Anime like Meiken Jolie

Meiken Lassie

Also known as Famous Dog Lassie.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Slice of Life

John is a cheerful and energetic young boy, who lives in a small coal-mining town in England. One day he finds a small dog lost in a flock of sheep. John takes him back home and names the puppy Lassie. Soon they become good friends, just like real siblings. Lassie is a very lovely and smart dog, so everyone in the town loves her very much.

But their happy life doesn't last long. Suddenly a coal-mine owner closes his company because there is no more coal left in the coal mine. John goes to meet the coal-mine owner to request a further investigation. The owner accepts John's request, but in exchange for that, he takes Lassie to Scotland.

Priscilla, the owner's granddaughter and also John's friend, cannot just stand by and let Lassie suffer in a cage. She opens the cage and sets Lassie free. Lassie sets out on a very long and hard journey from Scotland to her hometown.



Tags: Classic Literature , Rural , Foreign , Animals , Historical , Kids , Travel

Nils no Fushigi na Tabi

Also known as The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , Gakken
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

Nils is a lazy and greedy boy whose mischief makes everyone miserable, whether it's his parents, the animals on his farm, or the fairy-like tomte he captures one day. But he gets his comeuppance when the pint-sized tomte casts a spell to make Nils just as tiny as him! The only way to break the spell is to go on a journey to distant Lapland with Morten the farm goose, Carrot the hamster, and a flock of wild geese.

Along the way, he contends with cruel witches, talking statues, wise ravens, and one very persistent fox. Under the guidance of the stern but caring Captain Akka, leader of the flock, Nils discovers his kind heart and his love for nature. But when the time comes, will he be able to choose between his human family and his feathered friends?



Tags: Animals , Environmental , Kids , Male Protagonist , Fairy Tale , Coming of Age , Historical , Foreign , Travel , Classic Literature

Shiroi Kiba White Fang Monogatari

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure

White Fang is born on the planes of Alaska to a wolf father and a half-wolf, half-dog mother. One day he and his mother run into an Alaskan inuit boy Mit-sah, who has long dreamed of a dog of his own, and by a marvellous twist of fate, the wolves are taken in by him and his father. But life in Alaska is harsh for humans and wolves alike, and as winter comes, hardships lie in waiting for White Fang and Mit-sah. Facing the extreme coldness of their habitat and that of humans' greedy hearts, the two journey towards what they hope to be a happier environment.



Tags: Snowscape , Male Protagonist , Animals , Survival , Gore , Foreign

Alps no Shoujo Heidi

Also known as Heidi, Girl of the Alps.

Studio: Fuji TV , Zuiyou Eizou
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

After becoming an orphan, Heidi is forced to live with her grandfather Öhi, who lives in the Alps. She learns he's a very bitter man who only accepted by force to take her in. But Heidi's kindness may be able to open his heart. Together with the shepherd Peter and invalid Klara, she has lots of adventures.



Tags: Classic Literature , Rural , Foreign , Kids , Rehabilitation , Female Protagonist , Historical , Primarily Child Cast , Coming of Age , Animals , Urban , Family Life , Agriculture , Orphan , Philosophy , School

Akage no Anne

Also known as Anne of Green Gables.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Anne is an orphan full of imagination. When she arrives at her new home she learns that sometimes you have to be a sensible person too; at the same time her unique character changes, or at least attracts, the people around her. The story covers Anne's growth from about eleven to seventeen years old as she makes friends, goes to school and studies. At a difficult point in her life, Anne will have to make a hard choice and perhaps find a new dream.

Tags: Coming of Age , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Historical , Family Life , Orphan , Rural , Adoption , Iyashikei , Found Family , School , Time Skip , Foreign , Tragedy , Agriculture , Religion , Primarily Female Cast , Kids , Body Image , Horticulture , School Club , Primarily Child Cast , Trains , Tsundere , Musical Theater , College , Elderly Protagonist

Arashi no Yoru ni

Also known as One Stormy Night.

Studio: Group TAC , TBS
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy

A story about a goat and a wolf who become friends in a stormy night, and how they overcome differences and hardships.



Tags: Animals , Travel , Male Protagonist , Primarily Animal Cast , Rural , Boys' Love , Anthropomorphism , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Fairy Tale , Snowscape , Kids

Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Based on the famous classic novel Les Miserables.

Being a single mother is hard in early 19th Century France. When young Cosette was traveling with her mother trying to find a job and a place to live, they were always shunned away because very few employers hire single mothers. When she is promised with the prosperity of working in the big city, Cosette is separated from her mother in the hopes a caretaker will watch over her while her mother earns some money. Unfortunately this was a trick and the caretaker is a corrupt man who makes Cosette his indentured servant. Then the kind mayor of the town that Cosette makes her new home in sees how winds of change are so detrimental for children and families, and decides to do something about it.



Tags: Historical , Classic Literature , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Dystopian , Bullying , Time Skip , Police , Inn , Military , Found Family , Fugitive , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Guns , Animals , Marriage , Religion , Prison

Ie Naki Ko Remi

Also known as Remi, Nobody's Girl.

Studio: Nippon Animation , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Remy, a cheerful and tender-hearted girl, lives with her mother in a French country town. One day her father returns to the town after a long period working away from home in a city. Her father tells Remy that she isn't their real daughter, and Remy is almost sold to an evil slave trader. It is Vitalis, a strolling entertainer, who helps Remy. Vitalis discovers her talent for singing and decides to take her in with his troupe.



Tags: Classic Literature , Historical , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Found Family , Travel , Survival , Kids , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Work , Tragedy , Animals , Episodic

Romeo no Aoi Sora

Also known as Romeo's Blue Skies.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Romeo, a young boy living in the Alps of Italian Switzerland, signs a contract with a shady individual to pay for his sick father's doctor, who will take him across the mountains to Italy, to Milan, where he will be sold as a chimney sweep's helper. Thus begins Romeo's journey, amidst abuse and violence, during which he will form lasting and deep bonds with other child chimney sweeps, coming to form a fraternity called "The Black Brothers," who will all learn to help each other in times of need.

Tags: Work , Primarily Child Cast , Class Struggle , Kids , Historical , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Philosophy , Urban , Classic Literature , Bullying , Survival , Coming of Age , Primarily Male Cast , Slavery , Fugitive , Tomboy , Adoption , Gangs , Found Family

Trapp Ikka Monogatari

Also known as The Trapp Family Story.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Based on the same story that produced the classic musical 'The Sound of Music', this is the story of Maria, who leaves her life in a convent to take up the responsibility of taking care of Captain Trapp's children.



Tags: Historical , Classic Literature , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Biographical , Musical Theater , Marriage , Age Gap , Nun , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Child Cast , War