The original Anne of Green Gables anime adaptation is a classic of the medium, one of many Japanese takes on the story which, to this day, proves hugely popular in the country.
It has seen live-action shows and films, stage plays, manga, and several anime which have sought to tell and interpret Lucy Maud Montgomery’s story over and over again. Now, we’ve yet another anime in the form of Anne Shirley, which premiered earlier this month and at the time of writing, has aired four wonderfully wholesome episodes. It’s so soft and endearing to watch, giving off comforting cottagecore vibes I can’t help sinking into.
Anne Shirley Might Be The Cutest Anime Of The Spring
Putting aside when my parents would occasionally insult ginger children by labelling them as ‘Anne of Green Gables’, this is my first experience with the story. We didn’t cover it in primary school, nor is it adapted in Britain much these days, so it feels like an unusual slice of cultural ignorance on my part.
So, to experience it for the first time week by week with this new anime has been an absolute delight. I’m hooked on its take on the character and how it depicts her as a spunky, imaginative, undeniably hopeful young girl who, despite having no home to call her own, still takes everything in stride.
It immediately reminded me of Studio Ghibli’s softer films like Only Yesterday, When Marnie Was There, or Kiki’s Delivery Service with its tranquil depiction of young female characters in small town life, often beholden to the whims of adults and systems they have no control over.
They act in ways you’d expect little girls to, relishing the joy of everyday life and struggling with things anybody in their situation would. Anne is no different in this anime, where she can go from smiling ear to ear to bursting into tears at the drop of her tiny-rimmed hat.
The Ghibli comparison is no surprise upon discovering that the 1979 anime adaptation was directed by Isao Takahata of Only Yesterday and Grave of The Fireflies fame. His loving, honest energy is everywhere in that show.
But more than Studio Ghibli and my own upbringing in rural Wales, it reminds me of modern farming sims where the comfort of rural life is always at the forefront.
Anne Of Green Gables Would Make The Perfect Cosy Game
Games like Stardew Valley, Coral Island, Fields of Mistria, and thousands of others I have no time or energy to bother listing, draw immensely from this rural fantasy. The idea of leaving a life of hustle and bustle in the city behind to instead live off the land and try to make something of themselves isn’t dictated by the pressures of modern society.
As someone who grew up on a farm in the middle of Wales, though, I can tell you that in reality it’s both hard work and incredibly tedious when the nearest shop is a solid three-mile walk away.
But in video games, the daily routine they instil of tending livestock, watering crops, and falling in love with a village sweetheart is so, so wonderful. There is a reason why, almost a decade later that Stardew Valley still receives updates and has millions of active players: we can’t get enough of this genre.
Anne Shirley exudes these vibes immediately. As our heroine took her first horse cart ride from the station to Green Gables, I found myself remembering all the landmarks that she called out by name and how they might connect on a wider village map. Anne even has an adorable habit of giving local brooks, trees, and locations fanciful nicknames, adding a cute element of romance to her surroundings that only a young child can do justice. This could fold into a cosy sim so easily, giving it an extra edge of saccharine whimsy.
The anime appears to be following the plot of the original novel faithfully though, and over the course of its 24 episodes will follow Anne as she grows older, falls in love, and leaves her childhood behind, meaning she isn’t stuck in a permanent state of bliss like farmers tend to be in Stardew Valley.
But even so, ConcernedApe isn’t afraid of exploring the darker side of certain characters during their individual arcs, while Anne’s orphan past has her leaving her trauma behind in favour of hope at every turn. It’s impossible not to root for her and pray for a chance to explore the world she inhabits yourself.
I mean, you could just go and visit Prince Edward Island yourself in Canada, but it probably looks a bit different over a century later.
Similar games from series like Shin-Chan have explored a single passage of comforting time in a similar manner if you fancy a video game with the same energy. If you’re a fan of cosy experiences like Stardew Valley and fancy a show that exudes and exceeds its sickeningly sweet energy, however, I can’t recommend the Anne Shirley anime enough. It’s still airing right now, so you’ve plenty of time to get obsessed with it like I am before it reaches its end.