My Daddy Long Legs (1990)

A beloved 1990 Japanese anime adaptation of Jean Webster's classic novel, following an orphan's journey through college funded by a mysterious, anonymous benefactor.

My Daddy Long Legs - Series Information

  • Original Title: 私のあしながおじさん
  • First Air Year: 1990
  • Last Air Year: 1990
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 1
  • Number of Episodes: 40
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: Japanese
  • Spoken Languages: Japanese
  • First Air Date: January 14, 1990 (Brazil - L), January 14, 1990 (South Korea - ALL)
  • Networks: Fuji TV
  • Alternative Titles: Papai Pernalonga (BR), Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan (JP), صاحب الظل الطويل (SA), Daddy-Long-Legs (US), 我的长腿叔叔 (CN)
  • Production Companies: Nippon Animation
  • Production Countries: Japan

My Daddy Long Legs - Plot

Judy Abbott is an orphan living in New York, who at the age of 17 finds herself in receipt of a college scholarship and monthly allowance from a mysterious benefactor. Her benefactor believes she has great potential as a writer and wishes to see her succeed. The only payment he asks in return is that she write him a letter every month addressed to the pseudonym "Mr. John Smith," with the understanding that he will never reply.

My Daddy Long Legs - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • Mitsuko Horie
  • Bin Shimada
  • Chie Sato
  • Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Yuri Amano
  • Hiromi Tsuru
  • Hiroshi Masuoka
  • Hisako Kyoda
  • Kenichi Ogata
  • Masako Katsuki

Writers

  • Nobuyuki Fujimoto

My Daddy Long Legs - FAQs

Is My Daddy Long Legs based on a book?

Yes. My Daddy Long Legs is based on the 1912 epistolary novel Daddy-Long-Legs by American author Jean Webster. The novel follows the same premise of an orphan girl writing letters to her anonymous benefactor, and has inspired numerous adaptations across film, stage, and animation.

What is My Daddy Long Legs about?

My Daddy Long Legs follows Judy Abbott, a 17-year-old orphan in New York who receives a college scholarship and monthly allowance from a mysterious benefactor. He believes in her writing talent and asks only that she send him monthly letters addressed to "Mr. John Smith," with no replies ever promised.

Who voices the main characters in My Daddy Long Legs?

The principal voice cast includes Mitsuko Horie as Judy, Bin Shimada as Jimmy, Chie Sato as Sally, Hideyuki Tanaka as Jervis Pendleton, and Yuri Amano as Julia. The series features a strong ensemble of experienced Japanese voice actors throughout its 40-episode run.

When did My Daddy Long Legs first air?

My Daddy Long Legs first aired on January 14, 1990, on Fuji TV in Japan. The series ran through 1990 and concluded after a single season of 40 episodes, produced by the renowned anime studio Nippon Animation.

How many episodes does My Daddy Long Legs have?

My Daddy Long Legs consists of 40 episodes across a single season. Each episode runs approximately 24 minutes, giving the series a total runtime that allows for a thorough and emotionally satisfying adaptation of Jean Webster's beloved source novel.

What genre is My Daddy Long Legs?

My Daddy Long Legs is a shoujo-oriented anime series blending Animation, Comedy, Drama, and Family genres. It is a coming-of-age story with strong themes of friendship, romance, self-discovery, and the transformative power of education, making it suitable for a wide range of viewers.

Who produced My Daddy Long Legs?

My Daddy Long Legs was produced by Nippon Animation, the acclaimed Japanese studio known for its World Masterpiece Theater series of literary adaptations. The series aired on Fuji TV and was written by Nobuyuki Fujimoto, faithfully adapting Jean Webster's classic novel for a young anime audience.

Is My Daddy Long Legs similar to other classic anime?

My Daddy Long Legs shares its spirit of heartfelt literary adaptation with other Nippon Animation productions. Fans of the series may also enjoy similar coming-of-age and slice-of-life anime, as well as other shoujo titles that focus on personal growth, school life, and romantic relationships.

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