As we all know, Japan has adapted the Bible into an anime via The Flying House and Superbook. But aside from that Asian Literature (If I remember correctly, there are anime films based on old Japanese folklore), they have adapted works coming from Western Literature. I was lucky that I was able to watch those titles back in my childhood but since I am a little dumb back then, I thought these titles are Chinese cartoons! You see, it is in the mindset of most Filipino kids back then that if they don’t understand the language, it is Chinese!
I was able to watch anime versions of Peter Pan, which I got bored while watching it, Cinderella, in which the Japanese butchered the series by adding talking animals, lengthening the simple story into a complex title in which the prince and Cinderella already met, making it into a “love knows no boundaries” type of story. Lastly, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the only anime adaptation based on a fairy tale that I enjoyed watching asides since the fairy tales are told in a single episode.
Aside from Fairy Tales, they adapted novels, which in my opinion are one of the best anime titles that I have watched. While writing this thing, I was listening to the audio of the reruns of Mary and the Secret Garden, which is based on the novel, called, Secret Garden. Ah, Camilia, I still can’t figure out why people in Mary’s town hate you. If only I was able to finish the series. If only.
Aside from the Secret Garden, a Little Princess was turned into an anime which is called here as, Sarah, A Little Princess (In Filipino, Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa). If you are familiar with the film or the novel, you know that it is about a girl named Sarah, after enjoying a life of comfort, she ends up being a slave to a school after her father died in India because she can’t pay her bills. For starters, I was bored with the title but not to my surprise, the series was a hit to Filipinos that it was turned into a film that starred the best actors of the 90’s to create this film! It was later turned in the late 2000 era into a live-action TV show with forgettable cast and forgettable retelling because the series is filled with magic!
Another title that was given a movie treatment, is Cedie, The Little Prince (In Filipino, Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe), which is based on Little Lord Faulderoy. The story is about Cedie who is living an ordinary life in New York when he learned that he is of royal blood and the grandchild of a Duke back in England! He later moves to England and learns the ways of royalty while she is separated with her mom. The only thing that binds them together even if they are so close yet so far (Even if Cedie came to England with her mom, the Duke separates them and forbids them to meet), is music.
This anime is one of my all time favorite anime titles of all time due to its story and there is change within the characters. The Duke, from a cold old man, he slowly melts into Cedie’s lovable grandfather. Even if an impostor grandchild her mother appeared, the Duke still prefers Cedie and at the very end even with those imposters around. Even though it was turned into a movie, it was never turned into a live-action TV show! Seeing how crappy Sarah is and wasted talent on their older cast, it is no surprise that they never adapted Cedie!
Another thing that I loved about this series is the song, Annie Laurie. To those who don’t know the song, here it is on top of you.
Another novel which is turned into an anime is Daddy Long Legs (Which I got the glimpse of the novel), which is named here as, Julie. The story is a coming out of age story of Julie Abbot after she leaves the orphanage thanks to her benefactor, which she calls Daddy Long Legs. As the series progressed, she enjoys her high school life, fell in love and being chased by two guys and at the end got married to… I will not spoil it to you because it is one of the best parts of the series!
Along with Cedie, I was able to finish Julie. The series is one of the early examples of how Japan was able to handle a slice of life series. Julie was something fresh for me back then, and until now, it is still as fresh as ever. Seriously, who could have ever think of something as Daddy Long Legs? Anyways, as the series progressed, it focused more on Julies love story with some stranger they meet and Julia’s (her blonde friend) older brother. At the end, Julie was able to decide whom the person she loves more and later learned the biggest question that bothers viewers. Who is Daddy Long Legs?
There is also an Alice in Wonderland cartoon in which I am not sure if it is an anime or not due to the English opening theme. One thing I remembered at that show is that Alice is not alone in her journey in Wonderland… and the caterpillar who likes to smoke back in the Disney version is here acts like an adviser to Alice. And yes, he is still smoking crack, I mean he still smokes the same thing!
Another title based on Western Literature that I watched is the gender bend version of the classic World Masterpiece Theatre anime title which is based on an old French tale called, Remi. In the original French tale and the original World Masterpiece Theatre anime, Remi is a male. While in this version which is still part of the World Masterpiece Theatre, Remi is a girl and they added more depth into her character that she is in search for her mother as she wonders around the streets of France.
The series itself was also memorable due to its soundtrack, the fact that Remy is part of a marching band along with a dog and a monkey (Jalicur!). It shows us the darker side of France that even with all its beauty, the city itself has some ugly side, with street children running around stealing if they can’t beg people to give them alms and is staying with an evil man.
There are also other titles in which I am not sure if it is based on Western Literature such as Romeo’s Small Dreams (In Filipino, Mga Mumunting Pangarap ni Romeo) and Julio and Julia, Twins of Fate (In Filipino, Julio at Julia, Kambal ng Tadhana). If someone can tell me were it is based, please tell me. Also, these are not only the anime titles which is based on Western Literature. Asides from the entire World Masterpiece Theatre series (In which the Dog of Flanders is part and is one of the memorable anime titles Japan loved), there is a Jungle Book anime (Get up!), and many titles which has heavy Western literature influence on it (That includes an anime with a little detective girl in England!). And you thought that the Marvel Anime series is the first anime series based on something Western!
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