Heidi
- Original title: Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji
- Release year: 1974
- Animation studio: Zuiyo Eizo, Fuji Television
What is it about? This anime closely follows the two novels by Johanna Spyri, namely “Heidi’s Years of Learning and Travel” and “Heidi Can Use What She Has Learned.” The five-year-old orphan Heidi is brought to the mountain by her aunt Dete and dumped with her grumpy grandfather, the Alm-Öhi.
He has fallen out with the villagers. But little Heidi manages to win the old man’s heart. She loves the simple life, herding the goats with Peter and enjoying nature. However, one day, Aunt Dete tears Heidi away from her idyll to take her to Frankfurt. There, she is supposed to be a companion for the paralyzed Clara Sesemann.
Heidi becomes friends with Clara but suffers from the dreary city life and the strict governess Miss Rottenmeier. She becomes so homesick that she falls ill. The doctor then sends Heidi back to the mountains. There, a miracle happens: Clara comes to visit Heidi and eventually learns to walk again through the fresh air.
What’s exciting to know? Two young men worked on the series who would later go on to found the famous anime studio Ghibli. The director was Isao Takahata, who later directed films such as “Grave of the Fireflies.” Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of “Spirited Away,” was also involved in Heidi. He was responsible for the layout and scene design.
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