Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari
Encyclopedia
Little Women, also known as is a 1987 Japan
ese animated
television series adaptation of Louisa May Alcott
's Little Women
, produced by Nippon Animation
.
A sequel series, Little Women II: Jo's Boys, premiered in 1993.
, until one day during a picnic, Mr. March notices Confederate
scouts at a riverbank
. As an officer of the Union Army on leave with a broken arm, Mr. March hesitantly leaves his family to inform his superiors and to prepare for the upcoming battle. Meanwhile, his family endures the Confederate occupation and even helps an escaped slave named John from being forcibly recruited to fight for the Confederacy.
Eventually, Union forces
arrive and in the ensuing battle the March family home is destroyed and their investment (which had also been their savings) stolen. With no other options, the family leaves Gettysburg to Newcord, where they hope to be taken by an estranged aunt of father. Upon arriving in Newcord, they are coldly received by the old woman and even less so by David, an egotistical nephew who constantly asks for loans and antagonizes the family. Despite the reception, Aunt March allows the family to stay at home until they can get back on their feet.
Determined to have a sense of normalcy and persevere their hardship, Meg finds work as a Governess
while Jo alternates between being a companion to Aunt March and Author. During a sales pitch to sell a short story to a local newspaper, her work and her character are presumptuously criticized by Anthony, a local reporter. Upset and resolute, Jo throws herself into her writing ultimately earning the respect of Anthony and forms an amicable relationship.
In time, the March family moves into a new home and the events that follow begin to reference the plot of the original novel: The 18th episode is based on Chapter 3 and follows the first part of the book.
from 1 January 1987 to 27 December 1987 as part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater
.
The series was broadcast aired across Asia by the anime satellite television
network, Animax
.
Little Women was first dubbed into English by Saban Entertainment and was broadcast across the United States
by HBO in 1988, under the title Tales of Little Women, making it one of only three WMT serials to have been broadcast on television in the United States
. Currently the series airs in the United States on Smile of a Child
.
Ending Themes
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
television series adaptation of Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868...
's Little Women
Little Women
Little Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott . The book was written and set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts. It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869...
, produced by Nippon Animation
Nippon Animation
is a Japanese animation studio. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with chief offices in the Ginza district of Chūō and production facilities in Tama City....
.
A sequel series, Little Women II: Jo's Boys, premiered in 1993.
Plot
The animated series is loosely derived from the book and introduces new material and characters. The series begins with the introduction of the March family happily living in GettysburgGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, until one day during a picnic, Mr. March notices Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
scouts at a riverbank
Riverbank
Riverbank may refer to:*Riverbank, California*Riverbank, former name of Bryte, California*The RiverBank, a bank offering banking, insurance and investment services*Bank , the bank of a river...
. As an officer of the Union Army on leave with a broken arm, Mr. March hesitantly leaves his family to inform his superiors and to prepare for the upcoming battle. Meanwhile, his family endures the Confederate occupation and even helps an escaped slave named John from being forcibly recruited to fight for the Confederacy.
Eventually, Union forces
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
arrive and in the ensuing battle the March family home is destroyed and their investment (which had also been their savings) stolen. With no other options, the family leaves Gettysburg to Newcord, where they hope to be taken by an estranged aunt of father. Upon arriving in Newcord, they are coldly received by the old woman and even less so by David, an egotistical nephew who constantly asks for loans and antagonizes the family. Despite the reception, Aunt March allows the family to stay at home until they can get back on their feet.
Determined to have a sense of normalcy and persevere their hardship, Meg finds work as a Governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
while Jo alternates between being a companion to Aunt March and Author. During a sales pitch to sell a short story to a local newspaper, her work and her character are presumptuously criticized by Anthony, a local reporter. Upset and resolute, Jo throws herself into her writing ultimately earning the respect of Anthony and forms an amicable relationship.
In time, the March family moves into a new home and the events that follow begin to reference the plot of the original novel: The 18th episode is based on Chapter 3 and follows the first part of the book.
Characters
- Eiko Yamada as Josephine 'Jo' March
- Keiko HanKeiko Hanis a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and...
as Margaret 'Meg' March - Mayumi Shou as Elizabeth 'Beth' March
- Rei SakumaRei Sakumais a Japanese voice actress employed by 81 Produce. She is best known in Japan for her voice work in the long running children's series Soreike! Anpanman; her most famous role in the English-speaking world, however, is probably as the Chinese Amazon Shampoo in Ranma ½.-Notable voice roles:*Akabon...
as Amy March - Nobuo TobitaNobuo Tobitais a Japanese seiyū from Mito. He is represented by Arts Vision.He is most known for the roles of Kamille Bidan , Albert Heinrich/004 , and Sueo Maruo...
as Theodore 'Laurie' Lawrence
Broadcast
Little Women aired on Fuji TelevisionFuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
from 1 January 1987 to 27 December 1987 as part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater
World Masterpiece Theater
is a Japanese TV anime staple that showcased an animated version of a different classical book or story each year on 7:30p.m. on Sunday. It originally aired from 1969 to 1997 then resumed in 2007....
.
The series was broadcast aired across Asia by the anime satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
network, Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
.
Little Women was first dubbed into English by Saban Entertainment and was broadcast across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by HBO in 1988, under the title Tales of Little Women, making it one of only three WMT serials to have been broadcast on television in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Currently the series airs in the United States on Smile of a Child
Smile of a Child
Smile of a Child TV is a Christian children's channel affiliated with Trinity Broadcasting Network that offers programming 24 hours per day, seven days a week...
.
Themes
Opening Themes- by Eri NittaEri Nittais a Japanese singer, actress, lyricist, and tarento. She made her professional debut as the fourth member of the all-female singing group Onyanko Club in 1985. She made her solo debut with the hit song on January 1, 1986...
(eps 01-14) - by Keiko HanKeiko Hanis a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and...
, Eiko Yamada, Mayumi ShōMayumi Shois a Japanese seiyū. She formely works at Aoni Production and is currently working at Kekke Corporation. She is married to fellow seiyū Keiichi Nanba.-Notable voice roles:*Ikuko Otonashi in Maison Ikkoku*Chi-Chi in Dragon Ball and early Dragon Ball Z...
, Rei SakumaRei Sakumais a Japanese voice actress employed by 81 Produce. She is best known in Japan for her voice work in the long running children's series Soreike! Anpanman; her most famous role in the English-speaking world, however, is probably as the Chinese Amazon Shampoo in Ranma ½.-Notable voice roles:*Akabon...
(eps 15-48)
Ending Themes
- by Eri Nitta (eps 01-14)
- by Satoko Shimonari (eps 15-48)
See also
- Little Women (1981 TV series), Toei Animation's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel.
External links
- Little Women at Nippon Animation's English website