is a Japanese anime television series; it is the 26th entry in Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater franchise. The series is an adaptation of Canadian children's literature author Budge Wilson's 2008 prequel novel Before Green Gables, which was translated into Japanese as by Akiko Usagawa. It chronicles the early years of main character Anne Shirley as she loses both her parents and is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.

It aired on BS Fuji from April to December 2009 as well as Animax starting a month later.

Production and development Introduced in Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables, the series marks the 100th anniversary of the original novel's release and the 30th anniversary of its anime adaptation, Akage no Anne, also produced by Nippon Animation and one of the first pioneering World Masterpiece Theater series. The announcement trailer was narrated by Eiko Hisamura, who portrayed Anne in the original Akage no Anne.

While developing the series, Nippon Animation's staff undertook research by visiting a historical village in southeastern Canada which formed the inspiration for Avonlea in the novel, going to historical houses preserved from the era in which the novel is set and taking photographs, with core staff members and character designer and chief animation director Takayo Nishimura (previously chief animation director and character designer for 5 Centimeters Per Second), basing the characters, props and settings on them and also from historical books that he bought there. Nippon Animation's staff have followed this format of contextual research while producing other World Masterpiece Theater series.

The series premiered on April 5, 2009, and aired every Sunday from 19:30 to 20:00 JST on BS Fuji. From May 2009, it also aired on Animax. Online streaming on Biglobe was announced, but was eventually suspended.現在、この作品のパック販売はしていません。 (Biglobe: meaning "This masterpiece is now not on sale")

Staff Director: Katsuyoshi Yatabe Series composition and screenplay: Michiru Shimada Original character design: Yoshiharu Satō Character designs and chief animation director: Takayo Nishimura Music: Yasuharu Takanashi, Hiromi Mizutani, Kenji Fujisawa Art director: Shigeru Morimoto Colour design: Tomoko Komatsubara Production: Nippon Animation

Characters Anne Shirley

A red hair little girl who is orphaned after her parents' death. Joanna (Harrigan) Thomas

Anne's maternal aunt, wife to Bert and mother to Eliza, Horace, Edward, Harry and Noah. She is constantly trying the make ends meet, and as such is often in a bad mood. Bert Thomas

Joanna's husband and father to her children. Due to his laziness and alcoholism, he is unable to hold down a job, usually spending whatever money he earns from the oddjobs he does on cheap liquor. Eliza Thomas

First born daughter of Thomas family and primary income of the household. She cares for Anne like her own child, but later marries Roger Emerson and leaves Anne behind. Horace Thomas

First son of the Thomas family. Edward Thomas

Second son of the Thomas family. Harry Thomas

Third son of the Thomas family. Noah Thomas

Fourth son of the Thomas family. Jessie (MacIntyre) Gleeson

An old widower with high standing. Lochinvar Anne's companion cat. His name is taken from a line of the poem "Marmion" by Walter Scott.Marmion, by Sir Walter Scott (Project Gutenberg) O, young Lochinvar is come out of the west Narration

References

External links

Nippon Animation's official announcement