Anime like Alps no Shoujo Heidi (1979)

Anne Shirley

Also known as Anne Shirley.

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

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: Orphan , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Parenthood , Classic Literature , Rural , Historical , Iyashikei , Shoujo , School , College , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , Coastal , Time Skip , Adoption , Foreign , Family Life , Teacher , Body Image , Boarding School , Writing , POV , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tragedy , Work , Religion , Agriculture , Twins , Elderly Protagonist

Karigurashi no Arrietty

Also known as The Secret World of Arrietty.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Walt Disney Studios
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Arrietty, a tiny but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper. Like all little people, Arrietty remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to "borrow" scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shou, a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty's family from the home and straight into danger.



Tags: Rural , Classic Literature , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Work , Iyashikei , Interspecies , Horticulture

Aoi Blink

Also known as Blue Blink.

Studio: Tezuka Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy

Story of a young boy named Kakeru and his adventures together with a magical blue pony named Blink.

Tags: Animals

Wakakusa Monogatari: Nan to Jo-sensei

Also known as Little Women II: Jo's Boys.

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

Nan Harding is the new student at Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer's school. Everyone thinks that she is a pain in the head, but not Mrs. Jo. Together with the other kids, they all embark on their personal adventures and misfortunes while learning in school.



Tags: Educational , Foreign , School , Historical , Classic Literature , Family Life , Coming of Age , Religion , Orphan , Class Struggle

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 , Bullying , Heterosexual , Dystopian , Class Struggle , Time Skip , Police , Inn , Military , Found Family , Fugitive , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Guns , Prison , Animals , Marriage , Religion

Tom Sawyer no Bouken

Also known as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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

Tom Sawyer is a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River in the mid 1800s. Along with his best friend Huckleberry Finn, he spends his days ditching school, fishing, climbing trees and having adventures.



Tags: Classic Literature , Rural , Foreign , Slavery , Heterosexual , Family Life , Homeless , Primarily Child Cast , Historical , Orphan , Outdoor Activities , Male Protagonist , Kids , Steampunk , Episodic , Found Family , School , Ships , Crime , Fugitive , Adoption , Swimming , Fishing , Tsundere , Dystopian