A talker who never knows when to shut up, a dreamer who is always lost in her own imagination... These are one of the most unique and striking features of Anne Shirley, a cheerful and friendly orphan who wants a place to call home and people to call father and mother. The first few episodes show the viewers who she is, how she acts, what she likes and what she dislikes. And all these things are what make her such a relevant presence that stands out among all the characters.
"I've made up my mind to enjoy this drive. If I make up my mind to, I definitely will. I am not going to think about going back to the asylum while we're having our drive.”
Despite being proud and temperamental, Anne manages to be optimistic and try to see things on the good side.
Her positive sides somehow compensate for the negative ones, and with that Marilla and Matthew decide to keep her. Due to her past, she doesn't have many skills, knowledge or manners, and during the anime we can see her evolution in several of these aspects. But Anne is not the only one who evolves, her bright company can affect those around her in growing attached to her.
A thing that anime manages to do very well is to change the tone in a way that does not seem too abrupt, as it is a fifty-episode story, it has enough time to be distributed between the ages of eleven to seventeen years. In some moments the growth is applied so smoothly that it is barely noticeable, both in height and in personality. This is a factor that makes Anne's development satisfactory and realistic. Life is always moving, not just yours, but everyone's. The last third carries a melancholy atmosphere, it is happy to see her goals being accomplished, but sad that the further she gets she spends less time with her friends and family, there is always a feeling of parting in the air. And it is there that Akage no Anne explores very important themes: Aging and Paths.
With Anne grown up and her guardians getting older, she needs to make decisions that she hadn't thought about before, because life is unpredictable and not everything goes smoothly.
“The road might be filled with bends. There are full of unknowns after a turn. Walking slowly along this narrow winding road, rather than running toward a broad open horizon, I'll be able to see more of the beauty and warmth. I will not forget the mountains rising on the other side. ”
Anne of Green Gables is an experience that certainly was worth every moment. I didn't read the original so I don't know how well adapted the anime is, but it has a great excence in itself. That rural, green and lively environment gives immersion to those who are watching.
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