Anime like Alps no Shoujo Heidi

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 , Time Skip , School , Tragedy , Foreign , Religion , Agriculture , Primarily Female Cast , Kids , Body Image , School Club , Primarily Child Cast , Trains , Tsundere , Musical Theater , College , Elderly Protagonist

Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri

Also known as 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama

Based on a short section of the novel Cuore by the Italian Edmondo de Amicis, Marco is a young boy living in Genoa, Italy, together with his father Pietro. But the family is not complete, for Marcos mother left for Argentina around a year earlier in order to find work. Letters from her arrive regularly until one day they suddenly stop. Worry for his mother and what might have happened to her overcomes the young boy. Marco thus decides to embark upon a journey to Argentina in the hope of being reunited with his mother. At first, Pietro is opposed to Marcos plan, but moved by his sons enthusiasm, he eventually allows the boy to go. So begins Marcos long journey of the heart. Marco encounters many people throughout his travels, and finds maturity and self-acceptance as a result of his experiences.



Tags: Classic Literature , Historical , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Kids , Travel , Coming of Age , Tragedy

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: 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

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 Activities , Teacher , Urban , Dancing , Guns , Crime , Adoption , Disability , Acting , Orphan

Candy Candy

Also known as Candy Candy.

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

This story is about a girl, Candy, who is a orphan. She is a nice and optimistic girl and she has a warm heart. When she was a child, she lived in an orphanage called Pony's Home. She had a good friend called Ann. And she met the "handsome boy on the hill" who is a important person in her life, on the hill behind the orphanage.

She was adopted by the Loka's family. What's awaiting her are the bad-hearted Leo and his sister, Eliza. One day, in the rose garden, she met a boy, who is identical to the "handsome boy on the hill" who she had met in her childhood. The boy is called Antony. Thereafter, a fantastic story that she has never expected begins.



Tags: Shoujo , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Historical , Coming of Age , Foreign , Medicine , Orphan , Love Triangle , War , Bullying , Adoption , Work , Ojou-sama , Suicide , Amnesia , Nun , School , Fugitive

Anne Shirley

Also known as Anne Shirley.

Studio: The Answer Studio , Fuji Creative Corporation , Fuji TV , The Answer Studio , Fujipacific Music
Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

A new adaptation of Akage no Anne (Anne of Green Gables).

On the beautiful Prince Edward Island in Canada, an orphan named Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to Green Gables, the home of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. They choose to adopt her anyway, as Anne finds friendship, love, and happiness in her new home. Come along for the story of a purehearted and imaginative girl growing up, leaving for college, and returning home a changed woman.



Tags: Parenthood , Orphan , Female Protagonist , Classic Literature , Coming of Age , Shoujo , Iyashikei , Historical , Family Life , Rural , POV , Foreign , Adoption , School , Body Image , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Writing , LGBTQ+ Themes , Religion , Coastal , Agriculture , Work

Makiba no Shoujo Katri

Also known as Katri.

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

This series tells the story of 9 year-old Katri, a girl who lives on a farm in Finland with her grandparents. Katri's mother has been away in Germany for three years. The farm is not doing well, so to help support her family, she goes to work on a neighboring farm. Katri faces many struggles and challenges.

Tags: Historical , Foreign , Rural , Work , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Kids

Alps Monogatari: Watashi no Annette

Also known as Alps Stories: My Annette.

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

Annette was born into a poor family in Switzerland.

She is a sweet girl and takes good care of her little brother Dannie. Lucien is her best friend.

One day, Lucien angrily slaps Dannie's Ermine, which develops into a limp.

The happy days turn into a long period of suffering, but little by little Annette and Lucien regain their lost friendship.

Tags: Tragedy , Foreign , Historical , Time Skip , Rural , Family Life , Primarily Child Cast , Classic Literature , Kids

Flanders no Inu

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

Nello Tarth is a poor but happy orphan who lives with his grandfather Jehan in a little village nearby Antwerp. Nello has a talent for drawing pictures and has been fascinated by it since he saw one of Rubens (a famous artist) pictures as a little boy. Helping Jehan with the daily milk delivery to Antwerp, Nello one day discovers Patrash, a working dog who has been mistreated and abandoned by his former owner. He treats the exhausted animal and after a little while a close and dependable friendship develops. Alois Cojez, the daughter of the richest and hence most influential man in Blacken Village, is Nellos best friend. When Nello decides to become an artist he has to experience firsthand the ignorance and cruelty of the villagers. Especially Alois father thinks of him as a slacker who cannot earn his living by drawing pictures. Nontheless Nello perseveres and never gives up to achieve his dream and to win their appreciation and respect while strenuously struggling with his poverty.



Tags: Male Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Philosophy , Class Struggle , Classic Literature , Historical , Tragedy , Foreign , Animals , Drawing

Princess Sara

Also known as A Little Princess Sara.

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

Sara, a pretty girl born into a rich British family in India, is treated like a little princess at a dormitory school in London. Sara’s sweet school life turns to tragedy when she learns of her father’s death and the family’s bankruptcy. However, Sara endures her hard luck with kindness and imagination and escapes from her misery through fantasies.



Based on the novel "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Tags: Bullying , Historical , Class Struggle , Boarding School , Maids , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Tragedy , Primarily Child Cast , Foreign , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , War , Work , Villainess , Food , Urban , Time Skip , Trains , Ships