A brand-new Anne of Green Gables anime adaptation is set to premiere on April 5, 2025, bringing a fresh take on the beloved classic. The upcoming series, simply titled Anne Shirley, will feature a 24-episode run and is being produced by The Answer Studio.
Fans were treated to a first look at the series when the official website dropped a teaser trailer alongside a key visual featuring Anne Shirley, Diana Barry, and Gilbert Blythe. The anime is set to air on NHK Educational at 6:25 p.m. JST (5:25 a.m. EDT).
Star-Studded Production Team Behind Anne Shirley Anime
The new adaptation boasts a talented lineup of directors, artists, and composers, bringing a high level of expertise to the project.
The production team includes:
- Yūji Watanabe (Lupin the Third: Part 5) and Naoko Saitō as animation directors.
- Tadashi Kudo (The Heroic Legend of Arslan) as art director.
- Shiho Kuriki (City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust) as the color key artist.
- Shinji Saitō (City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust) as compositing director of photography.
- Kisuke Koizumi (Chainsaw Man, Kingdom) as sound director.
- Michiru Ōshima (Fullmetal Alchemist, The Tatami Galaxy) as the music composer.
The main Japanese voice cast for the anime has also been announced:
- Honoka Inoue as Anne Shirley
- Aya Nakamura as Marilla Cuthbert
- Yasunori Matsumoto as Matthew Cuthbert
- Naoya Miyase as Gilbert Blythe
- Yume Miyamoto as Diana Barry
A Classic Tale Reimagined for a New Generation
Anne of Green Gables, originally written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1908, follows Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, a pair of middle-aged siblings in the fictional town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The Cuthberts had originally planned to adopt a boy to help on their farm, but they grow to love the spirited and imaginative Anne, who navigates friendships, school, and romance in her coming-of-age journey.
Unlike previous adaptations, the new anime will extend beyond the first novel, covering Anne’s growth into adulthood, her deepening relationship with Gilbert Blythe, and her lifelong friendship with Diana Barry, incorporating elements from Montgomery’s sequel novels.
Japan’s Love Affair With Anne Shirley
The Anne of Green Gables novel has been immensely popular in Japan since Hanako Muraoka’s 1952 translation, titled Akage no Anne (Red-Haired Anne). The book has since been translated into at least 36 languages and has sold over 50 million copies worldwide.
Alongside the anime, a manga adaptation by Akane Hoshikubo debuted in Kadokawa’s B’s-LOG COMIC magazine on January 5, 2025.
With a stellar creative team and a beloved source material, Anne Shirley is shaping up to be a must-watch for both longtime fans and new audiences.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.