10 Must-Watch Reasons for Shojo Anime Fans to Discover Anne Shirley

This includes spoilers for Anne Shirley , now streaming on Crunchyroll .

The Answer Studio's latest anime production, Anne Shirley is derived from a well-loved classic literature book entitled Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Shojo Anime enthusiasts were highly enthusiastic about the announcement of the new series, despite it not being categorized as a shoujo or adapted from a shoujo manga. Anne Shirley is tailored for the same demographic targeted by typical shōjo anime and manga productions, namely a young female audience.

Shojo anime typically feature specific storylines and character archetypes. These shows usually revolve around identifiable female leads and focus on themes such as self-improvement, imagination, love, camaraderie, and chosen families. Although Anne Shirley So far, only a handful of episodes have been released, but the core concept of the series and its content encompass numerous common shojo anime themes and widely-used tropes.

Anne Shirley Discovers Her Spot in Life

Shojo Anime Trope: Coming-of-Age

Shojo anime often focuses on personal growth. This development can manifest in various ways, yet adolescent-themed narratives are the most prevalent. theme of self-improvement in shōjo anime. At the start of the story, Anne Shirley is just 11 years old. Anne of Green Gables And with the anime series, by then she has led an incredibly vivid life independently, reaching a pivotal moment where she aims to finally discover her true home and family.

Discovering a house and a family along with a sense of fitting in is crucial for everyone, and since Anne was an orphan, she had always lacked this sentiment. She dreams of experiencing it with the Cuthberts beneath their roof. Green Gables, in Avonlea Once she gets taken in by the Cuthberts, Anne is eager to define herself in this new chapter of her life.

Anne Shirley characterizes herself as a "poor orphan girl."

Shojo Anime Cliché: Protagonist With a Heartrending Past

Anne resides in the orphanage as she lost both of her affectionate parents when she was very young. Her backstory is truly heartbreaking It’s abundantly clear that Anne yearns deeply for love and safety, just like every child deserves. She lacks any significant early memories of her parents to draw comfort from. At its core, Anne's situation resonates with both Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, despite their differing expressions of empathy.

Anne's genuine openness and talent for theatricality Injects some lightness into her circumstances. She comes across as an extremely relatable youngster, while also being a child who can make understanding adults chuckle with dry wit when she refers to herself as a "poor orphan child," all the while apologizing for losing her cool. The sorrowful elements of Anne's history undoubtedly mold her in numerous ways.

Anne Shirley’s Avonlea has a distinct kind of cozy, idyllic slice-of-life charm.

Shojo Anime Cliché: Charming Garden Day-to-Day Storyline

Slice-of-life anime is prevalent across various segments of the anime audience, particularly within seinen manga and series. In shojo works, this genre has its distinct flavor with themes often centered on nature, academics, artistic expression, and personal growth. Additionally, it’s quite typical for many shojo productions to incorporate floral motifs into characters' poses and static scenes. Anne Shirley Does so abundantly, fitting its rural backdrop. Several shojo slice-of-life instances that feature a picturesque natural environment and center around a main character cultivating their artistic expression or finding their role in life include those from Studio Ghibli’s productions. Only Yesterday And the shōjo isekai anime The Miracle Worker's Magical Abilities Are All-Powerful.

A great part of Anne of Green Gable Its charm and beauty are captivating. Avonlea on Prince Edward Island When Anne arrives at Avonlea, her connection goes beyond just forming a relationship with Matthew Cuthbert; she also develops a deep affinity for the landscape around her. She bestows endearing monikers upon local features such as the "White Way of Delight" and the "Lake of Shimmering Waters." The narrative unfolds as an entirely earth-focused depiction of everyday life wherein Anne discovers her place among Avonlea’s verdant landscapes, allowing her creativity to soar amidst this bountiful environment.

Anne Shirley Desires Any Hair Hue Except Red

Shojo Anime Stereotype: Self-Doubt Regarding Appearance

Anne constantly stands out due to her red hair, and in her opinion, this isn’t ideal. Although she enjoys being noticed occasionally, she’d prefer it were due to her sense of style or because she adorned her hat attractively with blooms. To her, and according to the standards of the Edwardian era, Anne Shirley occurs, ginger hair isn't considered a trendy hairstyle.

In merely three episodes, Anne mentions multiple times that she desires having dark black or brown hair instead. She responds with anger and sorrow whenever someone makes subtle comments about her appearance, such as those made by Mrs. Lynde. Unlike some children who receive constant attention and compliments, Anne does not get this kind of adoration; however, she blossoms when even minor praises come her way. This aspect is quite charming. Anne's growth involves discovering her individual understanding of both internal and external attractiveness. , and the type of praise she receives from her reserved yet affectionate new guardians, Matthew and Marilla.

Anne Shirley Faces an Infamous Event at School

Shojo Anime Stereotype: Harassment & Academic Struggles

An storyline frequently associated with a shoujo anime lead character. The journey of growing up involves dealing with daily school challenges. When the Cuthberts choose to adopt Anne into their family, she has to start going to school on Prince Edward Island. Eager to embrace all aspects of a fulfilling childhood that had previously eluded her, Anne finds that her initial days at school bring some harsh realities.

Anne faces social challenges, a typical element found in many shōjo anime where personal clashes and growth play significant roles. During class time, Anne finds herself seated beside her newfound companion, Diana Barry; however, this moment introduces another regular figure into her life—Gilbert Blythe. With little awareness of his impact, Gilbert disrupts Anne’s tranquility at her desk through playful banter, referring to her as “Carrots.” His seemingly innocent moniker touches upon one of Anne’s most sensitive vulnerabilities. Anne's temperament comes to the forefront. , and she finds herself in hot water at school with one of the most memorable temper tantrums in literature: she breaks a chalkboard over Gilbert's head.

Anne Shirley doesn’t have a beach scene, but her picnic episode is utterly charming.

Shojo Anime Cliché: Beach/Pool Excursion Episode

Anne Shirley In Episode 3 titled “The Anticipation is Half the Fun,” Anne primarily focuses on planning a picnic she hopes to join. This marks an initial move toward integrating her into the group of kids living on Prince Edward Island. Episodes featuring beaches and lakes are quite typical in shojo anime series; however, this episode does not include such scenes yet. Anne Shirley The lakeside picnic scene serves a very similar purpose and uses comparable imagery.

Beach settings often serve as light-hearted filler episodes highlighting bonding moments among friends and occasionally progressing romantic storylines. However, there isn’t a distinct romantic storyline in this case. Anne Shirley Still, going to the picnic offers Anne an opportunity to form friendships with the other girls in Avonlea and enjoy herself alongside Diana. Although they do not venture into the ocean, they engage in boating activities and experience a small, amusing mishap involving one of the girls. almost plunges into the Lake of Shining Waters .

Anne Shirley loves to spend her time daydreaming.

Shojo Anime Cliché: The Protagonist Who Dreams wida

Teenage heroines in shojo anime such as Usagi from Sailor Moon and Shirayuki from Red-Haired Snow White often tend to have grand aspirations Some people say they are overly idealistic, which might be accurate; however, despite being somewhat distracted by their dreams, they possess great qualities. hopefulness and creativity to envision magnificent opportunities For their own sake, their future, and about life in general. Anne's imagination forms the core of her narrative; this is what makes people adore it. Anne of Green Gables so much.

Although Anne's dreamy disposition adds charm and cuteness to her character within the story, this isn’t merely for those reasons. Her imaginative side shields her from traumas beyond her years and assists in shaping her into a more virtuous individual. How Anne’s creativity manifests itself throughout Anne Shirley is elegant, sugary, and creative.

Anne Shirley Discovers Her Family with the Cuthberts

Shojo Anime Cliché: Adopted Kin

At the start, the Cuthberts wish to adopt a child. Anne Shirley Because, from their perspective, what they require is a strapping young lad to assist with chores at their farm. Marilla and Matthew are older unmarried siblings without offspring, accustomed to maintaining their routine. Their lives transform unexpectedly when a blunder during the adoption procedure leads to the arrival of an energetic and talkative freckled redhead named Anne.

While The Cuthberts weren't expecting to adopt Anne. They turned out to be precisely what each other needed. Matthew often shares with Marilla that perhaps the crucial aspect isn’t what Anne can provide, but rather how they can enrich her life through their love and proper upbringing. Similar to most well-crafted stories about discovered families, every individual’s existence improves once they find one another within this newfound familial bond.

Anne Shirley Was Forever Dreaming of Having a Close Confidante Who Would Be Truly Hers

Shojo Anime Cliché: Greatest Buddyship

Anne needed to mature quickly. While residing at the orphanage, every time she was taken in by a family, she never really got an opportunity to attend school, connect with potential brothers and sisters, or befriend kids from nearby houses. Instead, she had to labor for the household that provided her shelter until they either could not or chose not to house her any longer.

During Anne's more solitary times, she would conjure up an imaginary companion whom she named Katie Maurice. Among the earliest and most charming story arcs was one involving Anne Shirley is the evolving relationship between Anne and her neighbor in Avonlea, Diana Barry. Diana and Anne share a fantastic connection. , despite having many things in common, they also value each other’s distinctions. Diana tends to be restrained and sardonic, while Anne is exuberant and emotionally attuned. However, both girls share a fondness for romance novels and delight in exploring the outdoors together. Their tale of camaraderie stands out as one of the finest and most cherished motifs. Anne of Green Gables .

Numerous Aspects of Anne Shirley's Experiences Are Both Relatable and Sympathetic

Shojo Anime Cliché: Identifiable Protagonist Girl

One does not need to possess a personality or history similar to Anne’s in order to connect with her as a character. Anne Shirley This portrayal captures aspects of childhood with a depth that competes with Studio Ghibli in terms of emotional resonance. Although Anne can come across as whimsical and over-the-top, numerous people relate to her intense early life feelings as she deals with personal aspirations, uncertainties, and happiness surrounding occurrences and settings that adults might find mundane.

Audiences who look at Anne's cheerful expression In promotional images, people might erroneously believe they depict historical events due to their appearance. Anne Shirley Is cliché or moralistic in style. Anne is an endearingly imperfect character. Her imperfections are not criticized, however. The most captivating aspect of her narrative is how She develops through her imperfections. and evolves into a mature and fully realized individual.