Anime like Manga Sekai Mukashibanashi

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

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 , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Foreign , Primarily Child Cast , Tragedy , Ojou-sama , War , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Urban

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

Watashi no Ashinaga Oji-san

Also known as My Daddy Long Legs.

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

Daddy Long Legs is based on the novel of the same name by Jean Webster. It chronicles the adventures of Judy Abbott, an orphan in New York. During a meeting for the superintendent, with other important and rich people in attendance, a scholarship is offered to Judy by a mysterious benefactor. Catching only a glimpse of his tall shadow as he leaves, Judy calls him "Daddy Long Legs" and writes him letters every month as per his request. While studying at the Lincoln Memorial school, she makes many friends and learns about a world she never knew about before.



Tags: Classic Literature , Coming of Age , Foreign , Age Gap , Historical , Female Protagonist , Writing , School , Bullying , Heterosexual

Perrine Monogatari Specials

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

A summary of the full series aired as a TV specials.

Tags: Foreign , Classic Literature , Kids , Shoujo , Historical

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

Shoukoushi Cedie

Also known as Little Lord Fauntleroy.

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

After his father's sudden death, Ceddie moves to England as an heir to his grandfather, the Earl of Dorincourt.

The Earl is a stubborn and selfish old man. Gradually, however, Ceddie's innocent love opens the Earl's heart and changes him into a caring and generous person.

This is based on "Little Lord Fauntleroy" by F.H.Burnett.



Tags: Foreign , Historical , Classic Literature

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 , Rural , Adoption , Orphan , Time Skip , Foreign , School , Tragedy , Iyashikei , Religion , Primarily Female Cast , Kids , Agriculture , Primarily Child Cast , School Club , Musical Theater , Tsundere , Trains , College , Elderly Protagonist

Kazoku Robinson Hyouryuuki: Fushigi na Shima no Flone

Also known as Swiss Family Robinson.

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

10-year-old Flone is a very active, tomboyish sort of a girl. One day, her father receives a letter from his English friend who is now in Australia. In the letter, the friend asks her father to come down to Australia because of a serious shortage of doctors. The family decides to leave their old house in Bern. Now their drifting voyage has begun!

Flone's fantastic adventures will teach children about the importance of family and the joys of living amidst nature's beauty.

Tags: Survival , Travel , Historical , Classic Literature , Foreign , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Ships , Kids

Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari Specials

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

A summary of the full series aired as a TV special on BS Fuji in May, 2001.

One year later, the two-part summarised movie was published on DVD on May 25, 2002, manufactured and distributed by Bandai Visual Co., Ltd.

Tags: Historical , Foreign , Classic Literature