Anime like THE DOG OF FLANDERS

Hotaru no Haka

Also known as Grave of the Fireflies.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year-old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring.



Tags: Tragedy , Survival , Orphan , War , Family Life , Historical , Primarily Child Cast , Rural , Military , Homeless , Autobiographical , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Educational

Alps no Shoujo Heidi

Also known as Heidi, Girl of the Alps.

Studio: Fuji TV , Nippon Animation
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 , Rehabilitation , Female Protagonist , Historical , Kids , Primarily Child Cast , Coming of Age , Animals , Urban , Family Life , Agriculture , Orphan , School

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

Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari

Also known as Tales of Little Women.

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

Meg, faithful and gentle, Jo, independent and energetic, Beth, quiet and shy, Amy, amiable and precocious–the four sisters live vigorously and happily at home with their gentle mother while waiting for their father to return from the Civil War. Helping each other, they challenge their fates and grow up to become wonderful women.

Tags: Classic Literature , Historical , Family Life , Foreign , Primarily Female Cast , Travel , Coming of Age , Writing , Female Protagonist , Tsundere

Kaze no Naka no Shoujo: Kinpatsu no Jeanie

Also known as The Girl in the Wind: Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The story begins in a small town, Pennsylvania in 1838. Jeanie MacDowell is a cheerful and beautiful girl with light brown hair. Jeanie enjoys playing the piano and loves taking piano lessons from her mother.

Steven, a good harmonica player, and Bill, a black boy who is very good at playing the banjo, are great friends of Jeanie’s. They enjoy playing music together like a small band.

However, Jeanie’s happy life changes dramatically after her mother suddenly passes away.

Experiencing many difficulties and learning the importance of life, she decides to devote her life to helping many people suffering from illness.
This series is a highly emotional love story about the relationship between young Stephen Foster, who later becomes a famous composer and author of children’s songs, and young Jeanie MacDowell, who becomes Stephen Foster’s wife.

Tags: Historical , Foreign , Classic Literature , Class Struggle , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Family Life , School , Travel

Flanders no Inu, Boku no Patrasche

Also known as A Dog of Flanders: My Patrasche.

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

A boy named Nello becomes an orphan at the age of two when his mother dies. His grandfather, who lives in a small village takes him in. One day, Nello finds a dog who was almost beaten to death and named him Patrasche. Due to the good care of his grandfather, the dog recovers, and from then on, Nello and Patrasche are inseparable. Since they are very poor, Nello has to help his grandfather by selling milk. Patrasche helps him pull the milk cart that Nello uses to sell milk in the town.



Tags: Historical

Ie Naki Ko

Also known as Nobody's Boy Remi.

Studio: TMS Entertainment , MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Remi is a boy living happily with his mother in the French countryside. But everything changes when his estranged father comes home and, in desperate need of money, reveals that Remi is adopted, and sells him. Heartbroken, Remi ends up with Vitalis, a traveling musician, and his troupe of animal entertainers. Together, they travel the country trying to make a living, along the way learning the harsh lessons of life. A deeply moving story about friendship, loss and the pursuit of happiness.



Tags: Coming of Age , Tragedy , Survival , Classic Literature , Foreign , Musical Theater , Philosophy , Rural , Agriculture , Family Life , Travel , Homeless , Male Protagonist , Historical , Animals , Band , Outdoor , Teacher , Urban , Dancing , Guns , Crime , Adoption , Disability , Acting , Orphan

Romeo no Aoi Sora

Also known as Romeo and the Black Brothers.

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

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

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