My Daddy Long Legs

My Daddy Long Legs, known in Japan as Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan, was produced by Nippon Animation in 1990 as part of the studio's long-running World Masterpiece Theater series. This anthology collection aimed to adapt classic Western children's literature into high-quality animated serials for a family audience. The series faithfully adapts Jean Webster's 1912 epistolary novel, detailing the life of orphan Judy Abbott as she navigates her education at a women's college through the secret financial support of a mysterious benefactor she calls Daddy Long Legs.

The production was directed by Kazuyoshi Yokota, who prioritized a delicate, character-focused visual style that captured the turn-of-the-century setting of the original text. As a piece of 1990s Japanese animation, the series is noted for its restrained, nostalgic aesthetic which stands in contrast to the high-energy action tropes prevalent in other animation of the era. It was well-received by audiences for its thoughtful exploration of Judy’s transition into adulthood and its dedication to the atmosphere of the source material.