Anne Shirley, often called Anna, is the protagonist of the 2025 anime series. She is a young girl with red hair and freckles who is taken into the care of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert at their home, Green Gables, on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Anne’s background is marked by significant hardship. Having lost her parents at a very young age, she spent her early years living with various families and in an orphanage before arriving at Green Gables at the age of eleven. This difficult past has left her with a deep longing for a place to call home and for people to love her.

Her personality is a striking blend of contrasts. On one hand, she is overwhelmingly optimistic, spirited, and talkative, possessing a remarkably vivid and powerful imagination. This imaginative nature allows her to find beauty and magic in ordinary things, a trait that the anime visually represents by bringing her fantasies to life. On the other hand, Anne is also a hothead with a fierce temper, particularly when it comes to her red hair, which she is very sensitive about. She can be dramatic and prone to making mistakes, but her actions are never driven by malice.

Anne’s primary motivation is to find a sense of belonging and to be loved after years of feeling unwanted. She also strives to succeed academically and personally, driven by a desire to prove her worth and a competitive spirit, especially with her classmate Gilbert Blythe.

In the story, Anne serves as a catalyst for change. Her arrival in the quiet community of Avonlea brings excitement and disruption, deeply affecting those around her. Her role evolves from an orphan seeking a home to a student, a teacher, and eventually a young woman attending college, with the narrative covering several years of her life. She plays a central part in forming new bonds and helping others, such as when she encourages a former teacher to reconnect with a lost love.

Several key relationships define her journey. Her bond with Matthew Cuthbert is one of silent, unwavering support and affection; he is her most steadfast ally and believer. In contrast, her relationship with Marilla Cuthbert is more complex, starting with Marilla’s initial reluctance to keep her and growing into a deep, familial love built on strict but caring guidance. Her first and closest friend is Diana Barry, who appreciates Anne’s imagination and remains a loyal confidante throughout her life. Her relationship with Gilbert Blythe begins with conflict when he teases her about her hair, leading her to break a slate over his head, but it gradually matures into a deep, respectful rivalry and eventual romantic affection. She also forms meaningful connections with other figures in Avonlea, such as the gossipy but good-hearted neighbor Rachel Lynde and her progressive teacher, Miss Stacy.

Throughout the series, Anne undergoes significant development. She matures from an impulsive, overly dramatic child into a capable and poised young woman, though she never entirely loses her imaginative spirit. She learns to control her temper, forgives past slights, and navigates complex emotions such as her denial of her own romantic feelings for Gilbert. She successfully pursues higher education, becoming one of the few young women from her community to do so.

Among her notable abilities, her extraordinary imagination stands out as her defining trait, allowing her to cope with hardship and bring joy to her own life and the lives of others. She is also academically gifted, consistently performing well in her studies and proving to be a bright and capable student. Furthermore, she possesses practical skills learned from her difficult childhood, such as knowing how to care for sick children, which proves crucial in saving the life of her friend’s baby sister.