Princess Sarah

Princess Sarah (小公女セーラ, Purinsesu SÄ"ra), also known as Little Princess Sara(h), is a 1985 Japanese anime series produced by Nippon Animation and Aniplex, based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, A Little Princess. Spanning 46 episodes, it originally premiered in 1985 across Japan on Fuji Television as the 11th series of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater.

It was also later aired across Japan by the anime television network, Animax, who also later broadcast the series across its respective networks worldwide, including its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia, dubbing and translating the series into English under the title Princess Sarah. Animax's adaptation was the series' only English translation, and the series has yet to be commercially released in the United States. The series has also been selected as one of the best 100 Japanese anime series of all time by viewers of TV Asahi.

It was also aired in numerous countries worldwide and translated into several languages, including French, Italian, German, Arabic, Filipino and Spanish. In the Philippines, it was aired by ABS-CBN in the 1993 (with some rebroadcasts at the 21st century), with the spin-offs live action film Sarah... Ang Munting Prinsesa, and a primetime TV drama series.

Story

Princess Sarah tells the story of Sarah Crewe, In the year 1885, Sarah Crewe is a young daughter of a wealthy English family in India, who starts attending an all-girl's seminary selection boarding school in London, where she excels in her studies and is loved deeply by many of her friends and classmates. However, tragedy soon strikes when Sarah's father passes away and her family goes bankrupt, leaving her to be a poor orphan. The school's headmistress, Miss Minchin, takes advantage of this situation and makes her a maid in the school, trying hard to make her life as miserable as possible. However, Sarah, with the help of her friends, perseveres and tries to endure all her hardships until redemption comes at last.

Characters

Sara Crewe (セーラ・クルー, SÄ"ra KurÅ«)

• Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto

The young heroine, who is brought to Miss Minchin's seminary in London to learn how to be a proper lady, after being raised in Bombay, India. Due to being pampered and doted on her entire life, Sarah's knowledge of the real world is limited, but she is still a friendly and imaginative girl. After her father dies and she is left destitute, Miss Minchin forces Sarah to work as a servant in the seminary, but Sarah instead pretends that she is a princess inside; while not looking as one. She refuses to lose hope and remains thoughtful and compassionate.

Ralph Crewe (ラルフ・クルー, Rarufu Kurū)

• Voiced by: Banjō Ginga

Sarah's devoted father. He invests in a diamond mine in India, but finds them failed, leaving himself, and therefore Sarah, utterly bankrupt. He dies from fever shortly after.

Miss Minchin (ミンチン先ç"Ÿ, Minchin Sensei)

• Voiced by: Taeko Nakanishi

The main antagonist. Miss Minchin is the severe headmistress of the seminary Sarah is sent to. After a misunderstanding where Minchin believes that Sarah purposely undermined her, she subsequently holds an intense grudge against the girl. However, she is very willing to use the noble, talented Sarah for the sake of the appearance of her seminary and herself. When Sarah is no longer wealthy, Minchin stops masking her hatred, and takes every opportunity to break Sarah further.

Amelia Minchin (アメリア・ミンチン, Ameria Minchin)

• Voiced by: Yukiko Nashiwa

Miss Minchin's gentle but submissive younger sister.

Lavinia Herbert (ラãƒ"ニア・ハーバート, Rabinia Hābāto)

• Voiced by: Eiko Yamada

Also a main antagonist. A proud and manipulative girl, Lavinia was originally the most popular student at the seminary, and thus becomes madly jealous when Sarah begins to get more attention than her. Even when Sarah becomes a servant, Lavinia continues to try to break her spirit.

Jessie (ジェシー, Jeshī)

• Voiced by: Seiko Nakano (1st) / Harumi Iizuka (2nd)

One of Lavinia's henchman-like friends. She and Gertrude are initially somewhat in awe of Sarah, much to Lavinia's consternation. But once Sarah is demoted to live-in help, they willingly join in Lavinia's tormenting of Sarah.

Gertrude (ガートルード, Gātorūdo)

• Voiced by: Run Sasaki

One of Lavinia's henchman-like friends.

Ermengarde St. John (アーメンガード・セントジョン, Āmengādo Sentojon)

• Voiced by: Maki Yaosaha

A plump girl who becomes one of Sarah's closest friends after Sarah defends her from Lavinia's abusive treatment toward her. Ermengarde frequently does poorly in her studies, while her father, a university professor, pushes her to excel. She has an aunt, Eliza (イライザ, Iraiza), who is somewhat absentminded, but is quite skilled in Herbalism, which proves pivotal in saving Sarah's life when she becomes seriously ill.

Lottie Legh (ロッティ・レイ, Rotti Rei)

• Voiced by: Naoko Watanabe

The youngest student at the seminary who is four years old. At first, Lottie acts contrary and throws many temper tantrums, but the little girl calms down significantly after Sarah becomes her surrogate mother. Following Sarah's descent into poverty, Lottie proves herself one of Sarah's most devoted companions.

Becky (ベッキー, Bekkī)

• voiced by: Mie Suzuki

A country girl who comes to work at the seminary in order to support her mother and younger siblings. Despite her situation, Becky is optimistic and something of a dreamer. She is mistreated by Miss Minchin and her fellow staff, but befriended by Sarah.

Peter (ãƒ"ーター, PÄ«tā)

• Voiced by: Chika Sakamoto

A street-smart boy who becomes Sarah's carriage driver when his father cannot accept the job. He thinks very highly of Sarah, continues to call her "ojou-sama" (princess) even after her demotion from student to hired help, and harbours a crush on her.

Molly (モーリー, Mōrī)

• Voiced by: Asami Mukaidono

A harsh assistant chef.

James (ジェームス, JÄ"musu)

• Voiced by: Daisuke Gouri

A chef that is picky on what he cooks. Like Molly, he is also harsh on other servants, especially Becky.

Monsieur Dufarge (デュファルジュ先ç"Ÿ, Dyufaruju-sensei)

• Voiced by: Toshiya Ueda

The seminary's friendly French teacher. He is impressed by Sarah's aptitude at speaking French from the start, and is the only member of the faculty who continues to treat Sarah with unqualified kindness and civility after her demotion.

Ramdas (ラムダス, Ramudasu)

• Voiced by: Hideyuki Tanaka

A man from India who serves Mr. Carrisford.

Tom Carrisford (トム・クリスフォード, Tomu Kurisufōdo)

• Voiced by: ShÅ«sei Nakamura

A lifelong friend of Ralph Crewe who convinced him to invest in the Indian diamond mine. Believing himself guilty for Crewe's death, Tom makes it his mission to track down Sarah and reinstate her wealth.

Mr. Carmichael's family lawyer (カーマイケル弁護士, Kāmaikeru-bengoshi)

• Voiced by: YÅ«saku Yara

Donald Carmichael (ドナルド・カーマイケル, Donarudo Kāmaikeru)

• Voiced by: Mitsuko Horie

Staff

• Original work: Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess
• Planning: Shōji Satō, Eiichi Kubota (Fuji TV)
• Director: Fumio Kurokawa
• Screenplay: RyÅ«zō Nakanishi
• Character design: Shunji Saida
• Animation directors: Toshiki Yamazaki, Kuniyuki Ishii, Atsuko ÅŒtani
• Background artist: Shōhei Kawamoto
• Art director: Nobuo Numai
• Layout editing: Yasuji Mori
• Music: Yasuo Higuchi
• Producers: Junzō Nakajima, Taihei Ishikawa (Fuji TV)
• Executive producer: Kōichi Motohashi
• Production manager: Mitsuru Takakuwa
• Production: Nippon Animation, Fuji TV

Music

• Opening theme: "Hana no Sasayaki" (花のささやき, lit. "Whisper of a Flower")

Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi

Composition: Kōichi Morita

Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori

Performance: Satoko Shimonari

• Ending theme: "Himawari" (ひまわり, lit. "Sunflower")

Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi

Composition: Kōichi Morita

Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori

Performance: Satoko Shimonari

Episodes and staff

1. Minchin Girl's School (ミンチン女子学院, Minchin Joshi Gakuin) (broadcast on January 6, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, animation director: Shunji Saida, episode director: Takeshi Yamaguchi

2. Emilie the Doll (エミリー人形, Emirī Ningyō) (broadcast on January 13, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, animation director: Shunji Saida, episode director: Takeshi Yamaguchi

3. New Class (はじめての授業, Hajimete no Jugyō) (broadcast on January 20, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboard: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Shunji Saida, episode director: Jirō Saitō

4. Ermengarde the Good Friend (親友アーメンガード, Shinyū Āmengādo) (broadcast on January 27, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, animation director: Shunji Saida, episode director: Takeshi Yamaguchi

5. Lottie the Crybaby (泣き虫ロッティ, Nakimushi Rotti) (broadcast on February 3, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboard: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Toshiki Yamazaki, episode director: Jirō Saitō

6. Becky the Cinderella (灰かぶりベッキー, Haikaburi Bekkī) (broadcast on February 10, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboard: Yoshio Kuroda, animation director: Atsuko Ōtani, episode director: Takeshi Yamaguchi

7. Class Representative (代表ç"Ÿå¾', Daihyō Seito) (broadcast on February 17, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboard: Yukio Suzuki, animation director: Toshiki Yamazaki, episode director: Jirō Saitō

8. A Kind Young Lady (親切なお嬢様, Shinsetsu no Ojōsama) (broadcast on February 24, 1985)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboard: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Atsuko Ōtani, episode director: Takeshi Yamaguchi

9. The Letter from India (インドからの手紙, Indo kara no Tegami) (broadcast on March 3, 1986)

   Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, animation director: Toshiki Yamazaki, episode director: Jirō Saitō

10. Two Presents (二つのプレゼント, Futatsu no Purezento) (broadcast on March 10, 1986)

    Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboards: Yoshio Kuroda, animation director: Shunji Saida, episode director: Takeshi Yamazaki

11. Birthday of a Princess (プリンセスの誕ç"Ÿæ—¥, Purinsesu no Tanjōbi) (broadcast on March 17, 1986)

    Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboards: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Toshiki Yamazaki, episode director: Jirō Saitō

12. Dark Room in the Attic (屋根裏の暗い部屋, Yaneura no Kurai Heya) (broadcast on March 24, 1986)

    Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboards: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Atsuko Ōtani, episode director: Takeshi Yamazaki

13. A Day of Difficult Work (つらい仕事の日, Tsurai Shigoto no Hi) (broadcast on March 31, 1986)

    Screenplay: Ryūzō Nakanishi, storyboards: Yūsaku Sakamoto, animation director: Kuniyuki Ishii, episode director: Jirō Satō

References

External links

• Shôkôjo Sêra at the Internet Movie Database
• Animax's official website for Princess Sarah (Japanese)
• Animax Asia's official website for Princess Sarah
• Animax South Asia's official website for Princess Sarah
• Princess Sarah (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia