One of the Most Famous Novels Ever is Getting an Anime Adaptation in 2025

Anime is an industry based around adaptations. Whether it’s adaptations and remakes of classic series, manga, or light novels, having a strong property as a base is one of the most common starting points for bringing an anime series to life. Now, one of the most well-known works of world literature is now getting the anime treatment, and it’s coming to Japanese television in time for the Spring 2025 season. As reported by Anime News Network, Anne Shirley, a new adaption of the Anne of Green Gables novel series, is coming to NHK in 2025.

Anne of Green Gables

Written by L. M. Montgomery and originally published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables has transcended its Victorian-era publication to become one of the most widely-read and translated children’s novels of all-time. Focused on the adventurous happenings of an 11-year-old orphan adapting to a new life in a small town on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the work has been a bestseller and a staple of children’s literature for over a century. Beloved by generations of readers young and old for the beauty of its natural Canadian setting and the sentimental heart of its story, Anne of Green Gables has been widely taught in Canadian and American primary schools as an introduction to the world of classic literature. The work was originally brought to Japanese audiences by a translation from Shinchosa Bunko in 1952 and has been popular there ever since.

6:06

Related

The Best Shojo Anime Of All Time (November 2024)

Some shojo shows are so iconic that any fan of anime should make sure to watch them at least once.

A New Adaptation

Anne Shirley is being adapted by Answerstudio, anime production label that has worked on several acclaimed projects, most notably Makoto Shinkai films including Suzume, Your Name and Garden of Words. Anne Shirley is aiming to be a new artistic adaptation of the book series, which included eight different works by L. M. Montgomery. As described by Anime News Network and a statement from distributor NHK, this adaptation’s three main plot themes will be Anne’s new life with her adopted parents Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, her lighthearted rivalry and eventual friendship with Diana Barry, and her growth and feelings of romance towards Gilbert Blythe. The adaptation process appears to be using the Shinchosa Bunko Japanese translation as its first and foremost source material.

A Storied History of Children’s Lit in Anime

Classic works of children’s literature have a long tradition in anime. In fact, Anne Shirley won’t even be the first anime adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. The first anime adaptation of Anne, Akage no An, debuted in 1979 as part of Nippon Animation’s famous World Masterpiece Theater series, being directed by Isao Takahata, who would later become the visionary Studio Ghibli creative behind films like Only Yesterday, My Neighbors the Yamadas, The Tale of Princess Kaguya and more. World Masterpiece Theater was itself a powerhouse of international children’s literature anime, existing for decades in various forms and adapting countless novels including Little Women, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and the Swiss Family Robinson among many others. Both Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki had worked as animators on several World Masterpiece Theater, before eventually moving on to Topcraft Animation and eventually making anime history with Studio Ghibli. It’s safe to say that Anne Shirley has quite a legacy preceding it.

Anne Shirley is set to come out in 2025 on Japanese public broadcaster NHK’s E-Tele in April of 2025.

Related

Best Anime On Crunchyroll (November 2024)

From currently airing romance series to shonen classics and isekai masterpieces, here are the best anime that can be streamed on Crunchyroll.