Candy Candy

I remember in the early '80s, when we had only two TV stations, both state-run, that there was a great publicity for a Japanese animated series with a lot of episodes, which would be dubbed in Greek and even the title song would be translated. My memory doesn't serve me too well, as I have forgotten the actors and actresses and the singer of the Greek version, but it caused quite a stir.

Compared to other cartoon/anime dubs I've seen, the voice acting was superb and I occasionally see some episodes running on regional channels. It's always very enjoyable, I must say. The anime style of that era happens to be my favorite: detailed, beautiful, hand-drawn landscapes, rather realistic character designs, without the featureless faces seen in modern productions...

It marked my youth. Although many people would say it was a girlie show, lots of boys watched it. Even now, as an adult, I can watch it and get pleasure from it.

Those were the days... Really great anime and cartoon shows, with well-written scenarios and complex character descriptions.

A very heartwarming anime series, even if the plot often goes into a sad territory, with many tragedies happening to the cheerful protagonist; yet somehow she always keeps her optimism and high spirits.

These kind of sad stories, often referred as "traumatizing" by some older viewers, are actually very important to children: Not to make them "more thankful", but in order to empathize with the struggles of much less fortunate people.

Avoiding sadness and harshness in modern fiction actually does a disservice to children, turning everything into a vapid exercise of escapism that might be provide some fun, but ultimately end being an empty experience.

Learning about pain (And also overcoming pain, like Candy often does) is actually a very valuable experience that shouldn't be dismissed.

Shows like this have a timeless quality, disregard of the somewhat dated animation due its beautiful story, filled with both joy and sadness. Both are important, and more complement each other in a wonderful manner.

Such is life, such is childhood.

Most people of my generation watched Candy Candy when they were still children. Howvr, I saw it recently for the first time. Even if I am now an adult, I agree with all the commentaries. Candy, Candy is indeed one of the vest cartoons ever made. I would like to emphasize something few people said. The soundtrack is beautiful and perfectly conveys the different moods and feelings. It was made by Takeo Watanabe.

The story is very beautiful too! A young girl orphan and her adventures in two family mainly, from her birth to her 18 year-old approximatively. The story focuses mainly on her two loves : Anthony, a fair-haired boy, who dies falling from his horse, and Terry, a brown young man. Of course living this love is made difficult by the events, some people (like Eliza) and so on... Th end is a little sad since some characters had died like Anthony, or Allister (Candy's friend whose plane is shot down during WWI) whereas Terry had to marry another girl. However, it is quite optimistic since Candy is still very young and has all her life forward.

There is also an alternative version, the Italian one; In Italy, the official ending was substituted by an Italian one, a happy end with Candy and Terry reuniting. So this is a cartoon for the whole family from 2 to 102.

Candy Candy is a great anime. First of all, it certainly has the best soundtrack in all the animes. anyone who has even watched only one episode picks up the "watashi wa watashi wa watashi wa candy" lyrics at once. This anime series is about friendship, love without any expectations, being kind and all other feelings we lose while growing up. Candy is really great for kids as it teaches being good for just the sake of being good. I think that it is even better for grown ups as it helps us learn those long-lost virtues I have mentioned above. Also, for the people who have watched this when they were little and when there were only a couple of TV channels and a handful of cartoons only in the mornings, this series is a good reminder of childhood memories.

This is one of my favorite anime series that I watched as a child in my native Dominican Republic. I looked forward to each weekly episode. The episodes were dubbed in Spanish but unfortunately I didn't get to see all of them. To this day (and I am in my 30s), I still remember the opening and ending songs that played at the beginning and ending of each episode (in Spanish of course).

Candy Candy was a phenomenon: it resembled an animated soap opera. It was so original because back then the Japanese were the first ones to come with a concept like that: an animated soap opera.

I loved how Candy was always so tomboyish and always got back to her nemesis Neil and Elisa. I hated them so much because they tried to make Candy's life miserable but she always got back at them.

Candy Candy is apt for the entire family. But be warned: it will make you cry and laugh, not exactly in that order.