

Judy stands out as an intelligent girl, who silently resents the wealthy people who treat the orphanage like a pity zoo. A place where children are dependent on the care of each other while under the strict supervision religious tutors. I was especially fond of the early episodes in the orphanage. Something which the anime is really good at showing. As such, the novel and this anime take place in a time-period very different from our own. Jean Webster published Daddy-Long-Legs in 1912 and she herself lived from 1876 to 1916. This aspect of her character is adapted well and used to create some of the most gripping moments of the anime, including much of the finale. Scenes that deal with this are often saddening, as Judy is an emotional and sympathetic protagonist watching her doubt whether to truly call people friends or even accept someone’s love, simply because of her secret, is downright tragic. It weighs on her to know that she is surrounded by the very rich people she once loathed and envied, so she lies about having a family and keeps the orphanage a secret. Judy is always haunted by the knowledge that she is different and, in a way, lesser than those around her. After all, if she lets people get close to her, then they might learn that she doesn’t belong. While she appears to be doing a good job at befriending these two, it always feels like she is keeping them at arm’s length. Sally is a plain, but smart, joyful, and caring person, whereas Julia is the spitting image of a spoiled rich girl. #2 Secretly an orphanĪs Judy starts her school career, she finds herself becoming roommates with Sally McBride and Julia Pendleton. In fact, My Daddy Long Legs is my favorite World Masterpiece Theater series, thanks in large part to its excellent source material. Like all World Masterpiece Theater shows, this is a lengthy anime that enjoys both stellar animation and quality directing. However, the identity of her benefactor will never be revealed and all letters addressed to her will be written and signed by his assistant. Judy will go to school and receive an allowance, but in return, she must write letters to the man to notify him of her progress. She is a young girl who lives a tedious life in an American orphanage, until one day a rich man decides to sponsor her education. This adaptation tells the amazing story of Judy Abbott.

It was animated by Nippon Animation with Kazuyoshi Yokota, who was assistant director and did storyboards for other World Masterpiece Theater shows, in the directing chair. As the title implies, this one adapts Jean Webster’s novel Daddy-Long-Legs.
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My Daddy Long Legs is one of the later shows of the original run of the World Masterpiece Theater, a yearly project where classic books aimed at children would be adapted into long-running TV anime.
