Princess Sarah

Sarah Crewe, the young daughter of a wealthy Englishman in India, starts attending a prestigious boarding school in London. However after a series of unexpected tragic events, she is forced to become a maid at the school.

Princess Sarah (1985) is a Japanese animated drama series created by Fumio Kurokawa for Fuji TV, produced by Nippon Animation as part of its World Masterpiece Theater tradition. Sumi Shimamoto voices Sarah Crewe, the young daughter of a wealthy Englishman in India who begins attending a prestigious London boarding school, only to be reduced to a maid after a run of sudden tragedies. The engine of the series is her steadfast refusal to let hardship strip her of kindness and pride, as she navigates the cruelty of headmistress Maria Minchin (Taeko Nakanishi) and the scheming of her proud classmate Lavinia Herbert (Eiko Yamada). Each episode turns on small humiliations, quiet friendships and the hope of a reversal in fortune. Told as a single 46-episode run of 25-minute installments, it is a self-contained story with a clear arc rather than a case-of-the-week format. Set in Victorian London, the series carries a wistful, sincere atmosphere, with gentle melancholy softened by warmth and imaginative resilience. Fans of Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess will find resonance in its classic literary sensibility and heartfelt heroine.

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the emotional heart of Sarah's story and its faithful adaptation of the source novel's warmth.

• Anne of Green Gables (1979)shared gentle family animation, orphan heroine resilience, classic literary adaptation tone
• Heidi, Girl of the Alpsshared Nippon Animation World Masterpiece Theater lineage, emotionally sincere heroine drama
• A Little Princess (1995)shared hardship-to-kindness arc of a girl in a Victorian boarding setting, sincere melodrama

Created by

Fumio Kurokawa

Release Date

1985-01-06

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

7.8 / 10 (50)

What is Princess Sarah about?

A wealthy man's daughter at a London boarding school is cast down into servitude after sudden family tragedy and must keep her dignity intact.

What is Princess Sarah like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Princess Sarah as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is Princess Sarah violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Princess Sarah.

What did critics think of Princess Sarah?

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the emotional heart of Sarah's story and its faithful adaptation of the source novel's warmth.

Which shows are like Princess Sarah?

Shows with a similar feel include Anne of Green Gables (1979), Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and A Little Princess (1995).

How long is Princess Sarah?

Princess Sarah: 1 season, 46 episodes.

Is Princess Sarah still running?

No, Princess Sarah has ended.