Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series

Anne of Green Gables has been a favorite in our family for years, both the books and Kevin Sullivan's original adaptation. This animated series is no better or worse than most kids shows: minimal animation and preachy storylines. What grates is the fact that Anne, Matthew, Marilla, and the others are old friends, known and loved. It is painful to see them forced into the mold that the level of this show requires. Sort of like Night of the Living Dead: you know the names and faces, but your friends are NOT themselves!

Anne the animated series is not like the Anne of green gable movies; it is actually a mix of Anne of green gables and Road to Avonlea. So if one expects to be watching Anne as in the books or the movies, then yes you can be a little disappointed. However, I love both Anne (the books and the movies) and the Road to Avonlea series and anything that brings me back to Avonlea, I truly enjoy. It is a great show for children: (it is intended for children and not for Anne's fans! It contains good morals and good values. I am glad my daughter loves that show, as I am not worried about her picking up bad influence seen in other shows for children. Even my son likes the show (although he is not a consistent viewer.)

Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series was part of my childhood TV rotation-the kind of show I'd watch on quiet mornings when the house was still waking up. Back then, I didn't think much about pacing or character depth; I just liked Anne's fiery hair and the way she turned everyday life into grand adventures. Watching it again with grown-up eyes, I can see why it stuck with me, even if it doesn't quite hold up to the magic I remember.

The animation is soft and pastel-heavy, evoking the peaceful charm of Prince Edward Island. It's visually gentle, almost storybook-like, though not particularly bold or memorable. Anne is still the imaginative, talkative heroine I adored, but her wild spirit feels a bit tamed here. The show leans heavily into moral lessons-kindness, honesty, responsibility-which makes sense for its target audience, but sometimes at the expense of emotional nuance.

As a kid, I didn't mind that every episode wrapped up with a tidy moral. But revisiting it now, I miss the complexity of Anne's character-the way she wrestled with identity, belonging, and growing up. The supporting cast (Marilla, Matthew, Diana, Gilbert) are present, but mostly serve as gentle guides rather than fully fleshed-out characters.

I'd give it a 6/10. It's a sweet, well-meaning adaptation that's perfect for younger viewers, especially those just getting to know Anne. For me, it's more of a nostalgic comfort watch than a standout series. It reminds me of simpler times, even if it doesn't quite capture the emotional depth of L. M. Montgomery's world.

If you're into revisiting childhood shows or exploring how classic stories get reimagined for kids, I've got plenty more to share. Want to go down that rabbit hole together?

I personally enjoy seeing this because it's based on the books/movies Anne of Green Gables and The Story Girl/Road to Avonlea. It's interesting to see how the stories were adapted to be viewed for younger children. While it's not what I would consider the greatest cartoon show I've ever seen, it does have it's good points and is fun to see(it usually conveys a great message too). I would recommend this for a person to at least watch once, especially if they are an Anne fan.

I love the "Anne" book series. I also love the live action movies that were made about them. I have seen several episodes of the animated series and, honestly, I don't think it lives up to the others. Don't get me wrong, it's a very cute show and one of the better children's ones I have seen. It just changes the book far too much, in my opinion.