History Anime / WorldMasterpieceTheater

* '''1988''' "LittlePrinceCedie" (Shōkōshi Sedi) after the 1886 Novel ''Literature/LittleLordFauntleroy'' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

* '''1979''' "{{Red-haired Anne}}" (Akage no An) after the 1908 Novel ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. This was the last in the series to feature contributions by HayaoMiyazaki and IsaoTakahata.

* GhibliHills: Early entries into the series feature the talents of HayaoMiyazaki and it shows.

* '''1969''' "Dororo" (Creator/MushiProductions) (no, not [[KeroroGunsou that]] one) after the manga by OsamuTezuka (not only the first entry in the series, but also the only one based on a Japanese manga)

* '''1969''' "Dororo" (MushiProductions) (no, not [[KeroroGunsou that]] one) after the manga by OsamuTezuka (not only the first entry in the series, but also the only one based on a Japanese manga)

A similar series is ''Anime/GrimmsFairytaleClassics'', also produced by NipponAnimation.

* '''1990''' "MyDaddyLongLegs" (Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan) after the 1912 novel ''Literature/DaddyLongLegs'' by American writer Jean Webster.

''WorldMasterpieceTheater'' is a [[LongRunner long-running]] series of anime adaptations of classic western literature by NipponAnimation most of the time, who were formerly known as Zuiyo Enterprise. Each year the company takes a classic western novel and adapts it into a series of about 50 episodes. The different masterpiece series are, with the exceptions of the occasional sequels or {{prequel}}, not connected with each other.

* '''2007''' "LesMiserablesGirlCosette" (Re Mizeraburu Shōjo Kozetto) after the 1862 Novel ''Literature/LesMiserables'' by French Author Victor Hugo.

* '''1986''' "TheStoryOfPollyannaGirlOfLove" (Ai Shōjo Porianna Monogatari) after the 1913 novel ''{{Pollyanna}}'' by American novelist Eleanor H. Porter.

* HeartwarmingOrphan: Many of the series feature endearing orphaned protagonist. Examples include [[Literature/AnneOfGreenGables Anne]], Heidi, {{Pollyanna}}, Jerusha 'Judy' Abbott from ''Daddy Long Legs'' and Remi.

* '''1988''' "LittlePrinceCedie" (Shōkōshi Sedi) after the 1886 Novel ''LittleLordFauntleroy'' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

While the series in general is aimed at children and many of the originals that got adapted were children's books, its themes and plots can be suprisingly mature. Especially in the early years, when anime was little known in North America and Europe, the series stood in stark contrast to the traditional western animation. This may be part of the reason why only three entries in the series ("Tom Sawyer," "Swiss Family Robinson," and "Little Women") made it to the airwaves in the United States, and "Anne of Green Gables," despite being from a Canadian author, has never been on Canadian TV in English.

* '''1985''' "[[ShokojoSera Princess Sarah]]" (Shōkōjo Sēra) after the 1905 novel ''ALittlePrincess'' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

* '''1996''' "FamousDogLassie" (Meiken Rasshī) after the 1940 novel ''[[{{Lassie}} Lassie Come-Home]]'' by Eric Knight.

* '''2007''' "LesMiserablesGirlCosette" (Re Mizeraburu Shōjo Kozetto) after the 1862 Novel ''LesMiserables'' by French Author Victor Hugo.

* '''1990''' "MyDaddyLongLegs" (Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan) after the 1912 novel ''DaddyLongLegs'' by American writer Jean Webster.

* '''1973''' "RockyChuckTheMountainRat" (Yama Nezumi Rokki Chakku) (Last of the World Masterpiece Theater to be done by Mushi) after the Literature/BurgessBedtimeStories by American author Thornton Burgess. Dubbed into English by ZIV International as "Fables of the Green Forest".

* '''1973''' "RockyChuckTheMountainRat" (Yama Nezumi Rokki Chakku) (Last of the World Masterpiece Theater to be done by Mushi) after the "Johnny Chuck" series of books by American author Thornton Burgess. Dubbed into English by ZIV International as "Fables of the Green Forest".

* '''1975''' "ADogOfFlanders" (Furandāsu no Inu) (Zuiyo Enterprise[=/=]Nippon Animation, and from there out, all of World Masterpiece Theater productions have been done by Nippon Animation) after the novel by the English novelist Marie Louise De la Ramée.

Not to be confused with ''MasterpieceTheatre'', the [[LongRunner long-running]] primetime program on {{PBS}} that showcases {{BBC}} productions.

** A clarification on the production of this series: The entirety of Heidi was done by Zuiyo Eizo. Zuiyo filed for bankruptcy in 1975 and their animation studio then became Nippon Animation, founded by producer Koichi Motohashi (while Dog of Flanders, as well as MayaTheBee, were already on the air). Zuiyo continued on as a separate entity from Nippon Animation, and has continued to hold the copyright of the Heidi anime ever since.

* '''1977''' "RascalTheRaccoon" (Araiguma Rasukaru) after the 1963 novel ''Rascal, A Memoir of a Better Era'' by SterlingNorth.[[hottip:*: Along with Heidi's, its theme song will be familiar to anyone who's played the classic arcade game ''{{Frogger}}''.]]

* '''1983''' "[[AlpsStoryMyAnnette Alps Story: My Annette]]" (Watashi no Annetto) based on the children's book ''TreasuresOfTheSnow'' by Patricia St. John.

* '''1993''' [[TaleOfYoungGrassNanAndMissJo Tale of Young Grass: Nan and Miss Jo]] (Wakakusa Monogatari: Nan to Jōsensei) after Louisa May Alcott's 1871 sequel ''Little Men'' to her novel ''LittleWomen''.

* '''2007''' "[[LesMiserablesGirlCosette Les Miserables: Girl Cosette]]" (Re Mizeraburu Shōjo Kozetto) after the 1862 Novel ''LesMiserables'' by French Author Victor Hugo.

* '''2009''' "[[KonnichiwaAnneBeforeGreenGables Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables]]" after the ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' prequel ''Before Green Gables'' written by Budge Wilson and published only the year before.

* '''1971''' "[[HansChristianAndersen Andersen]] Stories" (Anderusen Monogatari) (Mushi); self-explanatory.

* '''1973''' "{{Rocky Chuck the Mountain Rat}}" (Yama Nezumi Rokki Chakku) (Last of the World Masterpiece Theater to be done by Mushi) after the "Johnny Chuck" series of books by American author Thornton Burgess. Dubbed into English by ZIV International as "Fables of the Green Forest".
* '''1974''' "Anime/{{Heidi Girl of the Alps}}" (Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji) (Zuiyo Enterprise) after the ''Literature/{{Heidi}}'' series of 1880s novels by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri.
** A clarification on the production of this series: The entirety of Heidi was done by Zuiyo Eizo. Zuiyo filed for bankruptcy in 1975 and their animation studio then became Nippon Animation, founded by producer Koichi Motohashi (while Dog of Flanders, as well as MayaTheBee, were already on the air). Zuiyo continued on as a separate entity from Nippon Animation, and has continued to hold the copyright of the Heidi anime ever since.
* '''1975''' "{{A Dog of Flanders}}" (Furandāsu no Inu) (Zuiyo Enterprise[=/=]Nippon Animation, and from there out, all of World Masterpiece Theater productions have been done by Nippon Animation) after the novel by the English novelist Marie Louise De la Ramée.

* '''1977''' "{{Rascal the Raccoon}}" (Araiguma Rasukaru) after the 1963 novel ''Rascal, A Memoir of a Better Era'' by SterlingNorth.[[hottip:*: Along with Heidi's, its theme song will be familiar to anyone who's played the classic arcade game ''{{Frogger}}''.]]
* '''1978''' "{{The Story of Perrine}}" (Perīnu Monogatari) based on the French novel ''EnFamille'' by Hector Malot.

* '''1980''' "Anime/{{The Adventures of Tom Sawyer}}" (Tomu Sōyā no Bōken) after [[TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer the novel]] by American MarkTwain.

* '''1982''' "{{Lucy of the Southern Rainbow}}" (Minami no Niji no Rūshī) based on ''Southern Rainbow'' by Australian writer Phyllis Piddington.

* '''1984''' "{{Katri Girl of the Meadows}}" (Makiba no Shōjo Katori) based on the Finnish novel ''PaimenPiikaJaEmanta'' by Auni Nuolivaara.

* '''1986''' "{{The Story of Pollyanna Girl of Love}}" (Ai Shōjo Porianna Monogatari) after the 1913 novel ''{{Pollyanna}}'' by American novelist Eleanor H. Porter.
* '''1987''' "{{Love Story of the Young Grass}}" (Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari) after the 1868 Novel ''LittleWomen'' by American author Louisa May Alcott. Known as "Tales of Little Women" in its English dub version.
* '''1988''' "{{Little Prince Cedie}}" (Shōkōshi Sedi) after the 1886 Novel ''LittleLordFauntleroy'' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

* '''1990''' "{{My Daddy Long Legs}}" (Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan) after the 1912 novel ''DaddyLongLegs'' by American writer Jean Webster.
* '''1991''' "{{Trapp Family Story}}" (Torappu Ikka Monogatari) based on ''[[TheSoundOfMusic The Story of the Trapp Family Singers]]'', a memoir written by Maria Augusta von Trapp in 1949.
* '''1992''' "{{The Bush Baby}}" (Daisōgen no Chiisana Tenshi Busshu Beibī) after the 1965 novel ''The Bushbabies'' by Canadian author William Stevenson.

* '''1994''' "{{Tico of the Seven Seas}}" (Nanatsu no Umi no Tiko)an ''extremely'' loose adaptation of ''MobyDick''
* '''1995''' "[[RomeosBlueSkies Romeo's Blue Skies]]" (Romio no Aoi Sora) after a 1940 novel by Swiss writer Lisa Tetzner.
* '''1996''' "{{Famous Dog Lassie}}" (Meiken Rasshī) after the 1940 novel ''[[{{Lassie}} Lassie Come-Home]]'' by Eric Knight.
* '''1997''' "[[RemiNobodysGirl Remi Nobody's Girl]]" (Ie Naki Ko Remi) after the novel ''SansFamille'' by French writer Hector Malot.

* '''2008''' "{{The Long Journey of Porphy}}" (Porufi no Nagai Tabi) after the novel ''TheOrphansOfSimitra'' by French writer Paul-Jacques Bonzon.
* '''2009''' "[[KonnichiwaAnneBeforeGreenGables Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables]]" after the ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' prequel ''Before Green Gables'' written by Budge Wilson and published only the year before.

* '''1979''' "{{Red-haired Anne}}" (Akage no An) after the 1908 Novel ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

While the series in general is aimed at children and many of the originals that got adapted were children's books, its themes and plots can be suprisingly mature. Especially in the early years, when anime was little known in North America and Europe, the series stood in stark contrast to the traditional western animation.

* '''1974''' "Anime/{{Heidi Girl of the Alps}}" (Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji) (Zuiyo Enterprise[=/=]Nippon Animation, and from there out, all of World Masterpiece Theater productions have bin done by Nippon Animation) after the ''Literature/{{Heidi}}'' series of 1880s novels by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri.
* '''1975''' "{{A Dog of Flanders}}" (Furandāsu no Inu) after the novel by the English novelist Marie Louise De la Ramée.

* '''1987''' "{{Love Story of the Young Grass}}" (Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari) after the 1868 Novel ''LittleWomen'' by American author Louisa May Alcott.

* ParentalAbandonment: if the main protagonist isn't a HeartwarmingOrphan they are likely to be abandoned by their parents. Either the parents go missing, are forced to go away or even actively sell their poor offspring into slavery.

* HeroicPet: {{Lassie}} pretty much is the TropeMaker for this so it can't be missing from the anime adapation.

* '''1984''' "{{Katri Girl of the Meadows}}" (Makiba no Shōjo Katori) based on the Finnish novel ''[=~Paimen, piika ja emäntä~=]'' by Auni Nuolivaara.

* '''1971''' "[[HansChristianAndersen Andersen]] Stories" (Andersen Monogatari) (Mushi); self-explanatory.

* '''1981''' "[=~The Swiss Family Robinson: Flone of the Mysterious Island~=]" (Kazoku Robinson Hyōryūki: Fushigi na Shima no Furōne) after the [[SwissFamilyRobinson 1812 novel]] by Swiss Johann David Wyss.

* '''1983''' "[=~Alps Story: My Annette~=]" (Watashi no Annetto) based on the children's book ''TreasuresOfTheSnow'' by Patricia St. John.

* '''1993''' [=~Tale of Young Grass: Nan and Miss Jo~=] (Wakakusa Monogatari: Nan to Jōsensei) after Louisa May Alcott's 1871 sequel ''Little Men'' to her novel ''LittleWomen''.

* '''1995''' "[=~Romeo's Blue Skies~=]" (Romio no Aoi Sora) after a 1940 novel by Swiss writer Lisa Tetzner.

* '''1997''' "[=~Remi Nobody's Girl~=]" (Ie Naki Ko Remi) after the novel ''SansFamille'' by French writer Hector Malot.
* '''2007''' "[=~Les Miserables: Girl Cosette~=]" (Re Mizeraburu Shōjo Kozetto) after the 1862 Novel ''LesMiserables'' by French Author Victor Hugo.

* '''2009''' "[=~Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables~=]" after the ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' prequel ''Before Green Gables'' written by Budge Wilson and published only the year before.

* '''1989''' "{{Adventures of Peter Pan}}" (Pītā Pan no Bōken) after [[PeterPan the novel]] by the Scottish writer J. M. Barrie.

* '''1974''' "Anime/{{Heidi Girl of the Alps}}" (Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji) (Zuiyo Enterprise[=/=]Nippon Animation, and from there out, all of World Masterpiece Theater productions have bin done by Nippon Animation) after the {{Heidi}} series of 1880s novels by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri.

* '''1974''' "{{Heidi Girl of the Alps}}" (Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji) (Zuiyo Enterprise[=/=]Nippon Animation, and from there out, all of World Masterpiece Theater productions have bin done by Nippon Animation) after the {{Heidi}} series of 1880s novels by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri.