Konnichiwa Anne (Before Green Gables)

Konnichiwa Anne (Before Green Gables) is a prequel to the story of Anne of Green Gables. I haven't read anything from the series. This prequel stands alone just fine. There aren't any unanswered questions that leave you wondering. You share Anne's experiences: her daily routine, the daily wonders she sees through her imagination, and her encounters with people.

The story introduces us to an adopted orphan with red hair, who brings life to her grueling chores by escaping through imagination. She does the laundry, prepares food, cleans, and takes care of the reckless and useless children of the family who tease and make trouble for her. The couple that adopted her have their own share of problems that affect Anne heavily. Early off she is used as a scapegoat for their mistakes as they try to shake off poverty with a too-often-drunk father at the helm. Even though they are in the poor house, the series doesn't try to depress you, but show the hope that Anne brings to this family and many others.

Watch this if you are tired of anime main characters that are spoiled, jaded, and cynical.

Recommendations:

• Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi >>...a child and her parents stumble into a strange empty town where the spirits fill the streets after the sun sets, leaving her to muster the strength to win back her parents and freedom
  
• Kemono no Soujo Erin...challenges and heartbreak only make Erin stronger as she grows and learns to become a caretaker of beasts that reign the waters and the skies >>
• Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette...when abuse and struggles keep a young girl wishing to see her mother's face, a mysterious man with a troubled past comes to her aid, and they begin to run from the law >>

Video Sample:



A special treat, compare the opening scene with the 1979 series Akage no Anne, based on Anne of Green Gables (to which the above anime is a prequel):
Watch the opening theme for Akage no Anne
(Embedding the video isn't possible.)

After seeing some of Before Green Gables, I'm interested in checking out the 1979 series, Akage no Anne >>, too.

Do you plan to watch Konnichiwa Anne (Before Green Gables)?


See the description for Konnichiwa Anne (Before Green Gables) on AnimeDB.net >>

Kimagure Orange Road (KOR)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Kimagure Orange Road (TV) - Comedy, Love triangle, school life, and a sprinkling of ESPer abilities make this series a fun and light summer watch. Before I noticed, I would watch episodes, 5 or 6 at a time of this before I watched new episodes of this season's animes.

The protagonist seems run of the mill at first, but thanks to his special powers, he's also susceptible to the uncommon situations that go from bad to worse in a blink of an eye. The episodes waste no time and use every minute to tell the story, so don't expect long pans of scenery and long setups to get the story going. Flashbacks and pace keep the watcher on their toes, wanting to know how Kasuga gets himself out of this one.

There's more violence than I expected in an old-school anime. Thanks to some characters that aren't afraid to slap, punch and knee people in the face. Also, a handful of episodes that involve sukeban gang girls with mostly strange weapons (except for a razor blade that freaked me out a little).

Keep an eye out for Ushiko and Umao, whose cameos pop up at all the right places.

Recommendations:

• Touch...youthful love triangle + baseball
• Telepathy Shoujo Ran...ESPer comedy/mystery with some romance
• Miracle Girls... ESPer sisters + old school

Video Sample: