Naoko Yamada designs Opening and Ending for anime adaptation of "Anne Shirley"

The award-winning director Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird) is responsible for the storyboard and direction of the opening and ending sequences for the current anime series Anne Shirley. The adaptation of the literary classic Anne of Green Gables has been airing since April 2024 and will premiere the title sequences co-developed by Yamada starting with the episode on April 19.

Yamada, known for her sensitive visualization of emotional nuances, expressed her enthusiasm for the project in a statement: "Anne's story touches with its immediacy and poetic view of the world. I tried to translate this essence into motion." The sequences are intended not only to frame the plot but also to symbolically reflect Anne's inner development.

The series follows the orphan girl Anne Shirley, who finds a new home at the Green Gables estate. Through her lively imagination and unyielding curiosity, she profoundly changes the lives of those around her. The released key visual emphasizes this with a detailed depiction of rural idyll, simultaneously capturing Anne's dreamy perspective.

While the plot chronologically follows the original novel, the anime adaptation employs a contemporary aesthetic that combines traditional 2D animation with subtle digital effects. Yamada's contribution is seen as a bridge between the literary source and modern storytelling medium.