Tales of Little Women

This article is about the 1987 anime adaptation by Nippon Animation. For the 1981 anime adaptation by Toei Animation see Little Women (1981 TV series). For all other uses see Little Women (disambiguation)
Tales of Little Women

The March sisters, clockwise from upper left: Jo, Meg (in chair), Amy, and Beth.
愛の若草物語
(Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari)
Genre Historical drama
Anime television series
Directed by Fumio Kurokawa
Produced by Koichi Motohashi, Junzo Nakajima
Written by Akira Miyazaki (all 48 episodes)
Music by Kazuo Otani
Studio Nippon Animation
Network Fuji TV, Animax
English network
Original run January 11, 1987 December 27, 1987
Episodes 48

Tales of Little Women (愛の若草物語 Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari, "Love's Tale of Young Grass"), also simply known as Little Women, is a 1987 Japanese 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.

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 near Gettysburg (the nearby town of York in the English version), 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. The storyline from Chapter 1 (Christmas 1863) begins in episode 21.

Characters

For more information on the main characters, including the March sisters, Laurie, and Marmee, see Little Women.

Writer Akira Miyazaki introduced several new supporting characters not in the original novel:

Name and character changes

In addition to the town of Concord itself being renamed "Newcord" for the anime version (which carried over into the English dub), several characters also underwent name changes in this series. For example, the March parents, named Margaret and Robert in the original novel, are Mary and Frederic in this series, and Mr. Brooke is renamed from John to Carl in Japanese and some of the European dub versions (although the English dubbers changed his name back to John). Also, the March family's live-in help, Hannah, is African-American in this version instead of Irish and Caucasian, perhaps to draw more attention with Japanese viewers to the plight of black Americans in the 19th century.

Broadcast

Little Women aired on Fuji Television from 11 January 1987 to 27 December 1987 as part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater. The series features contributions from several well-known Studio Ghibli staffers, including co-character designer Yoshifumi Kondo and animation director Atsuko Otani. The chief director was Nippon Animation/WMT veteran Fumio Kurokawa with storyboard duties handled by various other directors, and Akira Miyazaki is credited with scripting all 48 episodes. Kurokawa, Otani, and character designer and chief animation director Toshiki Yamazaki had all been involved in the previous WMT series Princess Sarah, as had Jo's voice actress, Eiko Yamada. 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. Since Fall 2009, Currently the series airs in the United States on Smile of a Child and in the Philippines on DZOZ-TV. Unusual for a Saban Entertainment dub of an anime series, the English dub version of Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari kept the original Japanese musical score by Kazuo Otani, although the theme songs were replaced with a new one by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy, who also composed some additional music for the series itself. The series has yet to be released on DVD in the English language, although a compilation of two episodes was released on VHS in the United States in 1992 as Little Women's Christmas Story. It has long since gone out of print.

The series has also achieved a high level of popularity in Europe and Latin America.

Voice Cast

Tales of Little Women English Cast

Voice actors

Staff

Themes

Opening Themes
  1. Invitation of the Young Grass (若草の招待状 Wakakusa no Shōtaijō) by Eri Nitta (eps 01-14)
  2. Someday, for Sure (いつかきっと! Itsuka Kitto!) by Keiko Han, Eiko Yamada, Mayumi Shō, Rei Sakuma (eps 15-48)
Ending Themes
  1. Sunset and Wind and Melody (夕陽と風とメロディ Sekiyō to Kaze to Merodi) by Eri Nitta (eps 01-14)
  2. A Lullaby for Father (お父さまへのララバイ Otōsama e no Rarabai) by Satoko Shimonari (eps 15-48)

Episode list

Toshiki Yamazaki is animation director for the first five episodes, for odd-numbered episodes 7 through 17, and for even-numbered episodes 20 through 48. Takumi Koyama is animation director for even-numbered episodes 6 through 16 and for odd-numbered episodes 19 through 47. Atsuko Otani is animation director for episode 18 only.

All episodes are written by Akira Miyazaki.

All episodes are directed by Fumio Kurokawa, who also drew storyboards for episodes 2, 3, and 48. Other storyboard artists included:

# Original title English dub title Original air date
01 "Papa Came Home!!"
"Papa ga kaette kita!!" (パパが帰って来た!!) 
The March FamilyJanuary 11, 1987
02 "Milky Ann Has Been Found"
"Milky Ann o hirouta" (ミルキー・アンを拾った) 
The War Draws CloserJanuary 18, 1987
03 "Watch Out! Escape Quickly!!"
"Abunai! Hayaku nigete!!" (あぶない!早く逃げて!!) 
The Deserter / The Hidden GuestJanuary 25, 1987
04 "The Battle Begins!"
"Sensou ga hajimaru!" (戦争がはじまる!) 
The Gift of FreedomFebruary 1, 1987
05 "The Town Burns Down!"
"Machi ga moete shimau!" (町が燃えてしまう!) 
The Friendship PinFebruary 8, 1987
06 "Goodbye Hometown!"
"Sayounara furusato!" (さよなら ふるさと!) 
Running from the WarFebruary 15, 1987
07 "Auntie is Ill-Tempered!"
"Obasama wa ijiwaru!" (おば様はいじわる!) 
The Unwelcome MatFebruary 22, 1987
08 "A Loan for a House, Please!"
"Oie o kashite kudasai!" (お家を貸して下さい!) 
Living With Aunt MarchMarch 1, 1987
09 "Short-Tempered Jo!"
"Okorinbou no Jo!" (怒りん坊のジョオ!) 
Nice Work If You Can Get ItMarch 8, 1987
10 "Praise and Critiques"
"Homerarete kenasarete" (ほめられて けなされて) 
Jo's Civil War StoriesMarch 15, 1987
11 "Aunt Martha is Pitiful!"
"Martha obasama wa okinodoku!" (マーサおば様はお気の毒!) 
A Heart to Heart TalkMarch 22, 1987
12 "I Hate Thunder!"
"Ikazuchi nante daikirai!" (雷なんて大嫌い!) 
The Worn-Out WelcomeMarch 29, 1987
13 "Our Strange House"
"Watashitachi no hennaie" (私たちの変な家) 
A Home At LastApril 5, 1987
14 "Amy and Bad Friends"
"Amy to nikui tomodachi" (エイミーと悪い友だち) 
New Friends / A New Life In A New TownApril 12, 1987
15 "The Strange Boy Next Door!"
"Otonari kara nozoku fushigina shounen!" (お隣からのぞく不思議な少年!) 
The Boy Next DoorApril 19, 1987
16 "Terrible! Meg is Not a Thief!!"
"Hidoi! Meg wa dorobou nanka jinai!!" (ひどい!メグは泥棒なんかじゃない!!) 
Meg's First DanceApril 26, 1987
17 "Jo and President Lincoln's Speech!"
"Jo to Lincoln daitouryou no enzetsu!" (ジョオとリンカーン大統領の演説!) 
Lincoln's Gettysburg AddressMay 3, 1987
18 "Meg and Jo's Debut at the Ball?!"
"Meg to Jo butoukai ni debut!?" (メグとジョオ舞踏会にデビュー!?) 
Invitation to the DanceMay 10, 1987
19 "The Burnt Dress and the Nice Gentleman"
"Okoge dress to sutekina shinshi" (おこげドレスと素敵な紳士) 
A Formal AffairMay 17, 1987
20 "Vigorous Jo's Visit!"
"Jo no mimai wa genki ippai!" (ジョオのお見舞いは元気いっぱい!) 
A Neighbor In NeedMay 24, 1987
21 "Announcement! Jo's Enthusiastic Work of Self-Confidence"
"Happyou! Harikiri Jo no jishin saku" (発表!はりきりジョオの自信作) 
May 31, 1987
22 "A Hungry Christmas"
"Onakanosuita kurisumasu" (おなかのすいたクリスマス) 
A Christmas DinnerJune 7, 1987
23 "Beth! The Great Joy of an Unexpected Gift!!"
"Beth! Omoigakenai okurimono ni ooyorokobi!!" (ベス!思いがけない贈物に大喜び!!) 
A “Grand” OfferJune 14, 1987
24 "The Beginning of Meg's Little Love?"
"Meg no chiisana koi no hajimari?" (メグの小さな恋のはじまり?) 
Lost in the MusicJune 21, 1987
25 "Novelist Jo's $2 Masterpiece!"
"Shousetsuka Jo no kessaku!" (小説家ジョオの2ドルの傑作!) 
Jo Shares Her FortuneJune 28, 1987
26 "Shy Beth and the Old Gentleman Next Door"
"Kowagari Beth to otonari no oi shinshi" (怖がりベスとお隣の老紳士) 
It's Downright UprightJuly 5, 1987
27 "Amy is Punished at School!"
"Gakkou de oshiokisareata Amy!" (学校でお仕置されたエイミー!) 
Forbidden SweetsJuly 12, 1987
28 "Amy! What Are You Doing!"
"Amy! Nante koto suru no!" (エイミー!なんてことするの!) 
Amy's RevengeAugust 2, 1987
29 "Don't Die! Amy Has Fallen in the River!"
"Shina naide! Amy ga kawa ni ochita!" (死なないで!エイミーが川に落ちた!) 
Skating on Thin IceAugust 9, 1987
30 "I Wish I Could Say I'm Sorry!"
"Gomen ne to iietara ii no ni!" (怖がりベスとお隣の老紳士) 
Forgive And ForgetAugust 16, 1987
31 "Meg is Not a Doll!"
"Meg wa kisekaeningyou ja nai!" (メグはきせかえ人形じゃない!) 
Out Of CharacterAugust 30, 1987
32 "Aunt Martha is a Worrywart"
"Komata Martha obasan no seikaku" (困ったマーサおばさんの性格) 
Jo's Spoiled PlansSeptember 6, 1987
33 "A Fun, Fun Outdoor Party!"
"Tanoshii tanoshii yagai party da!" (楽しい楽しい野外パーティだ!) 
Laurie's Lake PartySeptember 13, 1987
34 "Amy Had a Bad Dream!"
"Amy wa nikui yumewomita!" (エイミーは悪い夢を見た!) 
Amy's NightmareSeptember 20, 1987
35 "Meg, So That's Love!!"
"Meg, sore wa yappari koi na no yo!!" (メグ、それはやっぱり恋なのよ!!) 
Meg Falls in LoveSeptember 27, 1987
36 "Jo's Story is in the Newspaper!"
"Jo no shousetsu ga shinbunninota!" (ジョオの小説が新聞にのった!) 
Jo in Black and WhiteOctober 4, 1987
37 "Father is Dying... Jo Sells Her Hair!"
"Chichi kitoku... Jo ga kami wo utta!" (チチキトク…ジョオが髪を売った!) 
A Small Price to PayOctober 11, 1987
38 "The Telegram of Bad News!"
"Warui shirase no denpo ga kita!" (悪い知らせの電報がきた!) 
A Sign of HopeOctober 18, 1987
39 "Letters, Letters, Letters We All Wrote"
"Minna ga kaita tegami, tegami, tegami" (みんなが書いた手紙、手紙、手紙) 
Letters from HomeOctober 25, 1987
40 "Beth Caught the Scarlet Fever!"
"Beth ga shokonetsu ni kakatta!" (ベスが猩紅熱にかかった!) 
Scarlet FeverNovember 1, 1987
41 "Mother, Come Home Quickly!"
"Okaasan kaette kite!" (お母さま早く帰ってきて!) 
Marmee, Come Back!November 8, 1987
42 "God, Please Save Beth!"
"Kamisama, douka Beth o tasukete!" (神様、どうかベスを助けて!) 
Shout for JoyNovember 15, 1987
43 "Go to New York, Jo!"
"Daitokai New York e ikou! Jo" (大都会ニューヨークへ行こう!ジョオ) 
In Search of a DreamNovember 22, 1987
44 "The Case of the Fake Letter - Who's the Culprit?"
"Nise tegami jiken - hannin wa dareka?" (ニセ手紙事件・犯人は誰か?) 
The Case of the Forged LetterNovember 29, 1987
45 "Grandfather Hit Laurie!"
"Ojisama ga Laurie o nagutta!" (おじいさまがローリーをなぐった!) 
Laurie Pays the PriceDecember 6, 1987
46 "An Unexpected Christmas Present"
"Omoigakenai kurisumasu" (思いがけないクリスマスプレゼント) 
A Very Merry ChristmasDecember 13, 1987
47 "Goodbye, Anthony!"
"Sayounara! Anthony" (さよなら!アンソニー) 
The ProposalDecember 20, 1987
48 "Springtime! Everyone Sets Out"
"Haru! Sorezore no tabidachi" (春!それぞれの旅立ち) 
The End and a BeginningDecember 27, 1987

See also

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.