sloane Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Minnie Mae MacPherson Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  15. ^ "Moody Spurgeon MacPherson Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  16. ^ Tai, Anita (December 30, 2024). "New Anne of Green Gables Anime Gets Manga Adaptation". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  17. ^ 「赤毛のアン」が来年EテレでTVアニメ化、少女から女性になる過程を3本の柱で描く. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  18. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (November 20, 2024). "Anne of Green Gables Novels Get New Anime by Answer Studio Next Spring". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (February 5, 2025). "Anne Shirley Anime Reveals April 4 Premiere in Teaser Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  20. ^ Tai, Anita (March 9, 2025). "Anne Shirley Anime's New Video Unveils Opening Song by Tota". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  21. ^ Mateo, Alex (March 19, 2025). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Spring 2025 Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  22. ^ "🌸 #Medialink April 2025 New Anime Line-Up🌸👒Anne Shirley is coming to Ani-One Asia!". Ani-One Asia. March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "story - Anime "An・Shārī"" story - アニメ「アン・シャーリー」 [story - Anime "Anne Shirley"]. anime-ann-e.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  24. ^ "Watch Anne Shirley - Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  25. ^ "On Air - Anime "An・Shārī"" On Air - アニメ「アン・シャーリー」 [On Air - Anime "Anne Shirley"]. anime-ann-e.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  26. ^ "2025 Spring Premiere Digest". Anime Feminist. April 10, 2025. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  27. ^ Kaiser, Vrai (April 8, 2025). "Anne Shirley – Episode 1". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  28. ^ Silverman, Rebecca (March 26, 2025). "The Most Anticipated Anime of Spring 2025". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  29. ^ Silverman, Rebecca (April 14, 2025). "Anne Shirley Episodes 1-2". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  30. ^ Silverman, Rebecca (April 20, 2025). "Anne Shirley Episode 3". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
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